Did you just break some bad news to someone, and they replied by telling you they feel "faint of heart?" What does this mean? Are they dealing with the onset of a heart attack? This post unpacks everything you need to know about this idiomatic expression's origin, meaning, and use. Meaning The meaning of "faint […]
Category: Phrases
One Fell Swoop - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did your entire squadron get taken out while playing "Call of Duty?" If so, you could say that the enemy killed you all in "one fell swoop." This post unpacks the origin, meaning, and use of this phrase. Meaning The meaning of the idiomatic phrase "one fell swoop" comes from the meaning of the word […]
Oh Ye of Little Faith - Meaning, Origin and Usage
What does “oh ye of little faith” mean? If you’re not a religious person, you might not understand the reference to this idiomatic phrase. This post unpacks the meaning, origin, and use of this expression. Meaning This biblical phrase from Jesus Christ refers to his followers having no faith in his abilities as the Son […]
Long In the Tooth - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did someone just say that watching you play video games is starting to get "long in the tooth"? What do they mean? This post unpacks the origin, meaning, and use of this expression. Meaning To be "long in the tooth" means that you are too old for a situation or a task. The phrase can […]
Pig in a Poke - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Do you know the meaning of the idiomatic expression “pig in a poke”? This post unpacks everything you need to know about its origin and meaning, and we’ll look at how to use it in conversation. Meaning The idiomatic phrase “pig in a poke” means to purchase something without demanding that the buyer reveal the […]
Habibi - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did a cute Arabian guy just walk up to you and call you "Habibi?" what does he mean? This post gives you everything you need to know about the meaning and origin of this Arabic idiom. Meaning Habibi is an Arabic expression translating to "my love" in English. People in the Middle East and other […]
Indian Giver - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did someone just call you an "Indian giver"? What does that mean? Why did they call you that if you don't have Native American ancestry? This post unpacks everything you need to know about this idiomatic expression. We'll look at its origin, meaning, and use in conversation. Meaning To be an "Indian giver" means that […]
ISTG - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did your friend just type "ISTG" in the chat? This post unpacks the origin and meaning of this idiomatic acronym. Meaning "ISTG" is an idiomatic acronym referring to the phrase "I swear to God." "I swear to God" is a popular expression used in western culture, especially over the last few decades. When you're telling […]
Flash in a Pan - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did someone just call you a "flash in a pan" at work? What do they mean? This post unpacks everything you need to know about this idiomatic expression's origin, meaning, and use. Meaning The idiomatic expression "a flash in the pan" can refer to people, objects, or devices. The saying refers to a waning performance […]
Pull Out All the Stops - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Did your boss just ask you to "pull out all the stops" on your project? What do they mean? This post unpacks everything you need to know about this idiomatic expression's origin, meaning, and use. Meaning If you tell someone that you're going to "pull out all the stops," it means that you're going to […]