Search results for: idiom

Ever heard someone say something like “it’s raining cats and dogs” and wondered what they meant? Those quirky phrases are called idioms, and they have special meanings that aren’t always clear from the words themselves. In this article, we’ll dive into what idioms are, how… continue reading

All Riled Up Definition:  Extremely annoyed, vexed, or hyperactive. The Origin of All Riled Up The phrase comes from the verb roil, which first appeared in the 1500s. The word rile appeared in the 1800s and reflected a change in spelling and pronunciation from roil, even though the definition… continue reading

The idioms “at all costs” and “at any cost” are interchangeable The acceptable way to spell “at all costs” is in the plural form (with an ‘s’ at the end) “At all costs” and “at any cost” are two versions of the exact same idiom.… continue reading

Have you ever heard the phrase “a day late and a dollar short” and wondered what it means?  If English isn’t your first language, understanding idioms is probably a challenge. Even native English speakers can find idioms to be fairly tricky. One reason why they are… continue reading

Perhaps there has been a time or two in your life when you had to sadly let something go. Maybe you have had to leave someone you love behind. Well, the proverb all good things must come to an end describes situations such as these… continue reading

Let’s discuss the meaning and original of “touch base.” Colloquial idioms can be extremely difficult for native English speakers and English learners. They are confusing to use with a grammar context, and they people often don’t know what they mean. In the case of “touch… continue reading

  “First come, first serve” means that whoever arrives earliest, regardless of station, will receive a specific service, such as purchasing goods or benefits. This expression implies a limited quantity of goods available, so some may miss out if they do not arrive early enough.… continue reading

You’ve likely heard people described “as thick as thieves.” It’s an idiom (a phrase with a meaning the words don’t tell you). While this isn’t necessarily a negative saying, it can bring some negative meanings, so it is important to know when it truly applies… continue reading