Are you looking at a colleague at the office going "crazy" after the boss let them go? If they are having a Jerry Maguire moment, you can say they have "bats in the belfry" regarding their behavior. This post unpacks everything you need to know about this idiom, its origin, and how to use it […]
Inquiring Minds Want to Know - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Do you have an "inquiring mind?" The chances are that if you walked past a newsstand in the 70s and 80s, you would see a copy of the tabloid paper, "Enquiring Minds." Over the following decades, people would replace the phrase with the alternative spelling of the word, resulting in "Inquiring minds" as an expression. […]
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you thinking about taking out a second credit card to pay off the first one's balance? If so, you're "robbing Peter to pay Paul." This idiom describes shifting your debts from one person to another or one entity to another to settle your finances. The saying defines idiotic behavior, and most people use it […]
Kit and Kaboodle - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you planning on going on vacation? If you're stacking piles of luggage into the car to prepare for any scenario, you're taking the entire "kit and caboodle" with you. Kit and kaboodle isn't a very popular phrase, but it still has plenty of use cases in today's society. For instance, the pet food brand […]
In Light Of - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you looking for a way to present new evidence? "In light of" is an idiom referencing consideration of new information to a conversation, task, process, or something similar. In light of can refer to taking something into consideration, or looking at the relationship between different data sets. The phrase is in use in modern […]
I Beg to Differ - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Is someone presenting a civil argument to you, and you disagree with them? Rather than getting heated, you could simply present your counter-argument by stating, "I beg to differ." I beg to differ is a polite way to offer your counter-point without raising the intensity around the situation that might result in a heated argument. […]
Hit the Hay - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you feeling tired? Maybe it’s time to “hit the hay” and go to bed? To hit the hay is a common term used in modern society, and the chances are you use it yourself from time to time or hear other people say it around you. The term suits informal use, and many people […]
Hand Over Fist - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you doing financially well in life? If you're a salesperson or business owner making large amounts of money quickly, you're doing so, "hand over fist." The idiom is suitable for formal and informal use, describing someone or a company doing well and reaping financial rewards. Hand over fist is a common term used in […]
Goat Roping - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Are you involved in a confusing situation with a possible dire outcome? If that's the case, you're “goat roping” yourself towards disaster. "Goat roping" is a slang term typically used in military and tactical situations to describe setting yourself up for failure. You can goat rope yourself or others, and you can also use it […]
Feeling Under the Weather - Meaning, Usage and Origin
Are you “feeling under the weather?” This phrase describes you feeling sick. You might have a cold or the flu, and you just don’t feel right. The idiom could also mean that you’re feeling emotionally unstable or depressed – just not your right self. You could also use the phrase to describe how you feel […]