What does a man of letters mean? Well, I can tell you it’s not your local mailman carting your actual letter mail around. It’s actually an adjective phrase to describe a bookworm. But it goes far deeper than that, so let’s dive in and see what a man of letters really means, where it came from, and check out a few sentence examples using the phrase. A Man of Letters Idiom Meaning A man of letters is a phrase as …
My cup runneth over means that someone feels a great deal of gratitude or is overwhelmed by blessings and good fortune. This idiom paints a vivid picture of a cup overflowing, symbolizing a life filled with more than one could ask for. The origin of this phrase digs deep, with branches reaching back to biblical times. Idioms like my cup runneth over are colorful sayings we use that hold no literal meanings, just figurative ones. But they’re only effective if …
Mince words is an idiom based on an archaic definition. We will examine the meaning of the idiom mince words, where it came from, and some examples of its idiomatic usage in sentences. To mince words means to obfuscate, to speak vaguely, to be indirect. The negative, don’t mince words or let’s not mince words, is more commonly used as an admonishment to speak directly and plainly. The idiom mince words is based on an archaic definition for the word …
Men in white coats is a reference to medical professionals like doctors or psychiatrists and sometimes implies that someone’s about to be institutionalized or undergo a medical evaluation. Basically, when you hear, “The men in white coats are coming,” it’s generally not an invite to a toga party. It means they think you’re crazy. Idioms, like this one, are phrases or expressions whose meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meanings of their individual words. They are like jazz hands …
Monkey business is an idiom used to describe deceitful or silly actions. It’s a phrase that’s embedded itself in the English language, offering a silly way to express disapproval or suspicion of someone’s actions. Idioms such as monkey business are phrases where the words together have a different meaning than their individual definitions. They’re significant in the English language because they enrich communication by adding color, depth, and cultural context. In this article, I’ll go over important details about the …
The idiom melting pot means a place where different people, styles, cultures, or ideas come together and blend harmoniously. Picture a fondue pot, but instead of cheese and chocolate, it’s full of diversity and inclusion. Ah, the delicious taste of unity! It has an origin going back to the early 1900s from a play with the same name, but there’s far more to it than that. Idioms are words or phrases whose meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meanings …
The idiom movers and shakers refers to influential and powerful people who drive change and innovation in the world. If you’re unfamiliar with this phrase, it probably sounds like a simple description of motion. However, in reality, it carries a much deeper and specific meaning. Idioms such as movers and shakers are phrases that don’t have literal meanings within the combination of words used. They are essential to the English language because they can bridge gaps in communication while also …
Minute means a unit of time, equivalent to 60 seconds, and the other minute means something so small or insignificant. They might be spelled identically, but they’re worlds apart in meaning. Confused? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This sort of English trickery is known as a heteronym. Heteronyms are words that have a single spelling, multiple meanings, and even different pronunciations. These words are clear evidence that English isn’t always straightforward. But fret not! I’m here to simplify things. I’ll …
Money is no object means that cost isn’t a concern and someone’s willing to pay whatever is necessary to get what they want. It’s an idiom that came about in 19th-century England, where, let’s be honest, a lot of people acted as if money was no object. Idioms are phrases where the words together have a different meaning than their individual definitions. They provide a way for us to communicate complex ideas in a simpler, more relatable way, much like …
To move heaven and earth means that someone is putting all their efforts, abilities, and hopes into getting something accomplished. For example, if you are determined to graduate from college despite some hardships, you might say you will move heaven and earth to walk across that stage for your diploma. Idioms like this one are phrases or expressions whose meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meanings of their individual words. They are commonly used in English to add tone …