English Stack Exchange
English Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [idioms]

Idioms are a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words. Use [idiom-requests] if you are searching for an idiom with a particular meaning.

Idioms are a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words. Example of idioms are "rain cats and dogs" and "see the light."

There are several lists of idioms on the Internet, including:

4309 questions
63
votes
4 answers

"Worse comes to worst" or "worst comes to worst"

Which is correct: worse comes to worst or worst comes to worst? The former seems more logical but the latter is what appears in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
user2683
43
votes
5 answers

What does "What are you up to?" mean?

I overheard my manager asking "What are you up to?" What does that idiom mean? Is it an informal/negative way of asking??
HanuAthena
  • 963
40
votes
10 answers

Is there an English idiom for 'your silence implies your consent'?

I was asked an interesting question today, is there an English equivalent of the saying Zwijgen is instemmen, that is "since you didn't answer, then you agreed with me". I could not come up with any good example; although I could think of a few…
Paul Wagland
  • 670
  • 1
  • 6
  • 11
40
votes
5 answers

"On the other hand" without the first hand

I have been criticized by colleagues in the past for using "on the other hand" as an alternative to "however" at the beginning of a sentence, because they said that you could only use it if a previous sentence featured "on the one hand". My question…
F'x
  • 38,736
32
votes
6 answers

What does the idiom/phrase "but I digress" mean?

Okay, so I know when to "but I digress"; I use it when I'm talking about something and then stray off topic and talk about something else, so in order to get back to the topic, I say "but I digress". But the dictionary says that digress, a verb,…
Alaa Ali
  • 423
  • 1
  • 4
  • 8
26
votes
12 answers

Idiom for magic object (or idea) that fixes everything

Some people hold the irrational belief that one object (or possibly idea) can fix all their problems. For example, someone who is unhappy or anxious might think that smoking is a cure to all their problems. What's the idiom to describe this belief?…
ktm5124
  • 2,818
23
votes
4 answers

What does "can't get arrested in this town" mean?

A phrase I've heard on various comedy programs regarding famous people is "[he or she] can't get arrested in this town." It often seems to be in reference to the person no longer being famous, however I've asked native English speakers and they…
simontemplar
  • 341
22
votes
3 answers

"in the same vein as" vs. "in a similar vein to" vs. "along a similar vein"

Which of these three are valid/accepted idioms? Is one of them the "original" one, and others variations on it? Do they have slightly different shades of meaning?
HighCommander4
  • 436
21
votes
3 answers

Origin of "Under the weather"?

I understand that "Under the weather" means feeling sick. I heard a rumor that this idiom may have nautical origins, but I don't know for sure. Does anyone know more about the origin of this phrase, and when it entered common usage?
Zoot
  • 3,483
21
votes
13 answers

Is there an idiom for "People very quickly get used to good things"

Is there an idiom for "People quickly get used to good things"?
Daniel J F
  • 341
21
votes
4 answers

"You busy traveler, you" - what is that called

I came across a sign in the "TSA pre-check" lane at the airport today that said "Keep those shoes on. You busy traveler, you.": There are three things here that caught my eye. First - "those" shoes, rather than "your" shoes. Second - the period…
Floris
  • 563
20
votes
4 answers

"Just deserts" or "just desserts"

Which is correct when referring to the punishment gotten by an evil-doer: just deserts or just desserts? Are both acceptable due to common usage (see buck naked / butt naked and strait-laced / straight-laced)?
user2683
20
votes
5 answers

What is the origin of the idiom 'all the rage'?

There are various expressions in English and other languages that use all, for example all right, or all dressed up and ready to go, however all the is not that common. The use of rage is even stranger, which of its many meanings is used…
terdon
  • 21,559
19
votes
6 answers

Is "to go berserk" used by native speakers or is it obsolete?

Is to go berserk used by native speakers or is it obsolete?
Arek
  • 323
19
votes
7 answers

Where did "There, there" (in consoling) come from?

I never understood why "There, there" is supposed to cheer someone up. Does anyone know?
Daniel
  • 57,547
1
2 3
…
43 44