December 2016 ~ Idioms And Phrases

Staring Down The Barrel Of...., In Line (To Succeed), Up For Grabs, Band-Aid Solution

Staring Down The Barrel Of.... When you are staring down the barrel of something, you are faced with an imminent danger (one which happens soon). This is used in a political context. Example: "New York City is staring down the barrel of a $4 billion budget deficit next year. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has called on his city commissioners to look at their departments and slash a combined $800 million from the current budget and $1.2 billion from the...

A Blip, A Wave, A Tsunami/ A Tidal Wave, A Method To One's Madness, Crowning Achievement

By Admin 21:23 Idiomatic Expression, Situation

A Blip Unlike a wave, "a blip" is a reference to a signal given off by radar (originally an acronym, now treated as a noun) indicating the presence of a real object at a given moment in time. In trends, a figurative "blip" means a temporary event that is not, or is not yet known to be, part of a larger trend. Example: "Today's upswing in national employment figures is believed to be a blip caused by a one-time event, and is not expected to be sustained...

Easier Said Than Done, In Store, Jumping The Shark, Heading Downhill

By Admin 21:22 Idiomatic Expression

Easier Said Than Done Something that is "easier said than done" - in other words, this idiom used as an adjective - means, something that is more difficult to actually do in reality, than to promise, pledge, or vow to do it. This is a very common phrase in North America expressing that boasting of doing something before you have actually done it is easy, and worthless. Something easier said than done is something harder to do than it is to boast...

In All Seriousness, Digging It, Giving A Damn, A.M. and P.M., Keep Up The Good Work

By Admin 21:20 Idiomatic Expression

In All Seriousness When I write the phrase, "in all seriousness," I mean, as a completely serious, literal point, without sarcasm, irony, or humor. Example: "In all seriousness, that house looks absolutely hideous. That shade of purple makes me want to cry." This is saying, the house in question is not being described as hideous as some sort of joke; no, it really is hideous. Digging It An idiom popularized in the 70's, to "dig something" is...

To Keep Something Coming, Make My Day, Forcing Something, Turning The Page

By Admin 21:18 Expression, Idiomatic Expression

To Keep Something Coming If someone says, keep X coming, this is an invitation to bring more of that thing. Example: Brian's boss is very pleased with the work Brian has been doing for their insurance company. Brian's boss tells Brian, "Excellent work. Don't stop. Keep it coming." Brian knows his boss is strongly urging him to keep doing excellent work. "Make My Day" Doubling as a famous quote, "Make my day" is urging someone else to provide an...

Mission Accomplished, I Can't Thank You Enough, Words Fail Me, At A Loss For Words

By Admin 21:16 Expression, Idiomatic Expression

Mission Accomplished Originating from the military, "mission accomplished" simply means that a mission's goals have been successfully fulfilled. The trick is defining the mission properly. Technically, a mission is a single complex task within larger operations, battles, and wars. Idiomatically, politicians often use the word mission to refer to any major sustained effort. These two meanings can come into conflict. Example: In a famous speech,...

"I Can't Hear You!", To Snatch Away, At The Top Of Your Lungs, Hanging Your Head (In Shame)

By Admin 21:14 Expression

"I Can't Hear You!" An idiom used by military drill sergeants in an aggressive, provocative way. When a drill sergeant yells this at a new recruit at a distance of two inches, the message being conveyed is this: "Speak louder!" Being an idiom, this is not formal, and it is far less polite - but it is not intended to be polite. It is intended to get the recruit accustomed to being yelled at and to respond in a soldier-like manner. Even though this...

Leaving It All On The Field, Cool, Hot, To Trust Blindly, I'm Free

By Admin 20:59 Expression, Idiomatic Expression, Situation

Leaving It All On The Field This idiom, from professional sports, refers to exhausting all possible efforts to win, either individually or as a team. Figuratively, this refers to leaving one's sweat, blood, and tears on the playing field. This represents being sincere in one's effort to achieve victory, but does not refer to cheating or other morally questionable methods. It refers simply to hard work and exertion. Example: "In football, there...

Idioms And Phrases