| 1 |
Ace up your sleeve I don't know how Henry is going to get his mom to buy him a bike, but I'm sure he has an ace up his sleeve. Meaning: a surprise or secret advantage, especially something tricky that is kept hidden until needed Origin: Back in the 1500s most people didn't have pockets in their clothes, so they kept things hidden in their sleeves. Later on, magicians hid objects, even small live animals, up their sleeves and pulled them out unexpectedly to surprise their audiences. In 1800s dishonest card players secretly slipped a winning card, often an ace, up their sleeves and pulled it out to win the game when nobody was looking. |
| 2 |
Achilles' heel I'm an A student in math and science, but English is my Achilles' heel. Meaning: the one weakness, fault, flaw, or vulnerable spot in one's otherwise strong character Origin: In the Iliad, the famous story about the Trojan War by the Greek poet Homer, Achilles was a great hero and warrior. However, he had one weak spot, the heel of one foot. When he was a baby, his mother wanted to be certain that her son could never be harmed, so she dipped little Achilles upside-down in the magical River Styx. Wherever the water touched his body, he became invulnerable. But since she was holding him by his heel, that part of him never got wet. Years later Achilles was killed in the Trojan War by an enemy who shot a poisoned arrow into his heel. |
| 3 |
Add fuel the fire I was already angry with you, and when you forgot to pick me up, that was really added fuel to the fire. Meaning: to make a bad situation worse; to do or say something that causes more trouble, makes someone angrier Origin: Thousands of years ago the famous Roman historian Livy used this expression. If you pour water on a fire, it goes out. But if you put fuel (like coal or wood) on a fire, you make it burn hotter and brighter. If "fire" represents any kind of trouble, then anything you do to make that trouble worse is "fuel." A similar expression is "fan the flames." |
| 4 |
Afraid of your own shadow My dog was afraid of its own shadow when it was a puppy, but now it barks fearlessly at the biggest dogs. Meaning: very easily frightened, especially of small or imaginary things. Origin: Shadows can be scary. Horror movies, for instance, are full of fearsome shadows. They sometimes make you hold your breath and jump out of your seat in terror. No wonder that umbra, the ancient Latin word for "shadow," also means "ghost." There are real things in this world to be fearful of, but if someone is afraid of his own shadow, then he's a very jumpy, nervous person who panics easily. |
| 5 |
Air your dirty laundry in public My upstairs neighbors fight a lot and air their dirty laundry in public. Meaning: to talk about fight your private disagreements or embarrassing matters in public, usually while quarreling Origin: Picture this: Instead of hanging your fresh washed laundry on a clothesline, you hang your dirty clothes out there in the air for all the world to see. Wouldn't that be embarrassing? Imagine that your "dirty laundry" represents secret personal matters and that "to air" them means to discuss them out loud for anyone to hear. Some people use "air your dirty linen in public." |
| 6 |
Albatross around your neck Everywhere I go, my mother makes me take me bratty little sister. She's an albatross around my neck. Meaning: a very difficult burden that you can't get rid of or a reminder of something you did that was wrong Origin: In 1798 the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote his most famous poem, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." In the poem a young sailor shoots a large seabird called an albatross. In those days that was considered very unlucky. Sure enough, a lot of bad things happen to the ship, and the crew blames the young sailor. They hang the dead bird around his neck. |
| 7 |
All ears You said you had something important to tell me. I'm all ears! Meaning: eager to listen; sharply attentive; curious Origin: The ear is the organ by which a person hears. So, if we figuratively say that you're "all ears," it means that at that moment you're keenly listening to whatever is being said. It's as if no other part of you body mattered except your ears. This idiom is about three centuries old. |
| 8 |
All that glitters is not gold Denise bought a bracelet that looked great online, but when she got it, she realised that all that glitters is not gold. Meaning: something that seems attractive and valuable at first might turn out to be worthless Origin: The expression comes from the late Middle Ages (the 1400s) and teaches us that appearances can be deceiving. This famous saying appears in various forms in many other languages. The great American author O. Henry (1862-1910) wrote a short story about people fooled by what they thought would be a quick way to make lots of money. The story was called "The Gold That Glittered." Gold miners in the old West in the mid-1800s discovered this lesson the hard way. Some spotted chunks o glittering yellowish rock and thought that it was gold, but it was only fool's gold, an almost worthless brass-colored mineral called iron pyrite. They were very disappointed, as anyone would be who was attracted by something that appeared to be beautiful or precious but that turned out to be useless junk. |
| 9 |
All thumbs Marco can't build the model of the atom for the science project. He's all thumbs. Meaning: awkward and clumsy, especially with the hands origin: Human beings and apes have thumbs; most other animals don't. A thumb helps the other fingers pick things up, turn dials, and do other fine motor tasks. But what if all your fingers were thumbs? You'd have a hard time picking up small objects, keyboarding a computer, doing art projects, and so on. That's why this expression means clumsy at doing physical tasks with your hands. |
| 10 |
Ants in your pants You never sit still. You must have ants in your pants. Meaning: extreme restlessness; overactivity Origin: We can easily imagine where this is saying came from. What if you actually had ants in your pants? You'd find it difficult to settle down. You'd keep squirming to get rid of the ants. |
| 11 |
Apple of your eye Katey is the apple of my eye. Meaning: a person or thing that is greatly loved, treasured, and adored Origin: This saying is used in the Bible. Ancient people thought that the pupil of the eye was solid and shaped like an apple. The pupil ("apple of the eye") was precious because without it, you couldn't see. |
| 12 |
As the crow flies Jennifer lives only a few blocks from school as the crow flies. Meaning: by the shortest and most direct route; measured in a straight, direct line between two places Origin: Most birds, including crows, fly to their destination in a straight, direct line. They don't zigzag or take detours. Therefore, they get where they're going by the most direct route. People can't always travel as directly as a crow flying through the air. They must walk, drive, or ride following the twists and turns. Measuring distances "as the crow flies" is often unrealistic because five miles between two points in a straight line might be ten miles of twists and turns, hills, and obstacles. |
| 13 |
Asleep at the switch Tootsie lost her job because she was asleep at the switch Meaning: not attending to one's job or failing to react quickly; not being alert Origin: This saying comes from the early days of the railroad (the mid-1800s). One of a trainman's most important duties was to switch a train from one track to another at exactly the right moment. If he fell asleep at the switch, the train might go off the tracks or crash. Today the meaning has been extended to anyone who isn't paying attention and fails to do a job at the right time. |
| 14 |
At the drop of a hat Lou would have gone to the football game at the drop of a hat Meaning: right away; at once; without delay; willing at any moment Origin: There are many ways to start a race or other sporting event: Shoot a gun, wave a flag, yell "Ready, set, go!" and so on. Years ago someone would drop a hat as the starting signal, and the contest would begin immediately. Today if anyone does anything (not just something athletic) eagerly and on the spur of the moment, we say it's done "at the drop of a hat." |
| 15 |
At the end of your rope I've tried everything, but nothing's worked. I'm at the end of my rope. Meaning: at the limit of your ability, endurance, or patience to do something Origin: Imagine that you're trying to use rope to climb a mountain or a tree. You're at the end of your rope, and you can't achieve what you set out to do. Now just think of this expression in terms of any goal your are trying to accomplish, with or without an actual rope. You're run out of strength, power, or ideas on how to do more. Another possible origin of this saying is the fact that some farm animals are tied to a rope that will allow them to feed in a limited area, but not beyond. |
| 16 |
Ax to grind Crystal always flatters me, but I think she has an ax to grind. Meaning: something to gain for yourself for a selfish reason; flattery or trickery used to get favor from another person Origin: In the early 1800s a man wrote a story in a newspaper about how, when he was a boy, a man used flattery to trick him into sharpening the man's ax. The boy turned the heavy grindstone while the man held his ax against it because the man said the boy was a great ax grinder, smart and strong. The man didn't pay the boy or even thank him. Instead he scolded him for wasting time and being late for school. After that, people started using the expression "have an ax to grind" when they meant that anyone was seeking a particular goal solely for himself by flattering or tricking another person. Sometimes people say that they don't have an ax to grind to show that they are honest and aren't trying to trick you into doing anything for them. |
| 17 |
Babe in the woods Peter knew his way around junior high, but now in high school he's just a babe in the woods. Meaning: a person who is inexperienced; a naive, trusting person Origin: In 1595 a story called "The Children in the Wood" was published in England. It was about a greedy uncle who was supposed to be taking care of his rich niece and nephew. Instead, he hired two men to kill them so he could inherit their money. One of the men took pity on the children and left then in the woods rather than kill them. They did not survive. That's why we can say that inexperienced people or people that can't take care of themselves and can easily be misled or exploited are "babes in the woods." |
| 18 |
Back to square one Our design for a solar-powered washing machine didn't work, so it's back to square one. Meaning: return to the beginning because of a failure to accomplish the desired result Origin: There are many board and street games that have squares or boxes. Each player must start at the first square and try to advance to the finish line or last box to win. If, for any reason, you have to go back to square one, you're starting over from the beginning. A similar saying is "back to the drawing board". |
| 19 |
Back to the drawing board "Back to the drawing board," said the inventor after his automatic dog-washing machine flooded the kitchen. Meaning: to start planning a failed project all over from the beginning Origin: In the 1940s a cartoon in the New Yorker magazine showed a man holding blueprints and watching an airplane he had designed blow up the ground. The caption under the cartoon was "Back to the drawing board." The phrase became popular. Imagine an architect, inventor, designer, or artist working on her drawing board, sketching, measuring, revising, etc. And then the project doesn't work. She doesn't give up. It's "back to the drawing board" to start all over. A story is told about Thomas Edison. He tried for years to invent the lightbulb. Thousands of experiments failed, but he kept going "back to the drawing board." Finally, in 1879, a bulb lit up and stayed glowing! Asked about those failed attempts, Edison replied that now he knew thousands of ways that didn't work. A similar expression is "back to square one". |
| 20 |
Backseat driver I can fix this computer myself, but she always tries to be a backseat driver. Meaning: a bossy person who tells another person what to do; a person who gives unwanted advice and directions Origin: When automobiles became popular in the United States in the 1920s, many rich people rode around in the backseats of chauffeur-driven cars. The backseat passenger gave orders to the front-seat driver: where to go, what road to take, how fast drive , and so on. Today "backseat driver" refers to any aggressive person, in or out of a car, who tries to tell others what to do. |
| 21 |
Baker's dozen At the garage sale, we charged 75c per baseball card or $9 for a baker's dozen. Meaning: thirteen of anything for the price of twelve Origin: A dozen of anything is twelve. Then why is a "baker's dozen" thirteen? Hundreds of years ago some English bakers cheated their customers by baking air pockets into loaves of bread, making them lightweight. In 1266 English Parliament passed a law that said that bakers who sold underweight bread would by severely punished. To be sure they were selling enough bread to meet the new weight regulations, the bakers started giving thirteen loaves for every dozen a customer ordered. |
| 22 |
Ballpark figure The spoiled boy gave his parents a ballpark figure for how much his birthday presents should cost. Meaning: a rough estimate Origin: in the early days of baseball, sports reporters would ask owners of teams how many people were at the game. The owners knew how many tickets had been sold, but they didn't always want to tell the exact number. If all the seats weren't filled, they wanted to pretend that more people had come to the game than actually had. They wanted to make baseball seem more popular, so they gave broad estimates that came to be know as "ballpark figures." Today anytime you give an approximate, not exact, number about anything, you're giving a "ballpark figure." |
| 23 |
Bark is worse that your bite The new director yells a lot, but her bark is worse than her bite. Meaning:the way a person sounds is much more frightening than the way she or he acts; the threat is often worse than the action taken Origin: This expression was used as far back as mid-1600s. A god barking ferociously sounds like he could actually bite your head off. But if the dog does not hurt you, then his "bark is worse than his bite." |
| 24 |
Bark up the wrong tree Maria's uncle wanted to make her into a magician, but he was barking up the wrong tree. Her brother, Juan, was the one who loved tricks. Meaning: to direct your attention or efforts toward the wrong person or thing; to have the wrong idea about something Origin: During colonial times in America, raccoon hunting was a popular sport. Trained dogs would chase a raccoon up a tree and bark furiously at the base until the hunter came. Sometimes a raccoon could escape to the branches of another tree, leaving the dog barking up the wrong tree. Today, you can "bark up the wrong tree" if you're on a wrong course of action, have your attention redirected from your intended object, or choose the wrong person to deal with. |
| 25 |
Batten down the hatches We'd better batten down the hatches. The weather service says a tropical storm is headed our way. Meaning: to get ready for trouble; prepare for any emergency Origin: This is a nautical term that comes from the early 1800s. On a ship, sailors prepared for stormy weather by nailing waterproofed pieces of canvas and wood (battens) over the entryways (hatches) to the cargo area below the main deck. Today you "batten down the hatches" when you prepare for any kind of trouble. |
| 26 |
Beat a dead horse He tried to convince his sister, but he was beating a dead horse. Meaning: to pursue a useless goal; to continue fighting a battle that has been lost; to keep arguing a point that has already been decided Origin: This saying goes back to the ancient Roman playwright Plautus who used it in 195 B.C. in one of his plays. The dramatic performance was of trying to whip a dead horse to get up and carry the load it was supposed to be moving. This action was shown to accomplish nothing. Today we say that anyone pursuing an issue that is already settled is "beating a dead horse." |
| 27 |
Beat around the bush Stop beating around the bus. Whom are you taking to the dance? Meaning: to avoid answering a question; to approach something carefully or in a roundabout way Origin: This expression goes all the way back to to the 1500s when hunters hired people called beaters to drive small animals out of the bushes so the hunters could get a better shot at them. The problem for the beaters was that they might drive the birds or rabbits or foxes out too soon. They had to be careful not to drive the animals into the open before the hunters arrived. So the beaters might use their long sticks "around the bush" rather than directly on it. Today, the expression "to beat around the bush" means talking about things in a roundabout way without giving clear answers or coming to the point. |
| 28 |
Beat the band When my sister told us that she was marrying Manny, everyone cheered to beat the band. Meaning: with much noise, excitement, or commotion; very much, very fast; outdoing all others Origin:This saying started in the late 1800s in Britain and then traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. One explanation of its origin is that since a band is usually loud, exciting, and colorful, anything that "beats the band" must be louder, more exciting, and more colorful. The other explanation is the people sometimes run ahead of a marching band to beat it to a certain spot. This idiom can also be used to express amazement for any astonishing achievement, as in "She can drive the tractor and she's only eight years old. If that doesn't beat the band!" |
| 29 |
Beat your swords into plowshares The prime minister would like them to beat their swords into plowshares and abandon all plans for war. Meaning: to stop fighting and turn your attention toward peaceful activities Origin: This is another of the many famous sayings that come from the Bible. In Isaiah 2:4 there appears the following sentence: "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." Swords and spears represent weapons of war. Plowshares and pruning hooks represent farming tools, which are symbols for all peaceful activities. So when a modern nation "beats its swords plowshares," it could be manufacturing passenger planes instead of bombers, of camera phones instead of military radar systems. |
| 30 |
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Lenny thinks his dog's haircut is cool. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Meaning: there is no standard for beauty, so what one person likes or sees in someone or something is not necessarily what others see; different people have different opinions Origin: Many writers in the past have stated the idea that what one person thinks is ugly, another person may think is beautiful. The "eye" is really the mind, thoughts, feelings, and emotions of the "beholder", or the person who is looking at the person or thing. |
| 31 |
Bed of roses Compared with my old school, this one is a bed of roses. Meaning: a wonderful, pleasant situation or position; an easy, comfortable life Origin: English poets have used this phrase for centuries. Roses are such lovely, sweet-smelling, soft-petaled flowers that a bed of them suggest a lovely, sweet, and soft condition. The meaning was stretched to mean any easy and comfortable situation in life. However, if you really think about it, roses have thorns and a real bed of roses would probably be anything but comfortable. A similar expression used today is "bowl of cherries." |
| 32 |
Bee in your bonnet Mr. Davis thinks he can teach us the trombone. He must have a bee in his bonnet. Meaning: a crazy idea; an obsession with an idea Origin: This 16th-century expression was originally "to have a head full of bees," but it changed to "bee in one's bonnet" in Robert Herrick's "Mad Maid's Song," a poem written in 1648. It sounds better this way because of alliteration - both words beginning with the same letter. If you have a crazy idea and can't talk about anything else, it's like having a bee stuck in your hat. A similar expression is to have "bats in your belfry." |
| 33 |
Beggars can't be choosers Beggars can't be choosers. If you don't have money to go out for pizza, you'll have to eat in the cafeteria. Meaning: needy people have to take whatever they can get and cannot be concerned about the quality if they cannot afford to buy it for themselves Origin: This proverb has been around since the mid-1500s. It means that people who need something but who have little or no control over their situations can't choose what they get. They have to accept what is offered. |
| 34 |
Behind the eight ball My father caught me napping in the hammock instead of mowing the lawn. I'm really behind the eight ball now. Meaning: in trouble or out of luck; in a difficult position or in a bad situation with little hope of winning Origin: This American idiom from the early 1900s comes from billiards. In the game kellypool you have to hit numbered balls into pockets of a billiard table in numerical order, except for ball number eight, which is to be pocketed last. However, if the eight ball is very close to the ball you're trying to hit, you're in trouble. That's a bad position to be in. Today we say that anyone "behind the eight ball" is experiencing a lot of bad luck. Other similar idioms are "in a pretty kettle of fish," "up a creek," "in a pickle," "in the doghouse," and "in hot water." |
| 35 |
Bells and whistles Our teacher says we're getting a new computers with all the latest bells and whistles: CD-burner, stereo speakers, color printer, and full multimedia. Meaning: impressive accessories, especially flashy, high-technology features and frills, which may sometimes be more decorative that necessary Origin: This modern phrase became popular with the development of many kinds of new electronic and computerized equipment. The "bells and whistles" represent all sorts of super high-tech features that you don't really need in a basic model but which make a product more fun to use (and more expensive). Note: "Bells and whistles" don't have to make any sounds. |
| 36 |
Below the belt Saying he wasn't very good in math just because he got a 99 on the test was really hitting bellow the belt. Meaning: cruel, unfair, hurtful; against the rules of sportsmanship Origin: The sport of boxing can be dangerous. Prizefighters can get seriously injured if the official rules of the game are not followed. Most of the rules in effect today are based on those proposed in 1867 by the Marquis of Queensberry, a British nobleman. He said there could be no wrestling or hugging, shoes couldn't have springs in them, and no punches below the belt would be allowed. Today boxers wear trunks with waistbands, not belts, but the rule is still followed. In the late 1800s this saying took on a meaning outside the boxing ring (which, curiously enough, is actually square). Hitting someone "below the belt" has come to mean committing an act of foul play that is unkind and nasty, like an illegal punch in boxing. |
| 37 |
Better half I'm not making a decision until I check with my better half. Meaning: either partner in marriage Origin: Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who favored strict religious discipline. They said that each person was made up of two halves, body and soul, and that the soul was the better half because it was the spiritual side. Sir Philip Sidney, an English writer, said that a marriage was made up of two halves, and that the better half was the better spouse. Today when the phrase "better half" is used, it almost always means someone's wife, although there's no reason why a wife can't use the term to describe her husband. In either case, "better half" is a compliment. |
| 38 |
Better safe that sorry Terri told Alexandra to put on her seat belt, even for a short drive. "Better safe that sorry," she said. Meaning: be careful; avoid risks and possible injury that you'll regret Origin: As early as 400 years ago, when a version of this expression started to be used, people were cautioning others to go slowly, be cautious, don't get into trouble, avoid accidents. By the early 1800s the phrase was "better sure than sorry," but a half century later "sure" was out and "safe" was in. Imagine that it's snowing outside and your mother advises you to leave for school early and walk carefully on slippery sidewalks. She's saying it's better to be safe and get to where you're going in one piece than to be sorry that you ran, slipped, and broke your leg. |
| 39 |
Between a rock and a hard place It's a tough choice between getting to the big game on time or waiting for Mr. Smith to call. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. Meaning: being in a very tight spot and faced with a difficult decision Origin: In this American saying from the early 20th century, you can picture someone actually squeezed between a rock and a hard place. He or she has to turn one way or the other, but neither way is very pleasant. A similar expression from an earlier time is "between the devil and the deep blue sea." |
| 40 |
Between the devil and the deep blue sea Glenn had to choose between confessing that he hadn't studied or trying to fake it. He was between the devil and the deep blue sea. Meaning: between two great dangers and not knowing what to do; in a very difficult position Origin: In the early 17th century the heavy plank fastened to the side of a vessel as a support for guns was called the devil. Sometimes a sailor had to go out onto this plank to do repairs to the boat. In heavy seas he would be in a great danger of falling overboard and drowning because he was between "the devil and the deep blue sea." Over the centuries the meaning of this expression expanded to include being between two equally difficult perils of any kind. |
| 41 |
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts Natasha is just giving you that present because she wants one of your puppies. Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. Meaning: be suspicious of presents from certain people who are just looking for something from you; be on guard against treachery in the disguise of a gift Origin: The great ancient Roman writer Virgil used a similar sentence in his famous story of the Trojan War, The Aeneid. For ten years the Greek army tried in vain to conquer Troy. Finally the Greeks pulled a rotten (but clever) tick on the Trojans. They pretended to sail back to Greece and left behind a huge wooden horse as a "gift." The Trojans brought the horse into their city, but many Greek soldiers were hidden inside the horse. They came out at night, defeated the Trojans, and conquered Troy. |
| 42 |
Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush Take this job now because you don't know if you'll get another one. Remember that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Meaning: what you already have is better than what you might or might not get in the future; a guarantee is worth more than a promise Origin: This saying began as an ancient Greek proverb. Aesop used it in some of his fables. The ancient Romans repeated it, and in the 1400s it was translated into English. It comes from the sport of hunting birds. Hunters thought that a bird that you had already captured ("in the hand") was better than two you hadn't yet caught ("in the bush"). Today we often hear the same advice: It is better to be content with what you already have than to reject it because you hope that something better will turn up. |
| 43 |
Birds of a feather flock together Everyone at that table plays soccer. I guess that birds of a feather flock together. Meaning: people who have things in common, such as interests and ideas, usually hang out together; people who are alike often become friends origin: This saying, which is over 2,000 years old and comes from the Bible, is based on the observation that birds of the same species flock together on the ground as well as in the air. The meaning has been broadened over the years, so that "birds" means "people" and "of a feather" means "of the same type." |
| 44 |
Bite off more than you can chew You can't captain the team, edit the paper, and star in the play. Don't bite off more than you chew. Meaning: to take on a task that is more than you can accomplish; to be greedy, overconfident, or too ambitious by taking on more jobs or responsibilities than you can deal with at one time Origin: Versions of this saying were used in Europe in the Middle Ages and ancient China. If you take a bite of food that's too big for your mouth, you won't be able to chew it. This idea came to mean undertaking ("biting off") a job that's too much for you to handle ("more than you can chew"). |
| 45 |
Bite the bullet The principal wants to see you in her office. Get ready to bite the bullet. Meaning: prepare for an unpleasant experience; brace yourself to endure with courage something painful but necessary Origin: Many word experts think that this expression came from the 19th century medical practice of giving a wounded soldier a bullet to bite before he was operated on without anesthetics on the battlefield. Biting on the soft lead bullet was the way of dealing with pain. It kept the soldier from screaming, which could distract the surgeon during the operation. |
| 46 |
Bite the dust The spy bit the dust at the end of the book. Meaning: to die; to fall in defeat; to fail to succeed Origin: This cliche, which was often heard in early Western movies, is actually more than 2,000 years old and comes from a line in Homer's Iliad. This saying describes many dying warriors in the Trojan War falling to the earth and "biting the dust." If people fall with their faces in the dirt, you can think of them getting dust in their mouths. The idiom became popular in English in the mid-1800s. |
| 47 |
Bite the hand that feeds you Eve just insulted the girl who is teaching her to ice-skate. That's biting the hand that feeds you. Meaning: to turn agains someone who helps you; to do harm to someone who does good things for you Origin: This saying, which has been used at least since the early 1700s, originally referred to a foolish and ungrateful dog that actually bit the hand of the owner who was feeding it. The meaning of this expression today has been extended to include people who turn against anyone who helps them. It has nothing to do with real food or actually biting anyone's hand. |
| 48 |
Bite your tongue Don't you dare say that to me! Bite your tongue, young man! Meaning: take back or be ashamed of what you have said; struggle not to say something you want to say Origin: It's easy to see where this saying came from. If you really put your tongue between your teeth as if you were biting it, you couldn't talk. So when people tell you to "bite your tongue," they are telling you to force yourself to be silent before you say something you shouldn't. Sometimes people say it after they've already blurted out what they shouldn't have. Then it means to take back the statement and keep quiet. A similar expression is "hold your tongue," which means you should remain silent. |
| 49 |
Black sheep of the family Geraldine's the black sheep of the family. She's always causing trouble. Meaning: the most unsuccessful, least admirable member of a family or similar group; a disgraced person Origin: This expression has been used at least since the early 1800s to describe a person who is a disgrace to a community or family. Shepherds did not like rare black sheep since their fleece could not be dyed any color and there weren't enough of them to sell black wool. Some people also thought that the black sheep frightened the rest of the flock and came from the devil. The saying changed over time to mean disfavored people in a family or group. |
| 50 |
Bleeding heart Rob is such a bleeding heart. He'll donate to any charity that asks him for money! Meaning: an extremely softhearted person who feels compassion or pity toward all people, including those who may not deserve sympathy Origin: This controversial term comes from America in the 20th century. Some people say that the government or private charities should do more to help relieve the suffering of the sick, the homeless, or the unemployed. These well-meaning citizens might be called "bleeding hearts" by others who feel that many people on welfare or charity should stop taking so much from others. |
| 51 |
Blessing in disguise Summer school may be a blessing in disguise. Next year you'll be ahead of your class. Meaning: something that at first seems bad but turns out to be good; a hidden benefit Origin: This saying was first used in a poem 200 years ago by a writer names James Hervey, and people have been using it since. When something looks bad luck, it may turn out to be a false appearance (a "disguise") that hides something that's really useful of fortunate (a "blessing"). Of course, you don't know that at first because the blessing is in disguise. |
| 52 |
Blind as a bat When the heavy fog rolled in, she was as blind as a bat because she couldn't see an inch in front of her. Meaning: totally blind Origin: This saying from the 1500s is based on a mistake. There are many similes about animals that make sense, like "sly as fox" and "gentle as a kitten." However, "blind as a bat" isn't one of them because bats are not blind. Some bats, like the flying fox bat, have very good eyesight. Many years ago, people observing bats might have thought they were blind because they fly about at night in irregular paths. Now we know that they're using sonar. Bats give off ultrahigh frequency sounds that bounce back and help them avoid obstacles and find food. That's called "echolocation." (It works because bats can eat more than 600 mosquitoes an hour!) Today the US Office of Naval Research is studying bat sonar so it can adapt it to antisubmarine warfare. If a person could see as well as a bat it the dark, he would never be called blind. |
| 53 |
Blind leading the blind Kurt, who spent his allowance in one day, is showing Bonnie how to budget her money. That's a case of the blind leading the blind! Meaning: the uninformed attempting to inform others Origin: This saying comes from a sentence in the King James Bible (Matthew 15:14), "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Today we use it to describe people who are not actually blind, but who don't know how to do something and are trying to explain it to other people who don't know how to do it either. |
| 54 |
Blood is thicker than water Mrs. Penn chose her grandson instead of me to work in her store. I guess blood is thicker than water. Meaning: one can expect more kindness from a family member than from a stranger; a person will do more for a relative than for anyone else Origin: This saying, which means that family ties count more than friendship, comes from Germany in the 1100s. It might come from the idea that water evaporates without a trace, but blood leaves a stain and is more permanent. This suggests that relatives ("blood") are more important ("thicker") than people who are not related ("water"). |
| 55 |
Blow your own horn When you fill out an application for a job, blow your own horn. Meaning: to praise yourself; to call attention to your own merits (intelligence, skills, success, or abilities); to brag about yourself Origin: In ancient Roman times, a blare of trumpets announced the arrival of a great here. So the blowing of horns meant someone important was coming. Today people who blow (or toot) their horns are boasting about their superior qualities. Sometimes you have to do that a little (when you apply for a job, for instance), but if you do it too much, you could be called a braggart. |
| 56 |
Blue blood Mr. Rimler is marrying a very rich girl from high society, a real blue blood. Meaning: of high or noble birth; an aristocrat; from the upper class of society Origin: Though this expression has been used in English since the early 1800s, it actually comes from an older Spanish saying. Old, aristocratic Spanish families used to boast that their skin was fairly light because they had not intermarried with the darker-skinned Moors. The Spaniards' veins showed through their skin as visibly blue in color. If their skin was darker because they had intermarried, the blood would not appear so blue. "Blue blood" is a translation of the Spanish words sangre azul. Today anyone can be called a blue blood if he or she is of noble birth, a member of high society, and so on. A related phrase is "upper crust". |
| 57 |
Bolt from the blue Mr. Barnes's pop quiz hit us like a bolt from the blue. Meaning: something sudden, unexpected, and shocking Origin: This expression has been used since at least the early 1800s. Picture a calm, clear, blue sky. You'd probably be surprised, even startled, if a bolt of lightning suddenly cracked down. In the same way, any big surprise is like lightning shooting out of a clear, blue sky. You just don't expect it to happen. (Note: This expression usually refers to very bad news.) A related idiom is "out of the clear blue sky." |
| 58 |
Born with a silver spoon in your mouth Fran always wanted the finest, most expensive things. Was she born with a silver spoon in her mouth? Meaning: born to wealth, comfort, and privilege Origin: A spoon made out of pure silver is expensive. Sometimes a silver spoon is given as a gift to a newborn baby. If a rich baby has many expensive things from the start of life, like a silver spoon (almost as if he or she were born with the spoon in his or her mouth), we can use this well-known idiom to describe that person. The phrase was used by Cervantes, the Spanish writer, in the early 1600s in the book Don Quixote. |
| 59 |
Born yesterday How could he be so easily tricked by this phony scheme? Was he born yesterday? Meaning: inexperienced and easily fooled; not alert to trickery Origin: This expression was born in the early 1800s. An infant "born yesterday" hasn't lived long enough to be smart, experienced, sophisticated, and knowledgeable in the ways of the world. The phrase is used today to describe a naive, unsuspecting person who can be cheated or deceived without much trouble. "Born yesterday" became a popular expression when is was used as the title of a hit Broadway play (1946) that was made into two movies (1950 and 1993). The play was about a woman who fooled everybody who thought she was not very smart by being a whole lot smarter than she looked or sounded at first. |
| 60 |
Bottom line If we don't win this game, we're out of the playoffs. That's the bottom line. Meaning: the most crucial fact; the net result Origin: For hundreds of years accountants have added up the profits and losses of companies. The sum appears at the bottom line of a column of numbers. While "bottom line" still means a bookkeeping figure showing profit or loss, it has taken on a more general meaning since the mid-1900s, and now refers to any crucial decision or final result, financial or not. |
| 61 |
Break a leg On the night of the play, Anne's father told her to break a leg. Meaning: good luck; do a great job in the show Origin: Saying this to a performer before a show has long been a theatrical tradition. It comes from the old German saying, Hals- und Beinbruch (break your neck and leg), and was shortened to just the leg. Perhaps it exists because of an old show business superstition that wishing someone good luck might cause just the opposite to happen, so you wish the performer bad luck to assure the opposite of that. |
| 62 |
Break the ice John was very shy when he met Cindy. He didn't know how to break the ice. Meaning: to overcome the first awkward difficulties in a social situation by a friendly gesture; to ease the nervousness in a situation |
| 63 |
Origin: As early as the late 1500s and early 1600s, writers like Shakespeare were using this expression. It originally came from navigation through waterways frozen over with ice. Special boats had to break through the ice, clearing the way before any ships could sail. The meaning was transferred to getting a conversation started or making an acquaintance. "Ice" in this idiom represents a cold or awkward feeling among people, especially strangers. |
| 64 |
Breath of fresh air When Christopher came into their dull lives, he was like a breath of fresh air. Meaning: someone or something new, stimulating, invigorating, and refreshing Origin: This idiom from the mid-1800s may have been influenced by the Industrial Revolution, which some historians blame as an early cause of air pollution. Starting in England in the mid-1700s, many people moved from the clean air of the country to work in the new, smoke-belching factories of crowded cities. Today the air you breathe can be filled with pollutants like smog or carbon monoxide. So a breath of clean, refreshing air is something really rousing and energizing. In the same way, anything or anyone that is revitalizing - like a restful vacation from a dull job or an exciting new teacher among your old ones - can be a "breath of fresh air." |
| 65 |
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Isla woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after a good night's sleep. Meaning: healthy, fit, cheerful, bright, and lively Origin: This expression, which dates back to the 19th century, refers to animals, like cats or squirrels, with bushy tails. Their tails fluff up when they get excited. Bright eyes are a sign of someone who's wide-awake, alert, and ready to go. So if you describe people as "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed," you're not saying they look like cats or squirrels, but that they look "fit as a fiddle," "in the pink," and "on top of the world." |
| 66 |
Bring down the house When our principal came out on stage dressed like a chicken, she brought down the house. Meaning: to get an audience to clap enthusiastically or laugh loudly Origin: This saying, which comes from the theater, has been in common use since the 1700s. Performers have long referred to the audience in a theater, and the theater itself, as the "house." When a performer is a huge success, and the excited audience is cheering, laughing, and applauding so wildly that the roof of the theater seems to be shaking and about to fall in, he or she has "brought down the house." |
| 67 |
Bring home the bacon Both Richard and Stephanie got jobs to bring home the bacon for their children. Meaning: to support a family by working; to earn a living Origin: There are two theories about where this expression came from. One was from the contest at early American county fairs of chasing after a greased pig. If you caught it, you could take it home as your prize. Another possibility is that it came from a practice in the early 1300s. A baron willed that if any married persons in Dunmow, England, swore at the church door that they had not had a single quarrel for a whole year and a day, they would get a free side of bacon to take home. The idiom "bring home the bacon" has, for hundreds of years, meant to score a point, win a game, or earn something of value, such as your salary. |
| 68 |
Bug off Helen told Max to bug off because he was being such a pest. Meaning: to leave someone alone; go away; stop annoying someone Origin: There was an expression in the late 1800s "bugger off," that meant the same thing. Today's slightly shorter version is a rude slang expression, usually said by someone who is highly annoyed and wants the other person to leave him or her alone. |
| 69 |
Bug someone I wish you would just stop bugging me and leave me in peace! Meaning: to irritate, annoy, and bother someone a lot Origin: This popular African-American idiom comes from the 1960s and is a handy expression when people are pestering you. It comes from baga and bugal, words in West African languages (Mandingo and Wolof) that mean "to annoy." By the way, in certain situations, "bug" can also mean to wiretap someone's phone so that his or her conversations can be listened in on. |
| 70 |
Bull in a china shop Inviting the wrestling team to the ceramics exhibit was like letting bulls into a china shop. Meaning: a clumsy person who deals too roughly with a delicate situation; a rough person who is near breakable things; a tactless person who says or does something that angers people or upsets their plans Origin: Aesop, the famous ancient storyteller, once wrote a fable about a donkey in a potter's shop. Aesop's image was changed to a bull in a china shop when fine plates and dishes, called china, were first introduced into Europe in the 1500s. (Why was "donkey" changed to "bull"? Probably because a bull is so much bigger.) |
| 71 |
Burn the candle at both ends Mrs. Millan goes to college during the day and works in a restaurant at night. She's burning the candle at both ends. Meaning: to overwork yourself mentally or physically and until you're exhausted Origin: This was a French expression that came into English in the late 1500s. If you really took a candle and burned it at both ends, it would be used up twice as fast. That image changed to refer to people who work hard nigh and day and use up all their strength. We also say that you can "burn yourself out" this way. |
| 72 |
Burn the midnight oil I have a big test tomorrow morning, so I plan to burn the midnight oil tonight. Meaning: to stay up very late at night studying or working Origin: This saying goes back to the days when lamps were lighted by oil and people went to bed earlier that they do today. When you burned the midnight oil in those days, you were up late working or reading by the light of an oil lamp. |
| 73 |
Burn your bridges behind you Meaning: to make a decision you cannot change; to commit yourself to a course of action Origin: In ancient military history, soldiers actually burned down the bridge they had just crossed so they wouldn't be tempted to turn back in a cowardly way. (It also kept the enemy from following them over the same bridge.) Julius Caesar burned bridges to toughen up his troops. |
| 74 |
Bury the hatchet Stop fighting, and bury the hatchet! Meaning: to settle an argument; end a war; make peace; become friends after being enemies Origin: This saying probably comes from Native American nations who would make peace with their enemies by holding a ceremony. They would actually bury tomahawks, hatchets, and other war weapons to show that the fight was over. If war broke out again, they would dig up those weapons. By the end of the 1800s the meaning of "bury the hatchet" was extended to include setting any kind of argument and making friends with your enemy. |
| 75 |
Bury your head in the sand You're burying your head in the sand if you think that smoking isn't bad for your health. Meaning: to ignore danger by pretending you don't see it; to hide from obvious signs of danger Origin: An ostrich is a big, tough bird, but long ago people got the wrong idea about it. Since they saw ostriches with their heads in the dirt, they thought the ostrich was hiding form its enemies in the false belief that if you can't see your enemy, your enemy can't see you. The ostriches were actually looking for seeds or berries on the ground, or eating bits of sand, which helps the birds digest their food. Today "bury your head in the sand" has come to mean refusing either to notice a problem or face up to reality. |
| 76 |
Busman's holiday Victor went back to his carpentry shop after spending all weekend building our treehouse. What a busman's holiday! Meaning: spending your free time doing the same thing you do during working hours Origin: In London, during the late 1800s and early 1900s, buses were pulled by horses. Some bus drivers loved theirs horses so much that on their days off from work, they would ride on their own buses just to make sure that other bus drivers took good care of the horses. This habit got to be called a "busman's holiday," and today it can be applied to anybody who does the same thing on free time as he or she gets paid to do at work. |
| 77 |
Busy as a beaver Jeni is as busy as a beaver setting up her new computer. Meaning: working very hard ; extremely industrious Origin: This saying comes from the 17th century. For hundreds of years the beaver has been a symbol of diligent work. Watch a beaver bustling about, busily cutting down trees with its teeth and energetically building a dam, and you'll easily see why. Alliteration (busy as a beaver) adds to the popularity of this simile. Related sayings: "busy as a bee" and "eager beaver." |
| 78 |
Butter someone up Maybe if you butter up the math teacher, she'll raise your final grade. Meaning: to flatter someone; to try to get a favor by praising someone Origin: This saying comes from the simple act of buttering a slice of bread. When you take plain bread and lay on a thick coating of creamy butter, it's sort of like covering a person with praise and flattery. People often "butter" other people up when they want special help or favored treatment. Similar sayings: "to soft-soap" and "to sweet-talk." |
| 79 |
Butterflies in the stomach I can't sing a solo without getting butterflies in my stomach. Meaning: a fluttery feeling in the stomach, usually caused by nervousness Origin: If people are anxious, have stage fright, or are troubled about what will happen next, they often experience dull spasms in their stomachs. Some people call this sensation the flutters. Others say they have a nervous stomach. Once a clever writer imagined butterflies in his stomach when he felt panicky or uneasy, and that creative metaphor caught on. |
| 80 |
Button your lip Renae talked about her vacation so much that we finally told her to button her lip up. Meaning: to stop talking; be quiet Origin: It's easy to picture where this 20th-century American expression came from. Imagine buttons on people's lips. Someone who wanted you to stay quit, keep a secret, and not say a word would tell you to button your lip. Today someone people also use the expression "button it up," "zipper your mouth," and "put a cork in it." |
| 81 |
Buy a pig in a poke Have the used car looked over by a mechanic before you pay for it. Don't buy a pig in a poke. Meaning: to buy something without seeing or examining it Origin: A long time ago in England, a small bag or sack was called a poke. Farmers carried their pigs in pokes to sell at markets an county fairs. Sometimes customers were cheated by dishonest farmers who had actually put a runt (an undersized pig) or even a cat in the sack. The farmer said he couldn't open the bag to show the customer the pig because it might run away. So if you bought a "pig in a poke," you paid for something without examining it. Today the expression applies to any kind of item you buy sight unseen. A similar phrase is "let the cat out of the bag." |
| 82 |
By hook or by crook Justin is grounded, but he'll find a way to get to my party by hook or by crook. Meaning: by any means possible (legal or not) Origin: Perhaps this idiom, which has been around at least since the 1300s, came from the idea that, as a last resort, you could get what you wanted by reaching it with a long hook or by stealing it like a crook. This expression owes some of its popularity to the fact that it rhymes. |
| 83 |
By the book Tania wants all her employees to do everything by the book - her book. Meaning: exactly according to the rules; precisely as instructed Origin: Centuries ago, children were taught by the book. The "book" was a book of moral or religious principles that guided people's behavior. Children were supposed to learn these lessons and to live by them. Today new employees often get a pamphlet or book or regulations (working hours, dress code, etc.). If they want to keep their jobs, they had better go "by the book." Schools, too, often have rules in a student handbook (no skateboarding in the halls, no listening to music during class, etc.), and students would be wise to behave "by the book" to stay out of trouble. |
| 84 |
By the skin of your teeth Lucky Lorraine ran out of the zoo and escaped the stampede of wild monkeys by the skin of her teeth. Meaning: just barely; by the narrowest of margins Origin: Some ancient Hebrew idioms appear in modern English, including this expression. In the Book of Job in the Bible (19:20), Job says, "I have escaped with the skin of my teeth." Your teeth don't have skin, of course, but they do have a very thin film, especially when you wake up. If you just barely get out of a dangerous situation with very little room to spare, the difference between safety and disaster can be as microscopic as the film on your teeth. Similar meaning are conveyed by the phrases "by a whisker" and "by a hair's breadth." The famous American writer Thornton Wilder won a Pulitzer Prize in 1942 for his play The Skin of Our Teeth, which tells how an imaginary family barely escapes one catastrophe after another throughout history. |
Комментарии