English Idioms and Sayings

[RonBee]

Something new!

• Idioms Are Fun! (added: 26-Feb-2004)
  http://anned.tblog.com/
  Anne Davis has a new blog at tBlog. As the title says,
  "Idioms are Fun"!

 

[RonBee]

Here's another question. What does it mean if you say to somebody that he is "all wet"?

Here's another. What is a wet blanket?

 

[bmo]

Here's another question. What does it mean if you say to somebody that he is "all wet"?

Here's another. What is a wet blanket?

A wet blanket is one who spoils other people's fun; who would not participate in a fun activity especially one that is mischievous.

BMO

 

[RonBee]

Very good! So don't be a wet blanket. :wink:

(If somebody says, "You're all wet" he means the ideas you have expressed are not good ones.)

What does it mean to throw the baby out with the bathwater?

• Idioms Are Fun
  http://anned.tblog.com/

 

[bmo]

What does it mean to "squirrel money away"?

What are "squirrel money away" and "go such an egg?"

BMO

 

[RonBee]

What does it mean to "squirrel money away"?

What are "squirrel money away" and "go such an egg?"

BMO

To "squirrel money away" is to save it for a rainy day. The person squirreling his money away hopes to save it for something. The expression seems to have the connotation of hiding the money.

The expression "Go suck an egg" is a rude way of telling somebody to go away.

 

[Tdol]

'Squirrel money'is often used for dubious or illegal money. ;-)

 

[RonBee]

Another question. What does it mean to be on pins and needles?

 

[Tdol]

In BE, we have pins and needles, whene we're full of anticipation, but I have heard it with 'on'. Is it different? ;-)

 

[RonBee]

In BE, we have pins and needles, whene we're full of anticipation, but I have heard it with 'on'. Is it different? ;-)

Nope. No different.

 

[bmo]

Let's do the idioms again, it is fun:

A. What is "Burn a hole in your pocket" and which of the following is correct?

1. Some thing that makes you want to spend money, in this case, it is a desire? For example, his money is burning a hole in his pocket = he can't keep his money in his pocket; he is anxious to spend, but he hasn't spent yet.

2. Spend a lot of money, which is an action. Ex: You don't have to burn a hole in your pocket; it is only $100.

Can I redefine it as, "You feel like spending money?"
What is your definition?


B. The grass is greener on the other side of the fence. This is the correct expression and the grass is greener over the fence is wrong. Am I right? The idiom says you always envy other people for what they have, beauty, house, lawn, money, children, swimming pool. Is my definition correct? And another thing, are we talking about the neighours only? If you are contemplating leaving your job because you think another company is a much better place to work for, is it fitting? What is "on the other side?" It seems like talking about your immediate neighbour.

Thanks.

BMO

 

[RonBee]

Let's do the idioms again, it is fun:

A. What is "Burn a hole in your pocket" and which of the following is correct?

1. Some thing that makes you want to spend money, in this case, it is a desire? For example, his money is burning a hole in his pocket = he can't keep his money in his pocket; he is anxious to spend, but he hasn't spent yet.

2. Spend a lot of money, which is an action. Ex: You don't have to burn a hole in your pocket; it is only $100.

Can I redefine it as, "You feel like spending money?"
What is your definition?

I agree with the first one. If a person's money is burning a hole in his pocket that means he is eager to spend it. He is "itching" to find something to spend his money on. It does not as far as I know have anything to do with the amount.


B. The grass is greener on the other side of the fence. This is the correct expression and the grass is greener over the fence is wrong. Am I right? The idiom says you always envy other people for what they have, beauty, house, lawn, money, children, swimming pool. Is my definition correct? And another thing, are we talking about the neighours only? If you are contemplating leaving your job because you think another company is a much better place to work for, is it fitting? What is "on the other side?" It seems like talking about your immediate neighbour[/quote]

You are right. It's "The grass is greener on the other side of the fence." It means that what somebody else has looks better to you than what you have even though it might not really be any better. Your example about the job is a good one. The "other side of the fence" part does, literally, refer to one's immediate neighbor, but the expression is, of course, generally used metaphorically, not literally.

 

[bmo]

Okay, all clear, thanks. BMO

 

[RonBee]

Here's another question. What is meant by the expression "You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar"?

 

[RonBee]

What is something that won't hold water? Is it

• a) something that is leaky
  b) an argument that is full of holes (flaws)
  c) an uncle who is lazy

:?:

 

[RonBee]

What does it mean to say that somebody's eyes are bigger than his stomach?

Example:

• It looks like Ron's eyes were bigger than his stomach. He barely touched his food.

What does the above statement say about Ron?

:wink:

 

[RonBee]

What does it mean to have butterflies in one's stomach?



Does having butterlies in one's stomach mean that you are (a) nervous, (b) excited, (c) calm, or (d) asleep?

 

[RonBee]

What does it mean when a person makes a remark tongue in cheek? Is he (a) nervous, (b) joking, (c) serious, or (d) calm?

 

[RonBee]

Re:

• Chew the fat.

Meaning: talk about things but not about anything in particular.

Example:

• I visited Melvin at his house for a while yesterday. We sat around and chewed the fat.

 

[RonBee]

What does it mean to follow in somebody's footsteps?