Being angry about something that happened in the past; a grudge.
A Dime a Dozen
When something is extremely common and simple to get.
A Fool and His Money are Soon Parted
It's easy for a fool to lose his/her money.
A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed
A true friend is someone who will help when you are in need.
A Piece of Cake
A task that is simple to complete.
An Arm and a Leg
A common idiom meaning something is extremely expensive; costly.
All Greek To Me
When something is incomprehensible due to complexity or incorrectness. Unintelligble.
Back to Square One
To go back to the beginning; a popular expression to show that one has to start over.
Back To the Drawing Board
Similar to the phrase above, it means starting over again from a previously failed attempt.
Barking Up The Wrong Tree
To make a wrong assumption about something.
Beating Around the Bush
Common phrase meaning a person is avoiding the main point; failing to get to the bottom line.
Beating a Dead Horse
Popular sayings that defines how bringing up an issue which has already been resolved in someone's mind is pointless.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
If you are stuck between a rock and a hard place, you are being faced with two difficult choices. A dilemma.
Break The Ice
Breaking down a social stiffness or awkardness.
Close But No Cigar
Coming close to a successful outcome only to fall short at the end.
Cup Of Joe
A cup of joe is an American nickname for a cup of coffee.
Curiosity Killed The Cat
An idiom which basically means, mind your own business, as too much curiosity could lead to harm.
Cry Over Spilt Milk
It is useless to worry about things that have already happened and cannot be changed.
Cut To The Chase
To get to the point, leaving out all of the unnecessary details. Similar to popular sayings like "Beating Around the Bush."
Cut The Mustard
To cut the mustard is to meet a required standard, or to meet expectations.
Cry Wolf
The common phrase meaning a person is lying; calling for help when it's not needed.
Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch
Popular expressions like this are said to mean how one should not rely on something they're unsure of.
Don't Look a Gift Horse In The Mouth
When you receive a gift from someone, do not be ungrateful.
Down to The Wire
Idioms meaning a tense situation with the outcome decided in the last few seconds.
Drawing a Blank
This popular saying defines someone failing to recall a memory; unable to remember something.
Dropping Like Flies
To fall down ill or to die in large numbers.
Drive Me Nuts
To be greatly frustrated; annoyed.
Fish Out Of Water
An old phrase meaning someone is in a situation they are unfamiliar or unsuited for.
Flea Market
A type of bazaar where inexpensive goods are sold or bartered.
Foaming At The Mouth
A popular saying that means someone is showing their anger.
Fool's Gold
Common idioms referring to iron pyrities, a worthless rock that resembles gold.
Fit as a Fiddle
Common phrase meaning one is in perfect health; being in shape.
Know your phrase! Common idioms, phrases, or expressions, whatever you want to call them, these are commonly used every day by people during conversations. For instance, have you ever told an old friend they are barking up the wrong tree? You, of course, do not mean to suggest that they are literally barking up a tree like a dog would, but it's more this phrase is used to tell a person they are making the wrong assumption about something. Does that make sense? Well, idiomatic expressions hardly ever do.
Another example: what if you've been set up for a blind date? The first thing you'd probably want to do is say "hello," but after that, you'd need to break the ice. That's a popular expression... but does it literally involve you dunking your hand in the nearest glass of water, pulling out a block of ice and slamming it on the table to break it? No it doesn't, and if you did that, well now your blind date is probably freaking out. Besides, the idiomatic meaning behind that saying is to simply break the cold stiffness that exists between two individuals whom are not yet familar with each other.
Many of the favorite sayings you've heard of are not to be taken literally, but figuratively! Whether you are explaining to others how those rare coins they bought downtown are readily available online for a dime a dozen, or how you'll be needing to go back to the drawing board after having failed at something: have you ever wondered where these phrases originated, or what these sayings mean?
Maybe you've heard of a phrase, but have no idea what it means, or maybe you've heard of a common saying, but haven't a clue about the phrase's origins.
Well guess what, that's what this website is for. Know Your Phrase has a list full of idiom meanings and their origins. This is a simple, light-hearted website that gives a little bit of information regarding where your favorite popular expressions originated from, and what they mean. There's even a few interesting facts included on the pages for the phrase, which may not always be fully relevant.
Easy As Pie
Common idioms like this are speaking about tasks or activities that are simple to complete. Similar to popular expressions "A Piece of Cake."
Eaten Out Of House And Home
To eat so much as to put a strain on someone resources of food.
Eat My Hat
Being confident in the outcome of something to the point where you would eat your hat if you are wrong.
Elvis Has Left The Building
Popular sayings such as this are said to show how an event has come to an end.
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
Common idioms like this one mean to be optimistic, even in difficullt times.
Everything But The Kitchen Sink
Including nearly everything possible.
Excuse My French
An expression used when showing an apologetic attitude for using profranity.
Note: For most old familiar phrases, popular sayings, and common idioms, finding the exact person or date in which a phrase has its origins is nearly impossible. Usually what's provided is around the oldest time an expression was recorded in a book, poem, or play. In some rare cases, determining the approximate roots for common idioms is entirely possible.
However, consider this: if a newspaper uses an idiomatic phrase, then it's likely the saying is already well known. Thus, it should be automatically assumed there's a possibility for the idiom to be much older.
Sometimes, certain popular sayings might have several theories surrounding them that try and find the phrase origins. It should be noted, though, that these are mostly just guesses and are not verifiable for certainty. Therefore, what you'll see on a phrase's page are a few of the most popular theories about the phrase origins.
Basically, for most of these sayings you're looking up, you'll get an idea of the phrase meanings, and a rough idea on where the popular saying comes from. So, enjoy, and I'll be slowly making improvements here and there, along with adding your favorite expressions! Just give me some time, there are a whole lot of phrases out there!
These nouns refer to concise verbal expressions setting forth wisdom or a truth. A saying is an often repeated and familiar expression: a collection of philosophical sayings.
Proverb refers to an old and popular saying that illustrates something such as a basic truth or a practical precept: "Slow and steady wins the race" is a proverb to live by.
Phrase Definition:
1. A sequence of words intended to have meaning.
2.
a. A characteristic way or mode of expression.
b. A brief, apt, and cogent expression.
3. A word or group of words read or spoken as a unit and separated by pauses or other junctures.
4. Grammar Two or more words in sequence that form a syntactic unit that is less than a complete sentence.
Idiom Definition:
1. A speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements, as in keep tabs on.
2. The specific grammatical, syntactic, and structural character of a given language.
3. Regional speech or dialect.
4.
a. A specialized vocabulary used by a group of people; jargon.
b. A style or manner of expression peculiar to a given people.
5. A style of artistic expression characteristic of a particular individual, school, period, or medium.
Source: thefreedictionary.com
Know Your Phrase has the phrase origins and meanings for some of your favorite sayings! Use the list of expressions at the top to look up whatever idiom you have on mind.
