Idioms

[jack]

What do these mean?

1. First come, First serve.
2. First come, First served.

Thanks.

1 entry found for first come, first served.
first come, first served

Those who precede others will have their needs attended to earliest, as in So many people showed up that we may not have enough food to go around, so let it be "first come, first served." The idea is very old, but the first recorded use of this precise phrase was in 1545. Also see early bird catches the worm.



Never heard of the "first come, first serve " though :s . Then again, I'm not native English :]

[jack]

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/defi...9293&dict=CALD

Are these correct? What do these mean?
1. When the police failed to catch her son's murderer, she decided to take matters into her own hand. (What does it mean when 'hand' is singular?)
2. When the police failed to catch her son's murderer, she decided to take matters into her own hands. (Why is 'hands' plural?)

Thanks.

[Mister Micawber]

'Into her own hands' is correct, and it means nothing when 'hand' is singular. There is no reasoning with idioms, Jack. Anyway, don't argue with Cambridge.

[Tdol]

She has two hands.

[Mister Micawber]

Let me give you a hand, Tdol!

http://ca.geocities.com/Mister_Micawber/appl.gif

[jack]

Thanks.

[Tdol]

Good clapping. )