bragging

[woodpeckerwoodpecker]

hi there,

was wondering if the following idiom was correct:

when you were just a wink in your father's eye.

I'm familiar with the one found in the dictionary which says "twinkle" instead of wink.

Thanks a lot

[grammarly]

I suggest using 'twinkle in your father's eye.'

The ccatch with most idioms is that you usually cannot change them and have their meaning understood. In fact, when idioms are changed, it is usually in order to make a joke or a sarcastic statement.

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the board, wpwp.

Please give your threads meaningful titles.

What has bragging got to do with your question?

Rover

[Tdol]

when you were just a wink in your father's eye.

You'll find some words can be changed in idioms, but usually the key words don't change, and twinkle should be left alone.

[woodpeckerwoodpecker]

thanks for your help. I would've sworn I'd come across that expression with "wink". I'm obviously wrong. "Bragging" is undoubtedly another mistake of mine but I thought that was often said in bragging. "think you're smart? I could do that when you were just a twinkle in your father's eye". thanks again Rover

[woodpeckerwoodpecker]

thanks a lot grammarly. I know such expressions, just like proverbs must not be changed. But I was so sure I'd come across it with 'wink'!! I must've misread it. another question if you please. I know "all the world and your wife". But does this one exist: "you can't please all the world and your father"? Again, I think I've read it somewhere but an English friend disagreed with me.

[5jj]

'All the world and his wife' is the only one I know