Inspired by recent questions by our not-so-English friends, I thought it would be fun to discuss everyday English idioms. So post a common phrase that, if taken literally, would not make any sense. Then, use it in a sentence and post what it means.

"raining cats and dogs"

Example: Just before my house flooded, it was raining cats and dogs.

This phrase simply means that it is raining very heavily! No one seems to know where the phrase originated.

Hold your horses or hold your pants on.

Hold your horses, I am not ready to do that yet.

This phrase means that you need to wait.

"Don't get your panties in a wad."

Translation: Don't get upset or too excited.

Horse of a different color.
Hit the bull's-eye.
Hit the hay.
Beating a dead horse.
Herding cats.
All hat, no cattle.
Backed the wrong horse.


Sorry Kimmie and DewDoc, couldn't think of a saying that involved a goat.

Cheap at half the price!!!!!


Spending money like a man with no arms!!!(thats me)

OOOO I forgot docs favvy


The Bees Knees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wait a minute!!!! WAIT - A - MINUTE!!!!!!!!

You have to tell us what they MEAN! Man, even I don't know what they all mean and I think my first language is English! Yeesh. Maybe we speaks somethin' different here in Canada!

Okay, Rio and Kimmie...translate for us!

I think :
Hit the hay = go to sleep.
Hit the bull's eyes = being correct or right.
Beating a dead horse = argueing meanless things.
Backed the wrong horse = triggering the wrong button.

By the skin of your teeth - only just i.e passing an exam by the skin of your teeth.

Keep your eyes peeled - look out

'get your knickers in a twist' (like getting your panties in a wad, i guess) - means getting annoyed over nothing. So does 'get your arse in your hand' though it's not as nice a phrase...

'All mouth and no trousers' - all talk and no action.

'full of hot air' - getting annoyed about something but there is no substance to it.

'back seat driver' (my mother is a great back seat driver) means the passenger in a car telling the driver what to do.

'Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs.' meand Don't tell older people with more experience what to do. My mum used to use this one a lot!!

'You must think came down in the last shower.' means you must think I'm a fool who doesn't know anything

'paddle your own canoe' as in 'In life, you have to paddle your own canoe.' meaning you have to be yourself, do your own thing and take responsibility for yourself.

That was probably too many for now so i'll stop and try and think of some more...

Sorrry man I forgot

Cheap at half the price =an expression of satisfaction at the cost of something.
Spending money liek a man with no arms= extravagant

Bees Knees = the best there is ie

Doc's Grandson Boogie is The Bees!!!!!

"The lights are on, but nobody's home."

the person is conscious with eyes open, but no one seems to be IN there

How about "kneehigh to a grasshopper"?

Very young.

Bubble gum cost only a penny when I was kneehigh to a grasshopper.

Hey Searcher and I thought I was OLD! In fact I've been known to quip "back when the earth was cooling and I was just a youth" which I guess might just mean the same thing only I REALLY AM OLD! (but then OLD is a state of mind isn't it?)

PS. By the way, concerning understanding phrases I am posting this from yesterday to get the "phrases and language" information in an appropriate thread. It's important for communication to try and understand culture and "slang" etc. In the past, I thought that if there was some sort of a language barrier and someone didn't speak English you just talked a lot louder and waved your arms for emphasis. Now I'm actually seeing that people who don't speak English actually DON'T understand when I just holler louder and in fact I know someone who thought learning a basic phrase in German like "where is the railroad station?" would be helpful forgetting that when they asked this in German they'd get the ANSWER in German and wouldn't have a clue where the railroad station was or even if there WAS a railroad station. I'm all for Doth learning our slang, and Brakhus too, but as in my wont, here's a place to find a passable passel of the phrases you long to learn.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/index.html

http://www.bartleby.com/59/4/

Enjoy!
God bless you, Katie

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Katie42,

How about 'Bob's your uncle'
example - I mixed up the cake mix, put it in the oven, and 45 minutes later, Bob's your uncle!'

It means 'job completed' or 'all done' or 'there you are'. When you say 'Bob's your uncle' over here, some people add 'Fanny's your aunt' ('fanny' being an old fashioned girl's name over here, not your behind...).

We Brits are so weird.....

Try this one... 'He couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery.'
By way of explanation, a 'piss-up' in the UK is a drinking session, and if someone is pissed, they are drunk. So the use of this phrase means someone who is utterly incompetant and useless.

I'll give you two more...

'Big girls blouse.'
Example 'Stop being such a big girls blouse and get on with it'
Meaning someone (usually a man) who is being a bit pathetic and useless and moaning about doing something.

And lastly, 'Better than a slap in the face with a wet fish.'
Used as a sentance in it's own right, ususally when someone is moaning about a situation and how terrible it is, and everything's gone wrong, and someone will say 'Well it's better than a slap in the face with a wet fish,' meaning it's not that bad... things could be worse. Often used in sarcasm too!

By the way, there's also a funny site called 'Best of British' which is an American's guide to the British language:
http://www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml

You might enjoy it, though it's a bit rude in places...

I've found this site to be hilarious sometimes...http://www.engrish.com/

love the thread, getting lots of laughs!

as someone who grew up with parents who spoke english as a second language, it's fun to look back and remember some of the guffaws! i picked up their accent though english is supposed to be my first language!

quote:

Originally posted by wanderer:
And lastly, 'Better than a slap in the face with a wet fish.'
Used as a sentance in it's own right, ususally when someone is moaning about a situation and how terrible it is, and everything's gone wrong, and someone will say 'Well it's better than a slap in the face with a wet fish,' meaning it's not that bad... things could be worse. Often used in sarcasm too!

Our equivalent to this is "better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick" Funny how often I find myself saying THAT!

Katie

These are great! I'm going to have to start taking notes........

My dear New Song: You are a heaven in earth! I know our Dear Lord loves you because your kindness and your sense of humor! Do you remember our thread "Jesus is Joy"? You are a christian with that joy in your heart and I appreciate it so much! Thank you for starting this amazing (and helpful) thread!

To my other sisters that have posted sharing this "not-so-shakespearean" english, I must say, thank you too!!! This means so much for me your humble brother in Christ.

I already knew "rains cats and dogs", but not the others phrases: I'm paying attention and learning, like in my old (paaaaaast) times!

I hope my internet access will be nice again and so, I'll stay with you in this wonderful site!

Please, continue teaching to this student, and don't worry, if it is necessary, I'll ask!

Blessings!!!!