Tomayto, tomahto and potayto, potahto are two variations of an idiom. We will examine the meaning of the idiom variations tomayto, tomahto and potayto, potahto, where they came from, and some examples of their idiomatic usage in sentences. Tomayto, tomahto and potayto, potahto are two phrases that mean the difference …
Dance on someone’s grave is an idiom of uncertain origin. We will examine the meaning of the idiom dance on someone’s grave, where it came from, and some examples of its use in sentences. To dance on someone’s grave means to rejoice in that person’s death, to be happy that …
Self-quarantine and self-isolation are two terms that have come into much more frequent use recently and mean two different things. Self-quarantine and self-isolation are compound words, which are words that are derived from two separate words joined together. A hyphenated compound word is a compound word that is composed of …
It’s not rocket science is an American idiom. We will examine the meaning of the idiom it’s not rocket science, where it may have come from, and some examples of its use in sentences. It’s not rocket science is an idiom that means the task or subject under discussion is …
Cattle and chattel are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation and are often confused. We will look at the difference between the definitions of cattle and chattel, the etymology for these two words, and some examples of their use in sentences. Cattle is a plural noun for …
Chaste and chased are two commonly confused words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the different meanings of the homophonic words chaste and chased, the word origins of the terms, and some examples of …
When learning and using the English language, you’ll come across several phrases and expressions that can add color and a bit of whimsy to your conversations. One example is the charming expression “cute as a button.” But can a button be cute? It’s a phrase often used to describe endearing …
The idiom roll up your sleeves means to prepare yourself or get ready to take on and complete a task. It could be used to declare hard work is ahead or simply used to infer one needs to get focused and pay attention. Idioms, like roll up your sleeves, are …
Sitting on a powder keg is an idiom. We will examine the meaning of the idiom sitting on a powder keg, where it came from, and some examples of its use in sentences. The expression sitting on a powder keg means that one is in a situation that may explode …
Permit and permit are two words that are spelled identically but are pronounced differently and have different meanings, which makes them heteronyms. We will examine the definitions of the words permit and permit, where these words came from, and a few examples of their use in sentences. A permit (PER …