Category: Idioms

Are you headed into a bad part of town where there’s a risk of danger? If so, you could alert your family or friends to “keep their head on a swivel.” This post unpacks everything you need to know about this idiom’s origin, meaning, and use. Keep Your Head on a Swivel Meaning “Keep your […]

Are you about to walk out the door of your home to grab dinner for your family? If so, you could tell your son to “hold down the fort” while you’re out fetching the order. It’s a way of telling him to look out for things while you’re away. This post unpacks everything you need […]

Are you going to get in trouble at work? You could always take the dishonorable route and dodge the blame; just “pass the buck” to someone else on the team, and you’ll get off scot-free. This post unpacks everything you need to know about the idiom, its origin, and it’s meaning. Pass the Buck Meaning […]

“Tell me, Sam, that new proposal by the marketing department, a penny for your thoughts?” If you’re looking to extract information from someone, then you can use this idiom as a way to entice them to give you the best reply possible. You’re not going to pay them for their thoughts, but you will pay […]

Do you have a secret you’re bursting to tell someone? That’s the one thing we know about secrets – they are hard to keep. If you need to tell someone something private, and you want them to keep it to themselves, you could use the idiom “mums the word.” This post unpacks the meaning, origin, […]

Are you looking for a smart way to tell someone that their actions no longer fool you? If so, you could use “the jig is up.” It’s a way of telling someone that you’re onto them, and they won’t get away with their actions or behaviors any longer. This post unpacks everything you need to […]

Do you have to read through an insurance policy or contract? If so, it’s good to remember that “the devil is in the details.” This post unpacks everything you need to know about the origin and meaning of this idiom. Devil is in the Details Idiom Meaning We’re sure you’ve heard someone say “the devil […]

Do you know what it means when people say “a dime a dozen?” Let’s say you’re looking through a newspaper at the latest deals on cars. You decide to check out the Toyota Camry, and your friend steps in, telling you that you don’t want that vanilla car because they are “a dime a dozen.” […]

Imagine the scene, you’re at a protest, and things suddenly turn to chaos as people start smashing shop windows, setting things on fire, and looting. You could say that things went to hell in a handbasket in seconds. This post unpacks the origin and meaning of this idiom. Hell in a Handbasket Meaning When you’re […]

Are you sitting around a table with some friends enjoying a cup of coffee? One of them suddenly turns to you and says, “So, start spilling the tea on everything you know about Joan and Joe’s breakup.” This post unpacks everything you need to know about the origin and meaning of this phrase. Spilling the […]