Category: Idioms

The phrase 'have a crush' is a common saying in the English language that refers to romantically liking (or 'crushing on') another person. It can make no sense to someone who has never heard the saying before. This post unpacks the meaning, origin, and common use of the expression. Meaning The saying 'have a crush' […]

Would you like to tell someone that their idea or their prospects could stand to be doomed, and that they are better off without the risk? The phrase 'fall on your sword' can be used to say this, and it's one of the most common figurative expressions to tell a person that something could be […]

Have you seen the phrase 'nasty brutish and short' somewhere on the internet or in a text and would like to know more about what it means? The saying 'nasty brutish and short' is a figurative, descriptive English saying. This post unpacks its origin, meaning and correct use. Meaning The phrase 'nasty brutish and short' […]

Have you seen the phrase 'break a leg' somewhere on the internet or in a text and would like to know more about what it means? The phrase 'break a leg' is figurative, and has specific associations with luck and stage performance. This post unpacks the meaning, origin and use of the saying. Meaning The […]

Are you looking for a casual way to tell someone that everything remains undecided? You could say that “it’s all up in the air.” Dive into the meaning and origin of this interesting phrase in this post — and discover how to use it. Meaning The English idiom “up in the air” means that something […]

Are you looking for a colorful way to tell someone something will never happen? You could decide to say that it will come to be “when hell freezes over.” Dive into the meaning and origin of this idiom, and learn how to use it, in this post. Meaning The idiom “when hell freezes over” is […]

The phrase 'get your goat' is a common saying in the English language, though it can often confuse non-native speakers or people who have just never heard the phrase before. This post unpacks the meaning, origin, and common use of 'get your goat'. Meaning The phrase 'get your goat' is a common figurative saying in […]

Are you looking for a casual way to tell someone you need to use the restroom? You could say you need to “make a sissy.” This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this slang term, and shows you how to use it. Meaning The slang phrase “making a sissy” simply means urinating. Tone-wise, making […]

Have you seen the phrase 'on the dole' somewhere and would like to know more about the meaning of the saying? 'On the dole' is a saying that is more common in UK English than American, and it can confuse many people the first time they encounter the term. This post unpacks its meaning, origin, […]

Is there someone around you who is making a fuss over something trivial? Perhaps you ran into a problem that has since been resolved, but your companion simply doesn’t want to let it go. If so, the phrase “much ado about nothing” can aptly describe your plight. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of […]