Idioms and Proverbs

Liza

Liza

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“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

This proverb comes from the ancient Romans, who believed the apple had magical powers to cure illness. In fact, apples are filled with vitamin C, protein, pectin, natural sugars, copper, and iron. They do promote health.
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More at:

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0769301.html
 
I love idioms..:)

"An eye for an eye"

Is to get revenge like to make even.
 
Oh yes, I love Idioms too. I have a dictionary book of Idioms and it is very useful.

Before I learnt about the Idioms, my friend ask me if I got a 'cold feet'. I look down at my feet and am wearing socks and boots. I told my friend my feet is warm not cold. I was kinda confuse at why he ask me if I got cold feet. :giggle:

"To have cold feet"

At first, I am really looking forward to do a bungy jump but I changed my mind (have cold feet) at the last minute because of long drop down.
 
Me too - I have a dictionary of idioms.

ring a bell

if a phrase or a word, especially a name, rings a bell, you think you have heard it before. Does the name 'Fitzpatrick' ring a bell? No, I'm sorry, that description doesn't ring any bells with me.

(I feel funny to say that because in real life I can't hear a bell but I love to using this word to anyone! LOL)
 
I remember back in school- I love to read idioms as they are fun and easy to confuse some people when i said one and they said HUH? heh heh!

My favorite idiom is I am having a barrel of monkeys! heheh!
 
This is funny.. I was curious where the idioms came from!

To “climb on the bandwagon.”

Long ago, bands on the platforms of traveling wagons played music to announce a parade or political speech. To show their support, people would often jump onto the platform and join the band. Today, this idiom usually refers to someone who hopes to benefit from supporting another person's idea.
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And this one...

To “shed crocodile tears.”

Crocodiles have a reflex that causes their eyes to tear when they open their mouths. This makes it look as though they are crying while devouring their prey. In fact, neither crocodiles nor people who shed “crocodile” tears feel sorry for their actions.
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All from factmonster.com :D

To ring a bell.. I guess that came from the church's bells ringin' to remind people to come to church! Strongly associated with remembering something. I would have liked to see you sign that, Opal, since you like saying that! Just adds to that fun imagination.. hehe.. love that ASL adds the fun to that.

Cold feet... oh yeah... I've heard of that phrase being told to nervous brides or grooms who might rethink about getting married! Now, that's called taking the plunge! LOL

Hmm, fascinating... eye for an eye was a quote from the Bible. Tooth for tooth, that sort of thing. Has anyone ever heard of "turning the other cheek?"

Gee, I'm full of idioms!
 
'To let a cat out of a bag'

Few years ago, my mother said to me 'letting a cat out of the bag'. I was puzzle and I look at her bag under her chair to see if it moving thinking she really have a cat in it. Then she said that my sister is flying over from another state to see us and I switch my thought on my sister thinking she is bringing a cat in her bag. I thought it is cruel to fly over with a cat in the bag. I went home and told my husband about a cat in the bag. He explained to me what it is mean. It mean my mother has let out a secret that my sister is coming home and it suppose to be a surprise. :giggle:
 
Koala said:
'To let a cat out of a bag'

Few years ago, my mother said to me 'letting a cat out of the bag'. I was puzzle and I look at her bag under her chair to see if it moving thinking she really have a cat in it. Then she said that my sister is flying over from another state to see us and I switch my thought on my sister thinking she is bringing a cat in her bag. I thought it is cruel to fly over with a cat in the bag. I went home and told my husband about a cat in the bag. He explained to me what it is mean. It mean my mother has let out a secret that my sister is coming home and it suppose to be a surprise. :giggle:
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LOL that's funny.. tsk, tsk on your mother for letting the cat out of the bag! Must have been a nice surprise to have your sister visiting you.
 
Can anybody guess "Eating three squares a day"?

It comes from the old English navy days. As they sailed on those wooden ships, they had problems when storing their food. Round plates just didn't do it and so they figured on square plates as they were easier to store and hence, the phrase.
 
Oh I hate idioms. My hs teachers taught in school but I never understood them. I dont even bother trying anyway.
 
sr171soars said:
Can anybody guess "Eating three squares a day"?

It comes from the old English navy days. As they sailed on those wooden ships, they had problems when storing their food. Round plates just didn't do it and so they figured on square plates as they were easier to store and hence, the phrase.
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That is a new one to me. So that idiom is hundreds of years old?
 
shel90 said:
That is a new one to me. So that idiom is hundreds of years old?
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You bet and shows that some expressions never really die out. Another example is "Limeys". The English realized that scurvy (lack of vitamin C) was a problem due to the lack of absorbic acid and ordered all ships to have limes aboard so the sailors would stay healthy. Hence, Limeys became the nickname for English sailors.

How about this one..."Don't throw out the baby with the bath water!" It is even older than the three squares a day. Can anybody guess the meaning of this one?

People did not take showers or baths in frequency anything like we do today. Water was precious and people conserved it for more important things like drinking and cooking. So, when people washed up they started with the father and worked there way down in age probably doing the boys first then the girls and the baby was last. You can guess by that point, the water was quite dirty. Well, after all that you throw out the water and the expression was a pun on the fact you might forget the baby was in it and throw him out as well.
 
Beating around the bush. Anyone know where that comes from?
 
I like the idiom, beating a dead horse. Wiki says it was from the 17th century. Gotta learn when to give up sometimes when something is hopeless! Beating a dead horse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How about calling someone on the carpet?

Meaning: To be held accountable for a mistake, offense, or a lie.
Origin: In military parlance, called on the carpet refers to having to present oneself to a superior officer, report at attention and receive a disciplining for some offense. Sometimes a defense is allowed, but often, the communication is quite simple, clear, and unidirectional, with the recipient being forced to stand at attention while the abuse takes place.

Although no longer true, there was a time when only the top officers had carpet in their offices. Hence the carpet referred to the office of a senior officer.
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Never heard of three squares, but looked that up.. seems to mean three nutritious meals a day with a reference to US military. But that's interesting about the ole English navy days. Kind of funny where people come up with those things!

Have heard of this idiom though - Be there or be square! I guess square means uncool, so you're uncool or in trouble if you're not attending an event or gathering. I guess it's a slang meaning yuppies or nerds from our grandparents' generation.
 
sr171soars said:
You bet and shows that some expressions never really die out. Another example is "Limeys". The English realized that scurvy (lack of vitamin C) was a problem due to the lack of absorbic acid and ordered all ships to have limes aboard so the sailors would stay healthy. Hence, Limeys became the nickname for English sailors.

How about this one..."Don't throw out the baby with the bath water!" It is even older than the three squares a day. Can anybody guess the meaning of this one?

People did not take showers or baths in frequency anything like we do today. Water was precious and people conserved it for more important things like drinking and cooking. So, when people washed up they started with the father and worked there way down in age probably doing the boys first then the girls and the baby was last. You can guess by that point, the water was quite dirty. Well, after all that you throw out the water and the expression was a pun on the fact you might forget the baby was in it and throw him out as well.
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Neat! I love learning new idioms! Thanks Sr171soars! :)
 
jillio said:
Beating around the bush. Anyone know where that comes from?
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Dont know its origins. Know what it means though and I used to have a bad habit of that in awkward situations! LOL!
 
Here is one that sometimes baffles those learning English..."Go and catch that bus!" You wouldn't think this was an colloquial expression. Think about it from a non-English speaker's viewpoint. What do you mean go "catch" (literally?!?) the bus? If I tried that, I would be killed! Of course, it really means go and wait for the bus and when it arrives...board it. Normally, we native English speakers don't ever think about it. We have more idioms than we realize simply because it is woven into our culture and way of life. The same is true in other languages.

The hallmark of a non-native's mastery of any language is when they understand many colloquial expressions...not just the standard constructs.

Hear are some that I either heard of or have said myself.

1) Shooting the breeze (two people yapping)
2) If it is Tuesday, it must Belgium (comes from a movie and it refers to traveling)
3) You can't eat your cake and have it too! (Everybody seems to think they can...go figure)
4) Hot air convention (usually refers to business meetings)
5) Going the whole nine yards (nobody is sure what this refers to but the gist of the expression makes sense)
6) So, you gored my ox (not literally of course)
7) I'm having a bad hair day (most people should know this one) ;)
8) Are you flatlining on me again? (refers to a ridiculous statement somebody made)
9) Thanks, I really needed that (not! - said in irony)
10) Are you making mountain out of a molehill or anthill (whichever you prefer)
11) I'm hearing the wind (a statement directed to somebody doing an airhead routine on you and you can "hear" the wind through their ears)
12) Ah, I see you lowered your wind resistance (a reference to somebody who got a haircut - typically male directed) I made that one up years ago and tried it on a former co-worker and once he figured it out...he just laughed and laughed and said he loved that one.
13) Pay me now or pay me later (remember that Fram Oil Filter commercial?)
14) Was I born yesterday? (Do I look that stupid to you?)

Oh...that was fun and got me thinking of more...
 
I've always loved idioms; #12, #2 and #4 are new to me, Sr171soars.

I remember when I learned the idiom "clear as mud" in 2 grade and I didn't understand the meaning of this one. The meaning of that idiom was as clear as mud to me. :P
 
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