Common Expressions

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

Although the common saying this day and age is a technical cliche, it is incredibly popular and can be widely found in both formal and informal writing. Interestingly enough, the phrase can be commonly mixed with others, often leading to it having a confusing meaning… 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

Let’s discuss the famous phrase “‘Tis the season:” ‘Tis is just shorthand for “it is,” originating in the mid-16th century.  The abbreviation gradually fell out of favor after the 18th century. The expression “T’is the Season” gained popularity after appearing in the song “Deck the… 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

When it comes to a challenge, you may have heard someone say they are going to “throw their hat into the ring.” There has to be more to this casual phrase you heard on a Monday or Tuesday night, right? Or, are people talking about tossing… continue reading

Man is a creature who lives not upon bread alone, but primarily by catchwords. Robert Louis Stevenson   The end of the day Followed by another day. Not really the end. Zen haiku WARNING: Reading this article may result in heightened linguistic awareness accompanied by… continue reading