Are you looking to rev up your friends before going out for a night on the town? Maybe you're a quarterback looking for a way to tell your team to up their energy levels before the final play? In that case, using the idiom "upping the ante" is a great way to tell them to […]
Category: Idioms
Let’s Blow this Popsicle Stand - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you out with friends at a club having a good time? When the evening is over and you're ready to leave, you could say, "let's blow this popsicle stand," as you gather everyone up to go home. Let's blow this popsicle stand is a common phrase in modern culture, and you've probably heard a […]
Last But Not Least - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you making a list of items or people in no specific order of priority? If you're reading out the list, you might want to include the idiom "last but not least" before mentioning the person. This technique shows that the last person or item on the list is just as valuable as all the […]
Knee-Jerk Reaction - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Imagine the scene; you're sitting at the traffic light, waiting for it to turn green. All of a sudden, a person appears at your window and startles you. You have a "knee-jerk reaction" and slam the gas pedal to the floor, hurtling the car across the intersection – thankfully, no one got hurt, including the […]
It Be like that Sometimes - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you trying to find the words to make a reply to someone after they tell you some bad news they have to face? "It be like that sometimes" is a colloquial slang term to tell someone you're sorry to hear that. It be like that sometimes, is usually language you'll be using with your […]
I Hardly Know Her - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you looking for a way to make yourself look funny to other people? Maybe you want to break the seriousness of a conversation with a lighthearted gag? If that's the case, you can use the expression, "I hardly know her." If someone says, "we're going to place a wager on this football game," you […]
Hit a Lick - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did you just win some money at the casino? You could say you “hit a lick” at the slots. This slang phrase has plenty of use in modern language, and its origin traces back more than 100-years. In fact, you probably heard the use of “hit a lick” in some popular tracks from famous rappers […]
Behind Every Great Man - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you looking to show appreciation for your mom, wife, sister, girlfriend, or another important woman in your life? When someone asks you about your secret to success, you can tell them, "behind every great man is a woman." Behind Every Great Man Meaning This idiom is more of a proverb, and its meaning is […]
Ballpark Figure - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you asking a contractor for a rough estimate on the costs of repairing or renovating your home? You could ask them to give you a "ballpark figure" over the phone to get an idea of what you need to loan from the bank for the project. This post looks at the origins and meaning […]
Curb Stomp - Meaning, Origin and Usage
To curb-stomp, someone is not a pretty thing. The act of the curb stomp will kill or severely injure the party getting the stomping. It's a gang-style execution method used in many different situations and roots in Nazi Germany. This post isn't for people with sensitivity to violence. This post looks at everything you need […]