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 trouble by raising cries of "Wolf! Wolf!" and causing the entire village to rise in fear (that wolves would attack livestock, or children). One day the wolf was real, the boy cried for help, and none came. Thus, the child was eaten. To "Cry Wolf" is to exaggerate or lie, causing others to lose trust in you.

"Dead last." This is a simple idiom that places emphasis on being last. The circumstances can vary.
Ex.: "The United Kingdom came in dead last in the Eurovision song contest, while Germany ran away with the victory." This spin can indicate being last by a significant margin, but not necessarily.


"Break a leg" is an old stage performer's superstition. To wish someone good luck before a performance is believed to make a disaster *more* likely. Therefore, wishing out loud one's hope that the performer will go on stage and break a leg is meant to *not* break his leg, or any other disaster.
Ex.: "Break a leg, George! You'll do great!"


"Strategery." Stra-te-ge-ry (from: stra-te-gy).
A so-called Bushism. Bushisms are words that President George W. Bush
famously mispronounced that have become pop culture idioms. As an
idiom, "strategery" represents strategy that is used by people who do
not understand it, and thus mangle strategy as badly as Bush man...gled
the word itself.
Ex.: "That's some really stupid 'strategery' going on
there."


"From soup to nuts." A very American idiom meaning "From beginning to end." A full course American dinner begins with soup and ends with nuts. This idiom was used by President Obama during a press conference .

"Food for thought." Something that is "food for thought" is an interesting piece of information, or cultural wisdom such as a proverb, that is fodder (food) for the brain: the ingredients that lead to more complex and fulfilling ideas and conclusions.
Ex.: "They say that money can't buy happiness. Food for thought."


"Dead on one's feet." To be dead on one's feet is to be exhausted while remaining standing. This idiom can be stretched to mean "very tired while still at work," even if the speaker is sitting, but that might be a stretch too far. Normal use example: "I'm dead on my feet after giving out brochures all day. I need some rest."


"lol" - Internet slang for "laughing out loud." Other readings exist, but this is easiest to understand. To write "lol" in a pure text based medium (such as Facebook chat) is to say, "I am laughing out loud." (Implied: I find something very funny.) It does not necessarily mean literally laughing out loud, but always means the writer finds something amusing.


"Don't mention it." In colloquial English, this has a polite spin to it. When being praised for something, to say, "Don't mention it," is not to shut down discussion harshly; it is to say, politely, that thanks is not necessary.
Ex.: "Thanks for the help!" "Hey, we're friends. Don't mention it."


"Man up." Used as a verb, to "man up" is to act in a "manly" way, as opposed to acting in a childish or irresponsible way. To "man up" implies taking responsibility for your actions, and coping with the consequences of those actions.
Ex. "Man up and balance your checkbook. Don't depend on bailouts from other people."


"Bridge the divide." (Also: Bridge the gap) This means, to bring two sides closer together, overcoming their differences (the "divide" that separates them). This divide may be political, social, or any other major difference between groups of persons.
Ex.: "A centrist politician seeks to bridge the divide between right and left."

➤ Read more idioms and phrases, English grammar and vocabulary at Basic English Grammar And Vocabulary . You might also like ⏬

➤ Idioms about Animals

➤ Idioms of Expression

➤ Idioms on Food

➤ Idiomatic Expressions

➤ Origin of Idioms

➤ Proverbs

➤ Idioms on Situation

➤ Idioms on Temperature