Check out other Idioms
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 – 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 – A day late and a dollar short
A day late and a dollar short – Idiom of the Day Meaning: An action which is performed late ; A fruitless action even when performed in time, due to lack of proper preparation. History: History dates back to the Great depression of economies in the 1930s. But there is evidence of this expression being used in the 1700s, 1900s and in the very recent past. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: John: I have arranged the funds needed. You can go ahead with the surgery for my mom. Doctor: I’m sorry, John. You’re a day late and a dollar short. Her...
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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 – 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- Up in the air
Up in the air- Idiom of the day Meaning: unresolved, undecided undecided about something uncertain or unresolved, often because other matters have to be decided first not yet settled or finalized unsure, full of doubt not yet decided History This expression came out as “in the air” in the mid-1700s, and it later acquired ‘up’ in the first half of the 1900s. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Shawn: What are you doing this evening? Angel: Nothing much. Shawn: Why so? Angel: I’m supposed to be going out with Dave tonight but he’s up to his neck in work. My plans are...
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Idiom- Stabbed in the back
Stabbed in the back- Idiom of the day Meaning: a disloyalty to deceive someone’s faith an action of extreme betrayal to deceive or betray someone who trusted you to ruin the reputation of a known person secretly a harmful act against someone who had faith in you an unfaithful act that causes a big loss of one’s reputation, money or happiness History: The term originated in Germany just after World War I. The first reported use of it can be found in a report from England printed in ‘Neue Zürcher Zeitung’ on 1 December 1918.“As far as the German army...
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Idiom- Rule of thumb
Rule of thumb- Idiom of the day Meaning: a principle that is kept to a guide that is based on practice rather than theory a general principle that comes through experience and not any scientific means a practical and approximate way History: This phrase has been believed to be used since the 1600s and the origin is usually attributed to domestic violence, however, there is no proof of the theory. There was believed to be a law in England that allowed a man to beat his wife with a stick which was not thicker than his thumb. However, it has...
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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 – Barking Up The Wrong Tree
Barking Up The Wrong Tree – Idiom of the Day Meaning: To be looking for answers in the wrong place. Origin: The expression originated in 19th century America when people used dogs to hunt raccoons. When the raccoon climbed up a tree, the dog waited below until its master arrived. However, there was always the chance of the dog identifying the wrong tree. Examples: Hey officer, I’m telling you, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I didn’t kill that guy. Man I didn’t tell anyone about you having an affair, you’re barking up the wrong tree! Guys have we been...
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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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – Lose your marbles
Lose your marbles – Idiom of the Day Meaning: It means that a person has become mentally unstable for sometime. History: History dates back to 1871 when the idiom was used in a comic ballad with the word taw instead of marble. But taw means a large marble. But it was widely in use from 1902. There are also references to the idiom being used in newspapers. In the recent times the idiom was used in 1995. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Friend 1: The nation is in a severe food crisis. Friend 2: But I read in the newspapers that...
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Idiom – Don’t spare the horses
Don’t spare the horses – Idiom of the Day Meaning: Urging someone to speed up on something that they are doing. History: History dates back to the 17th century when the idiom was first used. In the 1860s, there are some references to the idiom being used in magazines. In 1934, there was a famous song in the name of the idiom. There is also evidence of the idiom being cited in a novel in 1969. Idiom scenarios: Scenario 1: Friend 1: We need to reach Delhi by 2:00 PM. Friend 2: With the speed that we’re traveling, it will...
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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 – 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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