Did you see someone you dislike and suddenly turn to anger? You could say you flew into a "fit of rage." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "fit of rage" means someone lost control of their emotions and displayed a bad temper or outburst of anger at someone […]
Category: Idioms
Raked Over the Coals – Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did your friend tell you their boss "raked them over the coals" at work today? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "raked over the coals" means to give someone a hard time for their actions or words. It defines a severe scolding by a peer or authority in […]
Foot the Bill – Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did a guy expect you to split the check on your date? You could say you wanted him to "foot the bill" instead of splitting the check. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "foot the bill" means covering a debt's entire costs. If you "foot the bill," you […]
Herculean Task – Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did your boss ask you to do something that sounds impossible to achieve? You could say she's asking you to complete a "Herculean task." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "Herculean task" refers to an action or duty that seems impossible to complete. If someone serves you a […]
Hit the Books – Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you about to study for an exam? You could tell your friends you must leave to “hit the books.” This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression “hit the books” means to study for a test, exam, or profession. If someone tells you to hit the books, they’re telling […]
Hold Your Horses – Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are your kids hounding you to go to the waterpark? You could tell them, "hold your horses," and ask them to be patient while preparing the food and drinks for the day. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "hold your horses" means to be patient or to slow […]
Take a Hike – Meaning, Origin and Usage
Do you desperately want to get rid of a persistent door-to-door salesman who pushed his foot in the door to convince you to buy his set of amazing plastic containers? You might yell, “Take a hike!” to get the message across. Learn more about the meaning and origin of this idiom in this post. Meaning […]
I Have No Illusions – Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you about to start a new business, and did someone tell you being an entrepreneur is more complicated than you think? You could retort that you “have no illusions” about going into business and let them know you’re prepared to do what it takes to succeed. This post explores the phrase “I Have No […]
The Best is Yet to Come – Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did your friend tell you "the best is yet to come" was originally sung by Tony Bennett, not Frank Sinatra? What does this phrase mean? This post unpacks its definition and origin. Meaning The expression "the best is yet to come" means that all the events occurring in your life right now will eventually be […]
If I had My Druthers – Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did you suggest going somewhere for dinner, and your partner said, "If I had my druthers," before making an alternate suggestion? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "if I had my druthers" is a combination abbreviation of the words "would" and "rather." So, if you use "if I […]