Category: Phrases

Are you staring at an employment form for a new job, confused by the term "if applicable?" Before you ask the HR manager what they want from you, take the time to read through this post. We'll unpack this idiomatic phrase's meaning, origin, and use for you. Meaning If you're using "if applicable" in language […]

Did you just receive a seductive message from someone? How does it make you feel? You could always use the phrase “feeling some type of way” when replying to the person or expressing how you feel. This post unpacks the meaning, origin, and use of this idiom. Meaning “Feeling some type of way” refers to […]

Is someone trying to get on your nerves? Maybe they are getting in your way or teasing you? If that’s the case, you could always give them a veiled threat and tell them to stop it, or they will “catch these hands.” This post unpacks everything you need to know about the meaning and origin […]

Are you looking for a way to tell someone to lower their expectations around someone or something turning up? You could always use "anytime soon" to give them a timeline. This phrase has a dual meaning, and you probably hear it in conversation all the time. Let's unpack everything you need to know about this […]

Are you looking for a confirmation response to tell your friend that you understand their request? You could always use “10-4” to show them you get what they are saying. The “10-4” code appears in media and movies, and you probably hear it all the time, but what does it mean? This post unpacks everything […]

Are you talking about a young person? If so, you could always refer to them as a "youngin." Youngin is a common word used frequently in street culture, and you probably hear people using it all the time. This post unpacks the origin, meaning, and use of this idiom in conversation. Meaning So, what does […]

Are you looking for a way to tell someone that it's easy to reflect on what you could have done in a situation, but it doesn't matter? If so, you could use "hindsight is 20-20." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The phrase "hindsight is 20-20" means that we can […]

Do you know what a pangram is? It’s a word or phrase using nearly all the letters in the English language. One of the only sayings using all of the letters is “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” That’s right, count them if you want. You’ll find all 26 letters present in […]

Are you looking for a way to tell someone that they display their father's behavior and characteristics? You could say, “like father, like son.” This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression “like father, like son” refers to a child emulating their father's behavior. The phrase can have a positive […]

Are you looking for a way to tell someone that they can’t fool you again? If so, you can use “fool me once, shame on me.” This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The proverbial saying “fool me once, shame on you” means that you let someone get the better of […]