Check out other Idioms
Idiom – Apple Of Discord
Apple of discord – Idiom of the Day Meaning: A subject matter that causes disagreement. History: History dates back to the mid sixteenth century, roughly from 1640 to 50s. It has its roots in the Greek mythology which says Eris, The Greek Goddess of Discord was not invited for a banquet at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. So she threw a golden apple into the feast. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite fought for it and the subsequent events led to the Trojan war. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Brother 1: Aren’t we supposed to give a fair share of the property...
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Idiom – A cold day in hell
A cold day in hell – Idiom of the Day Meaning: Used to indicate an event that will never happen. History: The origin of the idiom dates back to 1886, when it was used in a newspaper headline to praise General Gordon’s victory in the elections of Georgia. Also there are references to it being used in 1944 by a newspaper in Miami. There is also evidence in a newspaper in LosAngeles to the idiom being used in the recent past in 1990. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Friend 1: John is mad about fish and chicken. Friend 2: Yeah, I...
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Idiom – Jump on the bandwagon
Jump on the bandwagon – Idiom of the Day Meaning: To do something because everyone does it or because it has become popular. History: The history dates back to the 1800s when Dan Rice, a famous circus clown, rented his bandwagon for political campaigns because they were thought to attract public attention. There are also references to it being used in the 1890s. It is still unknown why the act of riding a bandwagon turned out to be doing something which was very popular. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Parent 1: My son hated milk. He would not tolerate the smell...
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Idiom – No Flies On You
No Flies On You – Idiom of the Day Meaning: You are alert, brisk and active. There is not a bit of sluggishness in you. Also You cannot be easily deceived. Also You’re extremely adept at doing something. Origin: It’s a 19th century expression, which came from the fact that flies can’t settle on someone who is active and always moving. Examples: He was my best emplyee, there were no flies on him. She may be new to this field, but there are no flies on her. Daniel: Hey Luther Luther: Daniel! How’s the big case going? Daniel: Haven’t had...
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Idiom – Bite The Bullet
Bite The Bullet – Idiom of the Day Meaning: Do the unpleasant but necessary thing. Origin: The phrase was first used by Rudyard Kipling in his 1891 novel The Light That Failed. It was derived from a patient having to bite on a bullet while undergoing a painful surgical procedure without anesthesia. Examples: Sometimes in life, one needs to bite the bullet and do what needs to be done. I guess I just have to bite the bullet and break up with Janice. Mary has to learn to bite the bullet and face her fear of heights. The only way...
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Idiom – Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey – Idiom of the Day Meaning: Completely and abruptly stopping a habit as opposed to phasing it out of your life. Usually used to refer to a bad habit or an addiction. Origin: The expression first appeared in 1921 in the Daily Colonist in British Columbia. In that period, the phrase was related to quitting addiction. The most probable origin comes from the similarities between a drug addict in withdrawal, and a turkey’s carcass. Both are pale and clammy. This might have led some to believe that a user in withdrawal looked like a cold turkey. Usage: The...
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Idiom – Move The Goalposts
Move The Goalposts – Idiom of the Day Meaning: It means altering the rules of some process going on normally. History: When tracing the history of the word goalposts from where the idiom seems to have, originated, we find that it was used in relation to sports in 1834. In those days, players identified the goal with the help of two upright posts. When someone intentionally or unintentionally changed their positions, it became hard for the players to focus on their target. The idiom was recently used in 2011 in the US House. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Politican 1: I...
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Idiom – Spill The Beans
Spill The Beans – Idiom of the Day Meaning: Reveal secret information Origin: According to the Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms, this dates back to Ancient Greece. Back then, people used to cast votes by placing black or white beans in a jar. If someone spilled over the jar, everyone would know the results prematurely. Examples: I have some really juicy gossip about what happened at the party last night, but I don’t want you to spill the beans. Anika spilled the beans about Zoey’s pregnancy to all her friends. We cannot let him testify, he would spill the beans! It’s...
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Idiom – A Little Bird Told Me
A Little Bird Told Me – Idiom of the Day (Also A Little Birdie Told Me) Meaning: This idiom is used to convey that the speaker knows something but chooses to(or has to) keep the identity of their informant secret. Origin: There are multiple possible origin stories for this expression. Some attribute it to Ecclesiastes 10:20 “Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.” Another explanation is a simple allusion to...
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Idiom – Needle in a Haystack
Needle in a Haystack – Idiom of the Day Meaning: Something that’s near impossible to locate. Origin: It originated in ancient times when humans used to make needles out of wood or bone, which looked similar to hay. This made it more difficult to find them in a haystack. Examples: Finding someone at a railway station is like finding a needle in a haystack. You must be kidding when you say that you want to find evidence of murder in this case, it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Finding your dog at the veterinarian’s office was...
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Idiom – Top banana
Top banana – Idiom of the Day Meaning: A person who holds a leadership position. History: History dates back to the usage of the phrase to the 1920’s. In those days, comedians in America tried to make people laugh using a banana peel gag. Comedians who handled the banana peel gag in a clever way, made the people laugh harder. So managers of the shows started calling the best comedians as top bananas. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Friend 1: Why are you practising the Guitar, all day? Friend 2: I want to steal the show in Christmas. Friend 1: I...
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Idiom – Red Tape
Red Tape – Idiom of the Day Meaning: Formal ruleset which seems tedious to be followed. History: History dates back to the 16th century. Henry VIII sent 80 petitions to Pope Clement VII requesting permission to declare his marriage with Catherine of Aragon as invalid. Every petition was sealed in a red tape, which was the norm then. Later, people in America found it difficult to access the red tapes which led to the term being used negatively. Infact, the Red tape reduction Act was passed in some areas in Canada. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Resident : Have you got...
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Idiom – Hush Money
Hush Money – Idiom of the Day Meaning: Money offered to hide/cover illegal activities. History: History dates back to the early 17th century. The idiom was first used in 1709 by Sir Richard Steele, an Irish playwright and politician. There is evidence that he used the idiom in his publication called The Tatler. The word Hush can be traced to Middle English origins where the word husht means silent. There are also references to the idiom being used recently in news editions in 2018. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Friend 1: Did you hear the news? The new party has won...
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Idiom – Icing On The Cake
Icing On The Cake – Idiom of the Day Meaning: An alluring but not so useful an addition. History: It is still in debate whether this idiom should be used in a positive or negative manner. Icing on the cake is an extra addition because people can enjoy the cake even without it. In the period between 1837 and 1901, costly sugar was needed to prepare white icing. So only the wealthier sections of the society were able to afford it. Regarding the word “ icing”: History dates back to 1494 when frosted Marchpanes had some almond and sugar toppings...
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Idiom – Can’t Beat Them, Join Them
Can’t Beat Them, Join Them – Idiom of the Day Meaning: If you are unable to defeat your opponents, might as well work with them, or do what they do, and thereby benefit. Origin: The oldest use of this expression is in the Atlantic Monthly Magazine in 1932. Beyond that, its origins are shrouded in mystery. Examples: Chuck: I thought you said you’d never join social media. Mike: Yeah, but everybody else has, so if you can’t beat them, join them, I guess. Jill: I just got a kitten. Jane: I can’t believe it! You used to hate people who...
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Idiom – An arm and a leg
An arm and a leg – Idiom of the Day Meaning: Very high price History: There is evidence of this phrase being used from 1949. It also seemed to evolve out of the phrase “if it takes a leg” which seemed to be in use from the 1860s. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Friend 1: The dispute over my ancestral property is going on for a long time. So I’m going to hire the famous lawyer Jason to represent me in the court. Friend 2: Are you a fool? It will cost you an arm and a leg Scenario 2: Friend...
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Idiom – To Be Dog Tired
To Be Dog Tired – Idiom of the Day Meaning: Extremely tired. History: History dates back to a tale relating to Alfred the Great. It seems that he sent his two sons Athelbrod and Edwin out with kennels of hunting dogs. Whoever caught more hounds would have the honour of dining at the right hand side of Alfred’s table. This task would make the sons weary. Thus the phrase dog tired was born. But there are no references about this idiom in Literature post Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: (At the exam hall) Friend 1:...
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Idiom – At the drop of a dime
At the drop of a dime – Idiom of the Day Meaning: To do something very quickly without much planning. History: It is still a debate whether this phrase is of English origin or Irish origin. It seems to have an ancestral phrase where “dime” was replaced with “hat”. In ancient days, dropping of a hat was a sign of a fight likely to occur at any moment. Hence the usage of this phrase is generally termed “arrogant”. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Friend 1: Why are you urgently verifying all the legal documents of your house? Friend 2: Don’t you...
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Idiom – Bone up on
Bone up on – Idiom of the Day Meaning: To study something to acquire knowledge. History: History dates back to 1846 when Henry George Bohn, a publisher in Britain, published the Bohn’s Libraries which contained information on various topics. The students used these books to prepare for their exams. Soon this practice was being called as “Bohning up” on topics for exam. The pronunciation of Bohn sounded very similar to bone and the idiom “ Boning up on” came into existence. The idiom was widely in use between 1850 to 1873 Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Teacher : You’ve scores are...
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Idiom – At Sixes and Sevens
At sixes and sevens – Idiom of the Day Meaning: A chaotic state of affairs History: History dates back to the 14th century. Merchant Taylors who were tailors and Skinners Livery Companies who were fur makers were competing for the sixth position in order of precedence. After a lot of squabble, Sir Robert Billesden, Lord Mayor of London, sorted out the issue. He ordered that these trading companies take the sixth and seventh position alternatively, every year. The practice continues till date and each takes the sixth position every alternative year. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Friend 1: Did you hear...
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