Category: Phrases

Are you listening to Donald Trump’s old speeches? If so, you’ve probably heard him say how he wanted to “drain the swamp.” This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression “drain the swamp” means to root out the corrupt officials in government. Conspiracy theorists claim that Washington DC is an […]

Are you looking for a way to describe the shady actions of people like politicians? If so, you could say that all they offer at a campaign rally is "smoke and mirrors" for the public. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "smoke and mirrors" means that someone or […]

Are you looking for a way to tell someone to be quiet? If so, you could use the proverbial saying, "silence is golden." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this phrase. Meaning The proverbial saying "silence is golden" means that we all need to appreciate silence, and it pays dividends to keep quiet […]

Is your friend sitting next to you in the passenger seat of your car? If so, you could say they are "riding shotgun" on the road trip. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "riding shotgun" means that you're riding in the passenger seat of a vehicle alongside the […]

Are you about to use profanity to emphasize your speech? If so, you could give the listener a warning of what's to come by using the saying, "pardon my French." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "pardon my French" has several uses in the English language. It serves […]

Are you looking for a way to bid someone farewell in a quirky manner? If so, you could tell them goodbye with the phrase "live long and prosper." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this saying. Meaning When someone greets you with "live long and prosper," they are telling you to have a […]

Are you looking for a different way to say "thank you" to someone? If so, you could use the expression "I appreciate it" instead. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression "I appreciate it" is another way of saying "thank you." We started using gratitude in terms in the […]

Are you looking for a way to express your shock or disgust with something or someone? If so, you could say that you're "taken aback" by their behavior. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this phrase. Meaning If you're telling someone you're "taken aback," it means that you are in shock or disbelief […]

Is the rain pouring down outside right now? If so, you could say that it's "raining cats and dogs." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning If you're driving through a severe rainstorm, then you can say it's "raining cats and dogs." It's a somewhat peculiar expression since cats and dogs […]

Are you looking for a way to tell someone to take a minimalist approach to their life? If so, you could say to them, "less is more." This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The phrase "less is more" means that a minimalist approach is often the best strategy. The term […]