Category: Idioms

Are you listening to someone play the victim in life? You could use the phrase ‘woe is me’ to tell them they should take responsibility for their life. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘woe is me’ is a statement proclaiming a victim mentality. It means that nothing […]

Did someone just apologize to you for doing you wrong? If you feel like forgiving them, you could use the phrase ‘water under the bridge’ to let them know you don’t have a problem with them and that you appreciate the apology. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression […]

Are you watching work colleagues start an argument with each other? You need to get ahead of their behavior and ‘nip it in the bud’ before they get out of hand. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘nip it in the bud’ means that you must take immediate […]

Did a friend betray you? You could say they ‘stabbed you in the back.’ This post unpacks the meaning and origin of the expression. Meaning The expression ‘stabbed in the back’ means that someone close to you betrayed you. It refers to someone you know being disloyal to you, leading you into a bad situation […]

Did someone just say 'tide and time wait for no man' after they see you lazing around? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression 'time and tide wait for no man' means that no one can escape the passing of time. It's a motivating statement meant to inspire you […]

Are you late for dinner? You could say you got ‘caught up’ at the office to explain your tardiness. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression 'caught up' means to be carried away with something that you're unconcerned about what's going on around you. You could lose track of […]

Are you feeling frustrated with waiting for something in your life? Remember, 'patience is a virtue.' This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this proverbial expression. Meaning The proverbial expression 'patience is a virtue' means that patience is a skill worth learning and a valuable tool in life. It refers to the fact that […]

Have you been dealing with a seemingly endless bout of bad luck? Maybe things just can’t seem to go right but you refuse to give up? If so, this is what many old-timers refer to as trials and tribulations. If you are curious about this turn of phrase, you are in the right place. This […]

Did someone tell you the sky’s the limit after you asked them what’s possible with the price of Bitcoin? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning ‘The sky’s the limit’ means that there is no limit. It’s a way of saying that you have untapped, limitless potential. The phrase can refer […]

Did someone tell you that ‘the pen is mightier than the sword?’ How is that possible? A sword is a far better weapon than a pen, right? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The proverbial expression ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’ means mass appeal has more power than […]