Category: Phrases

Have you ever been called naive? If you have, chances are it wasn't meant as a compliment. When someone calls you naive, they usually suggest that you're too simple or gullible – that you don't understand how the world works. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning "Naive" is generally used […]

Have you tried to make peace with someone you previously fought with? Maybe there is someone you don’t quite like that has been making efforts at being cordial. If so, the term extending an olive branch is an apt description for said behaviors. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning An […]

Did a colleague say ‘ours is not to reason why’ after you asked them why management is making changes at work? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘ours is not to reason why’ is the shortened version of ‘ours is not to reason why. Ours is to do […]

Are you reading through your employment contract? Do you know what the term ‘per diem’ means? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘per diem’ is a noun. It refers to an amount of money paid to your by an employer to cover your daily expenses when working on […]

Are you looking for a way to allude to someone’s swollen belly? Maybe you want to send a quick text about someone in your office being pregnant? Perhaps you just want to say you're welcome in Italian. If so, then the phrase prego is a fitting way to go about it. This post unpacks the […]

Did someone say ‘que sera sera’ after you made a minor mistake at work? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘que sera sera’ is a Spanish term. It means you shouldn’t worry about things out of your control. It’s a way of saying that our destiny is predetermined, […]

Do you ever wonder what those skulls are that tend to litter writers' and poets' decor? Maybe you have come across these types of decorations in other areas such as at school, or in a philosopher’s nook. If so, and if you are curious about what they are, then you are in the right place […]

These days, the word "misogyny" gets thrown around a lot. In its simplest form, misogyny is the hatred of women. But it's not always that simple. Misogynistic attitudes can be directed at individual women or towards all women. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning "Misogynistic" is defined as "a hatred […]

Did someone just help you avoid making a terrible mistake? You could call them your 'saving grace.' This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression 'saving grace' refers to something or someone that saves or redeems you from a negative life experience. The phrase's original meaning has a religious reference, […]

Are you looking for a way to tell someone not to have any mercy? The idiom "no quarter given" may fit the bill. Discover what this interesting phrase means, where it came from, and how to use it in this post. ​​Meaning The now somewhat archaic idiom "no quarter given" may also be expressed as […]