The saying 'on the other hand' is a common expression in the English language. The saying is usually used as an informal substitute for words like 'however', and the hand part is figurative. This post unpacks the meaning, origin and use of this expression. Meaning The phrase 'on the other hand' is a common figurative […]

Are you looking for a defiant way to tell someone something will never happen? You could try the phrase “in a pig’s eye.” This post explores the meaning and origin of this colorful slang phrase and shows you how to use it. Meaning You can use the phrase “in a pig’s eye” to convey strong […]

After a long day at work, most people want to go home, take a shower and go to bed. Even if you didn’t go to work, but maybe spent a healthy amount of time in the gym, going to sleep holds a certain allure. For most, the idiom “hit the sack” means exactly that, but […]

Have you been visiting with your friends or family and want to infer that you are ready to go home? Maybe you are out late and want to wrap things up for the night. If so, the phrase hit the road is a great way to get your point across while remaining polite. This post […]

Are you one of those people who can roll out of bed and get your day started with ease? Maybe when presented with a problem you are able to assess and form a solution immediately. If so, you are among the lucky few that are able to hit the ground running. This post unpacks the […]

Do you see an event as a sign of worse things to come? You could say that it is a “harbinger of doom.” Read on to discover where this curious phrase comes from and what it means. We’ll also show how to use it in a sentence. Meaning The expression “harbinger of doom” means “a […]

Are you afraid that a sullen, disgruntled, coworker is about to do something violent? You could say that you’re scared he is “going postal.” This post explores what the phrase means, where it comes from, and how to use it in a sentence. Meaning The American expression “going postal” means that someone is about to […]

Have you ever invested time or money into something only to find that your efforts didn’t pan out? Perhaps you loaned someone money and they never paid you back? If so, then the idiom “down the drain” is a great idiom that can apply to your situation. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of […]

Is there something that you can do with a high level of accuracy? Perhaps you know someone who can recall most of what they see or hear? Have you or someone you know practiced something so often that you have it perfected? If so, the perfect phrase for this is “down pat”. This post unpacks […]

Are you facing a complex problem that seems too difficult to overcome? Maybe you are being pitted against a team that has excellent coordination. If so, then now is the perfect time to use the divide and conquer tactic to prevail. Be it in a professional setting or on the battlefield, breaking up the opposition […]