Category: Idioms

Are you looking for an expression to help you describe how much of a commercial success an item is? You could say that this product is “selling like hotcakes.” Keep reading to discover where this phrase originated and how to use it in a sentence. Meaning The American expression “selling like hotcakes” is used to […]

Have you seen the phrase 'cut me some slack' somewhere on the internet or in a text and would like to know more about what the saying means in context? 'Cut me some slack' is a common English figurative expression. This post unpacks the meaning, origin, and correct use of the saying. Meaning The phrase […]

Is there something that you can do with a high level of accuracy? Perhaps you know someone who can recall most of what they see or hear? Have you or someone you know practiced something so often that you have it perfected? If so, the perfect phrase for this is “down pat”. This post unpacks […]

Have you seen the expression 'movers and shakers' somewhere and would like to know more about the meaning and context of it? The phrase 'movers and shakers' is a common figurative saying in English. This post unpacks its meaning, origin and common use. Meaning The expression 'movers and shakers' is a type of figurative saying […]

Have you ever invested time or money into something only to find that your efforts didn’t pan out? Perhaps you loaned someone money and they never paid you back? If so, then the idiom “down the drain” is a great idiom that can apply to your situation. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of […]

Have you seen the phrase 'the stone that the builder refused' somewhere in a text or on the internet and would like to know more about what the saying means? The phrase 'the stone that the builder refused' is a common figurative saying with origins in the Bible. This post unpacks the meaning and origin […]

Are you afraid that a sullen, disgruntled, coworker is about to do something violent? You could say that you’re scared he is “going postal.” This post explores what the phrase means, where it comes from, and how to use it in a sentence. Meaning The American expression “going postal” means that someone is about to […]

Have you seen the expression 'that's the way the cookie crumbles' and would like to know more about the common use and context of the saying? It's a common figurative saying in the English language. This post unpacks its meaning, origin, and use. Meaning The saying 'that's the way the cookie crumbles' is a type […]

Do you see an event as a sign of worse things to come? You could say that it is a “harbinger of doom.” Read on to discover where this curious phrase comes from and what it means. We’ll also show how to use it in a sentence. Meaning The expression “harbinger of doom” means “a […]

Have you seen the phrase 'a stone's throw' somewhere and would like to know more about the context and origin of the saying ? 'A stone's throw' is a common figurative saying that is used to indicate a short, nondescript distance. This post unpacks the meaning, origin, and common use of the expression. Meaning The […]