Questions tagged [idioms]
Idioms are a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words. Use [idiom-requests] if you are searching for an idiom with a particular meaning.
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Olympic basketball terms: what does “gutted on the glass and in the paint” mean?
The U.S. men’s basketball team has been “bullied” in the past because of the size of the players.
Generally speaking, Coach Kerr played smaller lineups, and in losing three of their final four games ...
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Idiom for "different people know different things"
There is the common saying that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” to show that different things may have different value to different people.
However, I teach a class of students and often ...
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What does "snubbed out" mean? [duplicate]
I am confused by the meaning of the term "snubbed out." I will list some examples that I came across.
I applied for the position of supervisor, but was quickly snubbed out when the HR ...
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To do what it takes
I am interested in the idiom "do what it takes". Is it necessary for this idiom to include the goal? Can I say just "I will do what it takes.", when the goal is clear from context? ...
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Would this be a metaphor?
So there is an incident where someone was vacationing in Scotland. This other person asks her if she is in Scotland. The one vacationing says "yes". The person's response is "Take as ...
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What is the origin of the idiom "say the word"?
I am interested in the origin of the phrase "say the word" in the sense that you will do what is asked when needed. For example, "when you are ready for a second helping of dinner, just ...
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Why do we say "he doesn't know him from Adam"?
I was told that when I say
He doesn't know him from Adam,
I mean
He doesn't know him at all.
But if I say
He doesn't know him from his schooldays.
It still means that he knows him!
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English equivalent of the Russian idiom "You are confusing sour with yellow"
There is an idiomatic expression in my native language: "You are confusing sour with yellow", which means something like that though lemons are sour and yellow, not every yellow thing is ...
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What is the Construction of the phrase "Stand and Deliver"? [closed]
Recently, I watched a historical drama set in the 18th century in England, and brigands, most notably the main character, often uses the phrase Stand and Deliver when conducting a highway robbery.
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“Out of the mouths of babes”: Is this idiom strictly used to refer to children?
According to Cambridge Dictionary, “out of the mouths of babes” is an idiom used when a child says something that is surprisingly wise. So, it is used to compliment the child for saying something that’...
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How to use " I have got to hand it to you " [closed]
I just want to know how to use this idiom as I came across it yesterday.
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Off the top of your head, or heads? [duplicate]
When addressing a group of people, should the idiom 'off the top of one's head' be used with singular or plural forms?
As in,
Off the top/s of your head/s, is Kolkata more populous than Hyderabad?
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What is the term/phrase in academic English Literature given to idioms/figure-of-speech/proverbs/narratives that are oxymorons/self-contradictory? [closed]
Unless the employer stuffs my mouth with gold until I gag, I will Not work for them.
What is the term/phrase in academic English Literature given to idioms/figure-of-speech/proverbs/narratives that ...
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English equivalent to the Swedish idiom "Har man tagit fan i båten..." [duplicate]
The full idiom in swedish goes: Har man tagit fan i båten, får man ro honom i land.
The literal translation would equal something along the lines of: If you bring the devil into the boat, you have to ...
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What does phrase "he got hammered" mean? When is it appropriate to use?
This comes from the movie "Moneyball".
General Manager is trying to sell baseball player Venafro to another baseball team
Steve: "Is (baseball player) Venafro hurt?"
Billy: "...
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