To be "savvy" is to be knowledgeable, skilled, and generally more advanced, all relating to a particular area of knowledge. To be "tech savvy" is to be savvy in relation to modern technology such as computers ("information technology"). Not an idiom, but I thought it was useful.
Costs a pretty penny: When something is said to "cost a pretty penny," it is expensive.
Example: "That jacket must have cost a pretty penny. Is that designer leather?...
Book of Idioms, Episode 9
Crush on somebody (phrasal verb): [Also have a crush on sb]
- to have a feeling of romantic love for someone, especially someone you do not know well
* A guy in my class that I'm crushing on.
* I have a crush on my art teacher at school.
Face the music
- to accept responsibility for something you have done
We've had so much fun misbehaving during these three recent days, now that these things have gone too far, we've got to face the music...
Book of Idioms, Episode 8
The vale of tears : [literary]
- the difficulties in life
* In the vale of tears, we must take what we're sent.
It's not what it's cracked up to be
This idiom means that something that is predicted, people talk about, say, is not as good as they say or predicted it is.
Ex : The current leader of ours isn't what it's cracked up to be, it's just as disappointing as the previous on...
Book of Idioms, Episode 7
When someone says, "The game is up," this is an idiom. That is, "the battle is over, surrender now, you have nothing to gain." It is in this context that UK defense secretary Liam Fox has declared "the game is up" to Gadaffi (and his followers) in Libya.
All work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)
-to say that it is not good for you to work too hard; you need to relax too
*Don't wear yourself out. All work and no play, you know...
Book of Idioms, Episode 6
"First and foremost" is a quick way of saying, "what follows is first, and most important, of a list."
Example: "Some argue that the current Euro economic crisis is, first and foremost, a crisis caused by excess government debt, and not primarily a banking crisis." In strict grammar, the "and foremost" part is redundant, but people use it to place heavier emphasis on something.
A person's "next of kin" is that person's closest living relative....
Book of Idioms, Episode 5
"Make yourself at home." (English Idiom) A host standing in his or her personal residence may say to a guest, "Make yourself at home." This means, make yourself as comfortable, as welcome, and as relaxed as you are in your own home. Politeness still demands that the guest treat another person's house and home with due respect, however. "Please, make yourselves at home. I'll have tea for you in five minutes."
"Leaving a bad taste in (someone's)...
Book of Idioms, Episode 4
"Friends in high places." To have friends in high places means, of a high social standing: government officials, influential businessmen, and friends and acquaintances thereof. The idiom does not imply whether this influence is legitimate or not (if not, we would call it "corruption.")
Ex.: "His company received a $2 million contract because he has friends in high places."
"It's not rocket science." (American) This is an idiom playing off the dramatic...
Book of Idioms, Episode 3
"Crocodile tears." Crocodiles were believed to shed tears that slid down into their mouths, thus making their food easy to digest. Therefore, a crocodile only cried to make eating its food - you, perhaps - easier. Thus, it represents insincerity.
Ex.: "That politician cries crocodile tears about crime, but he takes bribe money from the Mafia!"
"Crying wolf." A story titled "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" tells the story of a young shepherd who caused...
Book of Idioms, Episode 2
On The Table: When a course of action is "on the table," it is available for consideration. It is one of the options available. Conversely, when an option is "off the table," it is no longer available. If an option is put on the table, it is to be considered; if it is taken off the table, it is taken out of consideration.
Example: "All options are on the table." This means, no option is being rejected (yet).
"Knock it off" - an idiom telling someone...
Book of Idioms , Episode 1
A "tough son of a gun" is an older idiom seldom used today, but is used as a non-expletive version of a much more widely and commonly used version with a different last word. It was used tonight by President Obama to refer to the late (as in, now deceased) ambassador Richard Holbrooke. The meaning is the same in both cases: very tough, physically but especially mentally.
A "basket case" is someone or something that is completely helpless and incapacitated....
We Have A Situation, Picking Up Some Chinese (Food)
We Have A Situation
A common line in dramas, this cannot be taken literally because everything is a situation. The implication is that we have a bad situation.
This phrase is used as understatement, meant to be said in a way that is not alarming, "loaded" (with panic), or more specific as to the type of situation (accident, incident, crisis). The idea is to instantly get the full and serious attention of the listener while remaining as calm...
Origin: Phrases Derived from Various Sources, Part 1
These phrases are correctly defined as terms. They have a precise meaning that
is well understood in a specific science, art, profession, or subject.
When used outside of that peculiar context these phrases become obscure and
seem not to make sense. However, when the special interest context is revealed
the phrase makes sense, at least to those knowledgeable about the subject.
Some examples of phrases taken from different subject areas such as sports,
religion...
Getting Warmer, The Suffix, -ish, Coming To A Head, Hitting the Books
Getting Warmer
When someone is playing a guessing game, the person asking the question might say, "You're getting warmer." This means, a guess is getting closer and closer to the answer.
Example: Paul: "Guess how many pennies I'm holding."
Jason: "Uh... five."
Paul: "Wrong."
Jason: "Uhhh, okay. Nine."
Paul: "Getting warmer."
Jason: "Eleven!"
Paul: "Still warm."
Jason: "Ten?"
Paul: "Yes, I'm holding ten pennies."
This type of idiom is used for other...
Cold Case, On Ice
Buzz
In an entertainment context, "buzz" means the amount of popular discussion about a subject. This discussion is not by movie critics, but by people at large. Therefore, those measuring it cannot point to specific reviews or specific words; they measure "buzz," which is a representation of background nois...
What's Your Beef, Not Quite So Simple
What's Your Beef?
If "Where's the beef?" is asking for substance relating to an issue, "What's your beef?" is asking what substantive issue to have with someone or something.
Related: "Having a beef" with someone or something.
Example: "I don't like that Barbara." "What's your beef with her?" "Nothing - I just don't like her attitude...
A Lame Duck, lame duck session
A Lame Duck
In politics, and sometimes business, someone in a powerful position who everyone knows will be leaving office at a particular time, but who is still in office, is called a lame duck. This is "lame" not in the sense of uncool, but in the sense of powerless due to injury.
In other words, the lame duck is unable to exert power over others because the knowledge he or she will be departing - and therefore, has less and less power to punish...
Pain At The Pump, Slogging One's Way, Being Outdoors
Pain At The Pump
Pain at the pump refers to the gas pump, as it is known in America. In other parts of the world, the gas pump is known as a fuel dispenser. There is no difference in meaning. Also, gas = gasoline. Idiomatically, even non-gasoline fuel is "the gas pump" (including diesel!).
To experience pain at the gas pump is to be in a state of paying a painful level of money when obtaining fuel for one's vehicle...
A Number Of Something, A Product Line, To Kill A Product Line
A Number Of Something
A number of is a very unspecific expression for some, a portion, a fraction of something larger.
Example: A number of Apple's rack server customers are located in California.
Implied: A significant number....
A Big Freeze,To Be In, Or Not In, Arm-Twisting
A Big Freeze
Usually, putting "big" in front of a noun is to turn that noun into something larger and less literal. In this case, a big freeze indicates a large cold weather storm bringing much snow and ice. Thus, a vast area is "frozen"
Example: Big freeze: stay inside, Britons told, as heavy snow causes havoc (headline in today's Daily Telegraph (UK...
Won Over, Sweeteners
Won Over
If someone has been won over, that person has been convinced.
In negotiations, someone who has been won over has been convinced to approve the deal.
Since this can only be truly explained in context, let's review today's earlier idioms with the passage below.
Example: President Barack Obama’s tax-cut deal likely will squeak through the Senate, according to congressional aides, propelled by a coalition of Republicans, moderate Democrats...
Last-Minute, Propelled By, Squeaking By
Last-Minute
When used as an adjective, last-minute suggests occurring at the last minute, an expression for occurring very near to a deadline; very late in a process.
"At the last minute" is another form this takes as an expression, but remember, last-minute is an adjective.
Example: Last-minute additions to a contract. These are additions placed very near the end of a negotiation process...
You See, I See
"You See"
A companion to "I see," "You see" is often used as a rhetorical statement. That is, even though its true figurative meaning is, you (the other party) see (figuratively) what is being discussed, many people use it to urge the other person to "see" the logic, even if they do not do so at present.
Example: "So you see, rebooting the computer fixed the entire problem." "...Ah, I see now."
Example 2: "I came all the way from Vancouver to see...
Blowing A Gasket, Lost In Translation
Blowing A Gasket
Figuratively, to blow a gasket is to become suddenly angered. The surge of energy and anger is compared to the popping (blowing) of an automotive gasket, which is a mechanical seal to prevent the leakage of fluid.
When a gasket "blows," there is a burst of fluid. When a person's gasket blows, there is a burst, or an outpouring, of anger for which there was no visible prior warning. Thus, it usually refers to spontaneous anger (without...
Nothing To Lose, It Can't Hurt, A Babe In The Woods
Nothing To Lose
A person with "nothing to lose" is someone who does not stand to suffer significant harm by taking particular risks.
Literally, we all have something to lose - unless we're dead, we can lose our lives. However, as a figure of speech, this phrase has quite a few uses.
Example: "I know you tried calling the front desk twice already and got a busy signal, but you have nothing to lose by trying again. So keep trying, OK?...
Neck Of The Woods, Turning The Other Cheek, A Loudmouth
Neck Of The Woods
Your neck of the woods is your figurative location; your locale; your area.
Example: "What are you doing in this neck of the woods? I thought you don't like places this rural and out of the way." This could be said to a friend who prefers large towns and cities who shows up in a rural area.
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Labels: Idioms,...
An Odyssey, Getting One's Feet Wet
A Military Odyssey
An Odyssey
The Odyssey was one of Western civilization's first masterpieces of literature, composed by Homer, about the ten year voyage of Odysseus, a king who fought in the Trojan War. Suffice to say he offended a Greek god and was forced to take the long way hom...
Significant Other, Having Something To Say
Significant Other
A person's significant other is that person's partner in a relationship. The term is not gender specific; nor is the term specific to heterosexual ("straight") relationships. Thus, it can refer to a gay man's partner (as one example).
The term can be taken in the most positive, appropriate way by any listener. This makes it a polite term to use in any circumstances, particularly if knowledge of the other person is minima...
Through and Through, A Crying Shame
Through and Through
This is an expression acting as a colloquial substitute for thoroughly.
Example: (Source: Song "Through and Through...
Tell Us How You Really Feel, Barking Up The Wrong Tree
Tell Us How You Really Feel
The expression "tell us how you really feel" is said in sarcasm and irony after someone has said an anger or hate-filled statement, drawing attention to the anger and hatred (and implicitly mocking it).
Example: I was reminded earlier that on the American television show "The View," a guest made a statement about Nevada senate candidate Sharon Angle, calling her a "bitch" and concluding that "she's going to hell, this...
Begging On Hands And Knees, The Front Burner & The Back Burner
Begging On Hands And Knees
Usually, to be on hands and knees is to have both hands and knees on the ground; that is, to be on all fours in a crawling position. However, the expression to beg on hands and knees is meant as begging very strenuously and earnestly.
Strictly speaking, the "begging position" people in the West imagine is kneeling with hands clasped together; the person is not "on" the hands at all. The incorrect usage is tolerated because...
Wilderness and Errand Themed Idioms, In The Wilderness
wilderness
Wilderness and Errand Themed Idioms
In response to a request, I'm going to focus on these two themes for a while. It's a good idea and there's not really anything better to do, so why not...
Surging and Ebbing, Playing Your Cards Right
Surging and Ebbing
In politics, and other areas, to surge is to accelerate forward rapidly, while to ebb is to decelerate backward rapidly.
You can surge to make relative progress without making absolute progress, and vice versa...
Positive and Negative Advertisements, Enthusiasm Gap
Positive and Negative Advertisements
In English-language countries, positive ads (advertisements) and negative ads describe ads that are either a) ads that are positive about the candidate the advertisement is meant to support, or b) ads that are negative about the candidate's opponent, tearing the opponent down with insults and attacks.
Example: In American politics, candidates who are safely ahead usually air positive ads that advertise their...
Through The Barrel Of A Gun, Man Up,
gunbarrel
Through The Barrel Of A Gun
In politics, using English, the expression through the barrel of a gun means only one thing: through the use of armed violence; the opposite of peaceful, lawful politics.
Example: (Warning! Quotation does not imply endorsement of claims) (Subject: Sudan) "Abdullahi al-Azreg, Sudan's ambassador to London, dismissed predictions of looming...
A Case For Action, Darkening, Brightening, Salvaging Victory
A Case For Action
In English, a case is an idiom used to refer to any respectable argument that can be made for a given position. So long as an argument will not be simply laughed at as too ridiculous, it constitutes a case; therefore, an argument.
Example: "There would appear -- all else being equal -- to be a case for further action," Bernanke said at a conference sponsored by the Boston Federal Reserve Bank.
This is to say, a respectable, serious...
Political Battlegrounds, Pumping Money, A Wave Of Ads, Ramping Up Spending
Political Battlegrounds
Elections are not properly fought with muskets and cannon, but figuratively speaking, any area where there is a fierce political campaign, with the final outcome in serious doubt, can be referred to as a political battleground.
(Above: Depiction of the Battle of Gettysburg)
Example: Last week the U.S. Chamber of Commerce pumped more than $10 million into key battlegrounds.
Here, "key" just means crucial, and provides emphasis...
English Proverbs With Their Meanings
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
When you are away from someone you love, you love them even more.
Accidents will happen.
Some unfortunate events must be accepted as inevitable.
Actions speak louder than words.
What a person actually does is more important that what they say they will do
.
Advice is cheap.
...
Smooth Sailing, Rough Sailing, Sailing To Victory, Going Solar, Zombie Banks,
A Smooth Sailing
Smooth Sailing
The opposite of rough sailing, smooth sailing implies particularly easy progress with little effort required.
Smooth sailing would be sailing in calm waters.
Example: In a normal election year, incumbent politicians (those who are running for re-election) usually have smooth sailing when running against their challengers. Incumbents generally...
Taking The Temperature (of a group), Buck Up
Taking The Temperature (of a group)
To "take the temperature" of a group is to obtain opinions from various members and determine the level of support, or opposition, in the group for a particular action or policy.
A group can be warm or cold to an action or policy.
Example: "Democratic insiders are taking the temperature of some top party donors about the possibility of naming White House press secretary Robert Gibbs as chairman of the Democratic...
Show Some Backbone, Have / Grow A Spine, Breathing Down Someone's Neck, Front Runner Status
Show Some Backbone
The backbone is really just another word for spine. The form of this idiom is to "show" or "demonstrate" some backbone, meaning, to demonstrate to others that you are not a chicken (coward), but rather, a brave and vigorous person.
This version is considered less crude, and thus, is more often applied to the political arena in written English.
Example: "Activists expected the Obama Administration to show some backbone in dealing...
