Category: Phrases

Are you looking for a way to describe something with an average performance or aligned with your expectations? You can use “par for the course” to describe its performance. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression “par for the course” means that you secured an outcome in line with […]

Are you looking for a way to tell someone you have the winning hand in a poker game? Maybe you want to show them proof of results of something they thought you couldn't achieve? If that's the case, you could present your cards or documents to them and use the expression, "read em and weep." […]

Are you looking for a way to tell someone to pass on their responsibility to another competent person? If so, you could use the phrase “pass the baton” to tell them to let go. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning When you “pass the baton” to someone, you are handing […]

Are you looking for a way to tell someone that their idea was unexpected? You could say that it came from “out of left field.” This post unpacks the origin and meaning of this expression. Meaning The saying “out of left field” means that someone took you by surprise with an answer to a question […]

Are you looking for a phrase to describe an unoccupied commercial property sitting idle doing nothing? If so, you could call it a “white elephant.” This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression “white elephant” means a piece of commercial real estate that no longer has any value and generates […]

Are you looking for a way to describe someone taking you on a pointless mission to nowhere? You could say they took you on a “wild goose chase.” This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression “wild goose chase” means that someone gave you the runaround, and you wasted your […]

Are you looking for a phrase to describe your boring and unexciting friends? You could call them your “vanilla friends” to accentuate their uninteresting behavior and demeanor. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression “vanilla friends” means people in your social circle that live uneventful lives. They don’t value […]

Are you looking for a way to say you’re moving onto the final stage of a competition? You could use the saying “two down, one to go” to describe your progress. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression “two down, one to go” means that you have successfully achieved […]

Are you speaking to someone that looks down on their luck and needs some motivation? You could use the motivating statement “keep on truckin” to tell them to persist in the face of challenges. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression “keep on truckin” means that a person should […]

Are you looking for a way to thank your hosts for a lovely evening? Instead of giving them a general "thank you," you could show appreciation to both of them by saying "thank you both." It's a more inclusive version of thank you and a great way to complement both of your hosts in a […]