“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” means that if something is working perfectly fine, there’s no need to change or interfere with it. This idiom is your go-to quip for endorsing the essence of the “if it works, leave it be” philosophy. The origin of this saying is a …
What does hand over fist mean? No, it’s not a new workout regime or a fancy hand-shake technique. This interesting English idiom has nothing to do with physical exercise, but it does have a lot to do with gain and growth. So, let’s unravel this phrase and delve into its …
Knocked for a loop and thrown for a loop are American terms that appear in the early twentieth century. These phrases are idioms, or a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal meaning. We will examine the definition of …
King of the hill means being in a dominant position or at the top in a competitive scenario. It highlights the aspect of triumph and leadership, similar to achieving the highest rank in a contest or field. Idiomatic expressions like king of the hill are frequently used phrases with meanings …
Do you love ice cream? I mean, who doesn’t? Even lactose-intolerant people love ice cream! But idioms based on the delicious treat are safe for everyone, like flavor of the month. So sit tight as I quickly break down all the details surrounding how this phrase came to be! Is …
Have you ever heard the phrase “from pillar to post”? My grandpa used to say “from pillow to post,” but he was an old Newfoundlander and pronounced many words differently! The correct phrase uses the word pillar, but let’s take a deeper look at the medieval origin and usage of …
Ode and owed are two words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the definitions of ode and owed, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences. An ode is …
To prime the pump means to take preliminary action to stimulate a desired outcome. Ever given something a little boost to get it started, like an old lawnmower that needs that first tug? That’s the idea behind this idiom. The phrase has tangible roots, reminiscent of old hand-operated water pumps that …
A dry run is very important for just about anything new, dangerous, or significant. But what does it actually mean, and when was it coined? I’ll discuss everything you need to know, plus give you some sentence examples to show you how to use the term. What Is the Meaning …
Under the auspices of is an idiom that dates back into antiquity. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal meaning. We will examine the definition of the phrase under the auspices of, where it came …