Are you looking for a way to tell someone that beauty is subjective? If that's the case, you could use the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this proverbial saying. Meaning "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" means that everyone's view of […]
Category: Idioms
Close but No Cigar - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you looking for a way to tell someone that they just fell short of their target? If that's the case, you could use the saying, "close but no cigar." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this saying. Meaning The meaning of the expression "close but no cigar" refers to someone narrowly missing […]
Brevity is the Soul of Wit - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did someone just crack a witty joke at work with a short, snappy punchline? If so, you could compliment them by saying, "brevity is the soul of wit." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning "Brevity is the wit of the soul" means that people that use short speech provide the […]
Money is the Root of all Evil - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did someone just tell you that money is the root of all evil? What do they mean? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "money is the root of all evil" means that the monetary system is responsible for all the evil in the world. It means that men […]
Now is the Winter of Our Discontent - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you looking for a way to tell someone that things can't get any worse? If so, you could say that "now is “the winter of our discontent.” This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this proverbial expression. Meaning The phrase "now is the winter of our discontent" means that we are exiting the […]
The Salt of The Earth - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you looking for a way to tell someone that they are a genuine and reliable person you can depend on in life? If so, you could call them "the salt of the earth." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning If you're referring to someone as "the salt of the […]
To Err is Human to Forgive is Divine - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you looking for a way to tell someone to stop being so hard on someone else or themselves after making a mistake? If so, you could say, "to err is human; to forgive is divine." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "to err is human, to forgive […]
Weather the Storm - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you looking for a way to tell someone to hang in there and ride out the bad times in their life? If so, you could ask them to "weather the storm." This post unpacks everything you need to know about the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "weather the storm" means […]
Cut of Your Jib - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did someone just tell you that they like the "cut of your jib"? What does that mean? Do they think you're a sailor? This post unpacks everything you need to know about the origin and meaning of this idiomatic expression. Meaning If someone tells you that they like the "cut of your jib," they're saying […]
Apples to Apples – Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you unsure that you're getting a good deal? If you feel someone is trying to shortchange you in a swap, you could ask them to compare "apples to apples" when assessing the value of your item. This post unpacks everything you need to know about the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The […]