Man of the cloth is an idiom that is hundreds of years old. We will examine the meaning of the common idiom man of the cloth, where it came from, and some examples of its idiomatic usage in sentences. A man of the cloth is a clergyman, minister, priest, or other religious leader. The expression man of the cloth came into use in the early 1700s; previous to this time, the word cloth was used to mean the particular clothes worn …
My dogs are barking is an American idiom. We will examine the meaning of the common idiom my dogs are barking, where it came from, and some examples of its idiomatic usage in sentences. My dogs are barking is a phrase that simply means my feet hurt. In this case, the word dogs means feet and the word barking means hurts. The expression my dogs are barking can be traced to journalist T. Dorgan, who worked for the New York Evening Journal. …
Move the needle is an idiom that is several decades old. We will examine the meaning of the common idiom move the needle, where it came from, and some examples of its idiomatic usage in sentences. Move the needle is an idiom that means to make a change that is noticeable, to alter or modify something so that the effect of your action is measurable. Most often, move the needle is used in a positive sense, meaning to make progress toward …
Long story short means to leave out unnecessary details and get to the point of a story or explanation. Think of it as the footnotes. It’s an idiomatic expression we commonly use to condense information into its most essential elements. Idioms, such as long story short, are figurative expressions with meanings beyond their literal interpretation. They convey cultural nuances and add richness to language, aiding effective communication. Understanding idioms enhances language proficiency and cultural literacy. However, like all idioms, the …
Mobile, mobile, and Mobile are 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 mobile, mobile, and Mobile, where these words came from, and a few examples of their use in sentences. Mobile (MOH bull) is an adjective that means movable, traveling, capable of change, mixing within social groups, or not stationary. Mobile is also used informally to mean a cell phone or other untethered computing device. The …
Mustard and mustered are 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 mustard and mustered, the word origins of the terms, and some examples of their English usage in sentences. Mustard is a yellow condiment that is made from mustard seeds, vinegar, and spices. Mustard is also the plant that produces the seeds that are turned into the condiment, mustard. Mustard comes …
Mannequin, manikin, and manakin are 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 mannequin, manikin, and manakin, the word origins of the terms, and some examples of their English usage in sentences. A mannequin is a dummy that is used to display clothes. Mannequins are common in retail stores and are used to display clothing in windows …
Mark my words is an idiom used to emphasize that what someone is saying is important and should be remembered or heeded, often because they believe it will happen or become true in the future. It’s a way of saying, “Take note of what I’m saying, because it’s significant or prophetic.” It’s often used to add weight to predictions or warnings, so this phrase carries a sense of gravity and authority. Idioms are unique expressions in a language whose meaning cannot …
A man is known by the company he keeps is a proverb. We will examine the meaning of the proverb a man is known by the company he keeps, where the expression came from, and some examples of its use in sentences. A man is known by the company he keeps means that a person is similar to the people he chooses to spend time with; he will have the same character and moral standards as those he chooses to surround himself. A …
Motherhood and apple pie and mom and apple pie are two versions of an idiom. We will examine the meaning of the common saying motherhood and apple pie or mom and apple pie, where it came from, and some examples of its idiomatic usage in sentences. Motherhood and apple pie is an American idiom that means the core beliefs of the people of the United States; the most cherished values of the people of the United States; or the most deeply ingrained characteristics of the people …