Book of Idioms, Episode 23

CURRY FAVOR: appease, try to appeal to. Oregonian newspaper: <<Animal bills are a good way for legislators to curry favor with constituents. Oregon ranks fourth in the nation for pet ownership, according to a report released last month. And those who don't have pets generally want animals to be treated well. >>


THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET: issue a challenge, do something to challenge another person or organization. From medieval combat, where a knight might throw down a gauntlet, a type of armored glove, to challenge another knight to fight. Jakarta Globe: <<Google unveiled a touchscreen notebook computer on Thursday designed for high-end users, throwing down the gauntlet to Apple and its MacBooks.>>


TOP-OF-THE-LINE: most expensive or luxurious (of a group of products). Apple's top-of-the-line laptop, the 15-inch MacBook Pro with high-resolution display, sells fo $2,200.


LIGHTNING ROD: something or someone that attracts something. Literally a lightning rod is a metal post that you put up to attract lightning and keep it from hitting a building. But idiomatically, the term is used as a metaphor. Jakarta Globe: <<Pope Benedict XVI, who on Monday announced his intention to resign this month, will be remembered as a staunch defender of Roman Catholic orthodoxy, a diehard traditionalist, and a lightning rod for controversy.>>


And one more: to DODGE THE BULLET (or dodge a bullet) is to escape from a bad situation. Wow, we sold too many tickets for the concert! But a few people didn't show up, so we dodged the bullet.


HEADS WILL ROLL: people will be fired. Evening Standard (London): <<It is likely that heads will roll at RBS as the details of involvement in the rate-rigging scandal emerge. Although Mr Hester is not seen as at risk, its is probable that the head of the investment bank, John Hourican, and the head of markets, Peter Nielsen, will come under considerable pressure, although there is no suggestion they were directly involved. >>


A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME: This is a way of saying that you don't want to reveal the source of something you have heard.

A: Hey, I heard that you and Dave are going out Saturday night!
B: What?! Who told you that?
A: Oh, a little bird told me.


BUTTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH: a nervous feeling. A friend in graduate school posts: "My advisor just sent me an e-mail at 3:36 a.m. I get butterflies in my stomach whenever I get a message from this overachiever." (An "overachiever" is a very ambitious person who works very hard, maybe too hard.)


BREAD AND BUTTER: regular source of profit or money. Detroit News: <<The debut of the all-new [Mercedes-Benz] E-Class is certainly worth watching. This is “our bread-and-butter car,” stressed Steve Cannon, the head of Mercedes’ U.S. operations. The E-class is both the brand’s best-seller and the top model in this critical luxury segment.>>


TIP ONE'S HAND: to reveal what one is thinking, or what one already possesses. This expression comes from the game of poker. Vancouver Province newspaper: <<[Hockey defenseman] Cam Barker wouldn't tip his hand but dropped a hint Wednesday that [he might accept a professional tryout with the Vancouver Canucks].>>

Note that our recent idiom "take a hint/drop a hint" is also included in this sentence!

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

➤ Book of Idioms

➤ Idioms about Animals

➤ Idioms of Expression

➤ Idioms on Food

➤ Idiomatic Expressions

➤ Origin of Idioms

➤ Proverbs

➤ Idioms on Situation

➤ Idioms on Temperature