Category: Idioms

Did you deliver bad news to someone? If they respond with ‘such is life,’ they probably don’t find it surprising. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘such is life’ means to accept the unpredictable misfortune of existence. Typically, people will use the phrase with weary resignation, as if […]

Are you looking for a way to motivate someone into action? You could use the proverbial saying “nothing ventured, nothing gained” to inspire them to take action. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression “nothing ventured, nothing gained” means that you must take risks in life if you want […]

Did someone just describe a surprising event as a ‘bolt from the blue?’ This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘bolt from the blue’ means a sudden, unexpected occurrence or event. Usually, the event is a minor annoyance or frustration, or it causes you to have to take action […]

Did someone say you have ‘blood on your hands' after making a decision? Are you responsible for the outcome, or can you pass the blame to someone else? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘blood on your hands’ means that you’re responsible for the death or suffering of […]

Are you having an awful day after getting fired? Was this job your only source of income? That sounds extremely depressing, but if you look at things in a different light it may actually be a blessing in disguise. There are a lot of things in life that may seem terrible from the outset but […]

Has someone ever told you something in confidence that you later revealed in public? Perhaps you shared some news with someone and they later shared the information with others. If so, then you are already aware of what letting the cat out of bag means. While it is similar to snitching, letting the cat out […]

In the world of idioms, there are seemingly endless ways to say the same thing. One such idiom is "there's more than one way to skin a cat." This phrase has been used for centuries and has many different interpretations. But what does it mean? And why do we use it? Let's take a closer […]

Have you ever tried to look at something for the opposing point of view? Perhaps you are serving as a neutral party during an arguments between others? As any good lawyer knows, the devil's advocate plays a crucial role in any legal argument, but it also applies to real life. But what does that mean, […]

Mid-90s Hip-hop culture can be credited with introducing the act of “throwing shade” at another person. In recent years, the term has been increasingly shortened to “shading” as verbiage in social media. If you are looking for a way to get back at someone online or just be a little passive aggressive without getting in […]

Have you ever watched a scary movie and had the gut feeling that something terrible is about to happen? Did you ever not study for a test and start predicting how bad you were going to do when the teacher started handing out the test? How would you feel if your company announced they are […]