Being humble is the best way to build lasting relationships while still being the best at what you do. There are many ways to express that you or someone you know is humble. One of the well-loved expressions is that a person is down to earth. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this […]

Do you ever feel like you are battling against an endless line of challenges? Perhaps there are a lot of hurdles you need to jump in order to get to the finish line of a project. If so, the phrase running the gauntlet is an apt expression to explain your plight. This post unpacks the […]

Are you looking for a way to tell someone that something is an integral component in a wider whole? You could say that that thing is “part and parcel” of the whole, or the experience. Learn more about the meaning and origin of this expression below, and discover how to use the phrase “part and […]

Did you make it to class right before the starting bell? Perhaps you clocked in with only seconds left before you would be considered late? Maybe you happened to buy the very last jelly-glazed donut in the shop. If so, then the phrase in the nick of time is perfect for your situation. This post […]

Have you ever gotten a feeling that there is something just out of reach? Maybe you are talking to someone and you are stricken with a feeling of only seeing what’s on the surface. If so, the phrase there is more than meets the eye is perfect to describe your situation. This post unpacks the […]

Are you working hard to compromise with someone at work? Maybe you have a difficult neighbor with whom you keep bumping heads. If so, it is a good idea to try meeting them in the middle so that both sides are able to live happily. Not sure what meeting in the middle means? This post […]

Have you ever seen people so in love that they seem inseparable? Do you love your partner or kids more than life itself? Perhaps the feeling is so strong it feels like death to be apart. If so, then the idiom love to death is a great way to explain these complex emotions. This post […]

Wishing for good things in the future is pretty normal, however, in many cultures are you discouraged from sharing your goals. In fact, if you happen to mention something positive that happened or your desire for luck, many say you should knock on wood. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning […]

Have you ever tried to patch something together just to get it working? Maybe you broke your mom’s favorite vase or trinket and patched it up with glue and tape? If so, these are great examples of being Jimmy-rigged. If you want to know more about this phrase, keep on reading. This post unpacks the […]

Do you have to take a leak but are shy about announcing your needs? Maybe you want to teach your kids a cute, but polite way to signal that they need a potty break. There are a few different phrases you can use, but Jimmy Riddle is perhaps the easiest to remember. This post unpacks […]