Common Expressions Archives

A picture of a speech bubble with the words sleeping zzz

Why Does “Zzz” Represent Sleeping?

You may have seen a sleeping person’s snoring indicated by “Zzz “in popular media. From cartoons to comic books, this colloquial phenomenon has a grasp on American culture. With this, what does “Zzz” actually mean? What Does “Zzz” Actually Mean? As you have probably guessed, “Zzz” is a common… continue reading

Bear Minimum or Bare Minimum? A Look At Bear vs. Bare

There are many words that unfortunately sound the same. In most cases, the problem is that these words have different meanings, which can get writers in trouble if they use them interchangeably. With this, would it be correct to say “bare minimum” or “bear minimum?” Differences… continue reading

Common Expressions

Is it to “Bare Children” or to “Bear Children?” Which is Right?

The correct phrase in the English language is “To Bear children.” The phrase “To bare children” is incorrect and should not be used. The reason “to bear children” is correct is because the verb to bear means to support or to carry, which is the… continue reading

graphic showing a tree with an apple and a father and son with the caption "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree"

Common Expressions

What Does “The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree” Mean?

What Does “The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree” Mean? The common phrase, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” is a colloquial saying that describes when a child has talents or characteristics similar to their parents. It is important to know that this phrase… continue reading

A picture of a girl with paper with the word "chip" on her shoulder to signify the phrase "a chip on your shoulder"

Common Expressions

What Does “A Chip On Your Shoulder” Mean?

Meaning Of “A Chip On Your Shoulder” To have “a chip on your shoulder” is another way to say that you feel anger due to a long-term grudge. In other words, someone has treated you wrong, and you are still upset about it. In addition… continue reading

A picture of three children in cooking uniforms in the middle of a kitchen reaching for the same box of eggs, with the caption "Too many cooks in the kitchen."

Common Expressions

What Does “Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen” Mean?

Meaning Of “Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen“ The phrase “Too many cooks in the kitchen” means many people are working on one thing together. Usually, this results in feelings getting hurt, things not going to plan, and a negative effect on the result. In conversational English,… continue reading

A picture of bingo letters spread all around, while in the centre the letters are arranged to spell: "You are driving me nuts!"

Common Expressions

What Does “Driving Me Nuts” Mean?

Meaning Of “Driving Me Nuts” As you probably know, the common phrase “driving me nuts” is something that people say to express frustration or annoyance. Many people also use “nuts” to replace words like crazy or insane. Either way, these two phrases go hand-in-hand and always mean… continue reading

A picture of a sink with the words "everything but the kitchen sink"

Common Expressions

What Does “Everything But The Kitchen Sink” Mean?

Meaning The common saying “Everything but the kitchen sink” is used to describe someone that includes lots of facets. In other words, when something has all the bells and whistles or includes about everything imaginable, it can be described as having everything but the kitchen sink. Examples … continue reading

A picture of a man holding a megaphone with the words "Actions speak louder than words"

Common Expressions

Meaning Of “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”

“Actions speak louder than words” is a common turn of phrase that explains how an individual’s actions are more important/impactful than what they say. It is more powerful to do something than to just talk about doing it. Examples Of “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”… continue reading

A picture of a shark and the words "jump the shark"

Common Expressions

What Does “Jump The Shark” Mean?

What Does The Phrase Jump The Shark Mean? In essence, jump the shark is a playful idiom when a TV series has lowered quality/artistic value. For instance, a TV show is thought to have jumped the shark when there is a poor change in writing… continue reading