Heavy-handed means to handle a situation or people in an overly forceful or clumsy manner. Imagine trying to crack open a walnut with a bulldozer; sure, it might work, but it’s a tad overkill, right? This idiom, which surfaced in the 1800s, perfectly encapsulates the essence of being overbearing. But …
Turn over is a verbal phrase. Turnover is a closed compound word. We will examine the meaning of the terms turn over and turnover, their etymologies, and some examples of their use in a sentence or two. Turn over means to flip something upside down, to start a combustion engine, to …
Lockdown is a closed compound word. We will examine the meaning of the word lockdown, its etymology, and some examples of its use in a sentence or two. A lockdown is a situation in which people are restricted from moving from place to place or within a certain area to protect their …
Chapstick is a closed compound word. We will examine the meaning of the word chapstick, its etymology, and some examples of its use in a sentence or two. Chapstick is a balm for the lips packaged in a cylindrical tube. Chapstick is used for dry or irritated lips resulting from cold weather, …
Nail-biter is an interesting idiom. We will examine the meaning of the common idiom nail-biter where it came from, and some examples of its idiomatic usage in sentences. A nail-biter is a suspenseful situation, a contest in which either participant has a good chance of winning, an anxiety-provoking circumstance. For instance, a …
A knee-slapper is an extremely funny joke or story that might elicit a spontaneous knee slap in response. And that’s where this term gets its origin. The term knee-slapper falls under the category of idioms, which are expressions in the English language that often convey meanings beyond their literal interpretation. Idioms …
Idiomatic words provide your audience with a referring allusion or analogy so they can better understand your message. These words offer a figurative meaning separate from a literal origin, but they can be a bit tricky to decipher for anyone unfamiliar with their use. Pigeonhole is an idiom that initially …
Have you ever been backstabbed by a close friend? Or was it you who backstabbed them? The word backstab has been thrown around a lot in high school or work. We always use it to refer to the action of criticizing someone when they are not there but pretending to …
Heartthrob is a closed compound word. We will examine the meaning of the word heartthrob, its etymology, and some examples of its use in a sentence or two. A heartthrob is the object of romantic desire; a heartthrob is almost always a male. The term heartthrob often refers to teen age pop …