English Idioms and Sayings

[blacknomi]

Can I say

Your harsh remark cut me through just like a hot knife through butter.

Here's something with the same meaning, but tastier:

Your words stir up feelings inside of me that I particularly don't like.

All the best,

"Like a knife through hot butter" only says it is very easy, without difficulty. It is not like making a harsh remark that hurts someone's feelings.

BMO

Is there any idiom that can describe someone's words hurt you very much like a knife cut through your heart and your heart is bleeding.

 

[bmo]

Q: What does "He lied like a dog" mean?

A: The person lied brazenly. Perhaps he told an obvious lie unashamedly.

He lied through his teeth. Same thing?

BMO

Yes, indeed. :wink:

Thanks. BMO

 

[bmo]

Is there any idiom that can describe someone's words hurt you very much like a knife cut through your heart and your heart is bleeding.

can't think of any.

BMO

 

[bmo]

Re:

• "She hit the roof when I came in late. She wouldn't accept my explanation, and I wound up in the doghouse."

Does anybody want to explain (or ask questions about) that one?

:wink:

1. Hit the roof - Got really mad.
2. In the doghouse - in disfavor.

BMO

 

[bmo]

Hi, Ron

May I suggest? :lol:

It's good to learn these idioms and sayings. But I don't have much impression of these after reading it over if I don't use it in a real conversation or in any writing assignment. In my humble opinion, you could collect some of sayings that are closely related to a single concept, it may accelerate learning!


Either

Concept: Angry
1. hit the ceiling
2. go through the roof
3. ...
4. ...


or


Concept: Eat (idioms that contain the word 'eat')
1. eat your heart out
2. eat humble pie
3. dog-eat-dog world
4. ...

What do you say? :lol:

Your suggestion is a good one, but I have been putting them up as I think of them. (Did you notice a theme in my most recent posts?)

NTC's "Thematic Dictionary of American Idioms - Arranged According to Topic" is close to what Blacknomi is suggesting but that is a lot of work. Making "Idioms and Sayings" a separate forum is already a big improvement.

BMO

 

[RonBee]

I agree, BMO. If I was going to arrange them by topic before posting them I would probably still be at it. Anyhow, I would have to say this thread has been quite successful. According to the number of views, there is quite a bit of interest in the subject.

 

[bmo]

I agree, BMO. If I was going to arrange them by topic before posting them I would probably still be at it. Anyhow, I would have to say this thread has been quite successful. According to the number of views, there is quite a bit of interest in the subject.

Indeed, and the new forum "Idioms and sayings." Now I like to make another suggestion of a new forum or thread, the etymology. Please check it out in "Suggestions and Comments."

BMO

 

[blacknomi]

NTC's "Thematic Dictionary of American Idioms - Arranged According to Topic" is close to what Blacknomi is suggesting but that is a lot of work. Making "Idioms and Sayings" a separate forum is already a big improvement.

BMO

Thanks. BMO. I have "Idiomatic American English" at hand. NTC's is also a good one.

Indeed, "Idioms and Sayings" is superb! I love it!

 

[blacknomi]

Q: What is "talk until one is blue in the face"?




My moms always talks until she's blue in the face, but she couldn't change my mind.

How about "talk one's head off"?

 

[blacknomi]

Q: What is "knock someone's socks off"?



Wow, your fifth marriage next month is going to knock everyone's socks off.
:shock:


How about "I'll be a monkey's uncle"?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Is there any idiom that can describe someone's words hurt you very much like a knife cut through your heart and your heart is bleeding.

1. break someone's heart
2. cut someone to the quick

 

[RonBee]

Q: What is a "bolt from the blue"?

A: A bolt from the blue is something that happens that catches somebody completely by surprise. (It might be based on the phenomenon of lightning from a clear blue sky, which would indeed be a bolt from the blue.)

Example:

• My brother Frank called me yesterday. It was a bolt from the blue. I hadn't heard from him in years.

 

[RonBee]

Re:

• "She hit the roof when I came in late. She wouldn't accept my explanation, and I wound up in the doghouse."

Does anybody want to explain (or ask questions about) that one?

:wink:

1. Hit the roof - Got really mad.
2. In the doghouse - in disfavor.

BMO

Yep.

:wink:

 

[RonBee]

Q: What is "talk until one is blue in the face"?




My moms always talks until she's blue in the face, but she couldn't change my mind.

How about "talk one's head off"?

1. It could be that they talk until they are out of oxygen (cyanotic), but that is unlikely. Probably it was a very energetic bit of talking.

(Try: "My mom always talks until she is blue in the face, but she never changes my mind.")

2. The second one is about the same as the first one. The speaker who "talks his head off" is probably trying to convince somebody of something. He or she probably talks using a lot of gestures and a lot of inflection.

 

[RonBee]

Q: What is "knock someone's socks off"?



Wow, your fifth marriage next month is going to knock everyone's socks off.
:shock:


How about "I'll be a monkey's uncle"?

1. If you knock somebody's socks off you impress that person a great deal.

2. The expression "I'll be a monkey's uncle is used to indicate that a person is surprised or amazed (or surprised and amazed) about something.

 

[blacknomi]

Q: What is "talk until one is blue in the face"?




My moms always talks until she's blue in the face, but she couldn't change my mind.

How about "talk one's head off"?

1. It could be that they talk until they are out of oxygen (cyanotic), but that is unlikely. Probably it was a very energetic bit of talking.

(Try: "My mom always talks until she is blue in the face, but she never changes my mind.")

2. The second one is about the same as the first one. The speaker who "talks his head off" is probably trying to convince somebody of something. He or she probably talks using a lot of gestures and a lot of inflection.

Also similiar with
"talk my ears/head/pants off", meaning someone's got bored by another person's tedious loquacity
"talk my ear ragged", meaning you talk endlessly
"talk in blue streak" ,meaning you talk really fast without stopping.

When you talk in riddles, you make others confused.

 

[Casiopea]

Also similiar with
"talk my ears/head/pants off", meaning someone's got bored by another person's tedious loquacity
"talk my ear ragged", meaning you talk endlessly
"talk in blue streak" ,meaning you talk really fast without stopping.

When you talk in riddles, you make others confused.

A person who talks non-stop is called a chatter-box.

 

[blacknomi]

Also similiar with
"talk my ears/head/pants off", meaning someone's got bored by another person's tedious loquacity
"talk my ear ragged", meaning you talk endlessly
"talk in blue streak" ,meaning you talk really fast without stopping.

When you talk in riddles, you make others confused.

A person who talks non-stop is called a chatter-box.

Can someone recover from diarrhea of the mouth? 8)

 

[RonBee]

Q: What is "talk until one is blue in the face"?




My moms always talks until she's blue in the face, but she couldn't change my mind.

How about "talk one's head off"?

1. It could be that they talk until they are out of oxygen (cyanotic), but that is unlikely. Probably it was a very energetic bit of talking.

(Try: "My mom always talks until she is blue in the face, but she never changes my mind.")

2. The second one is about the same as the first one. The speaker who "talks his head off" is probably trying to convince somebody of something. He or she probably talks using a lot of gestures and a lot of inflection.

Also similiar with
"talk my ears/head/pants off", meaning someone's got bored by another person's tedious loquacity
"talk my ear ragged", meaning you talk endlessly
"talk in blue streak" ,meaning you talk really fast without stopping.

When you talk in riddles, you make others confused.

I am familiar with "talk my ears off" and "talk a blue streak", but the others are new to me.

 

[RonBee]

Also similiar with
"talk my ears/head/pants off", meaning someone's got bored by another person's tedious loquacity
"talk my ear ragged", meaning you talk endlessly
"talk in blue streak" ,meaning you talk really fast without stopping.

When you talk in riddles, you make others confused.

A person who talks non-stop is called a chatter-box.

Can someone recover from diarrhea of the mouth? 8)

I think so. The "sufferer" should rest quietly (no running) and drink plenty of liquids. Also, don't cough on anybody.

:wink: