Have you ever said a phrase, without knowing what it meant?

[Free4Life11]

On another thread I said "celebrity marriages are a dime a dozen." Well, I realized that I've never used the phrase "dime a dozen" and don't really know what it means!

I can't remember the word for these phrases....idioms?

Anyone else ever used one just because it sounded good or you thought it fit the situation?

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Isn't the phrase, "a dime a dozen", when used in context, self-explanatory?

A dime, 10 cents is a very small amount of money, so a person can get a lot of something if it was priced at a dime. In this case, celebrity marriages, Celebrities don't stay married because they can turn a corner and be married to someone else tomorrow.

Hope this helps.

 

[Sparx]

I just recently found out what making money hand over fist is.

 

[bajanswife]

There are many phrases I know how to use, but if you asked me to explain how they originated and WHY they mean what they do, I couldn't tell ya! Like the one just mentioned - hand over fist - I know what that means and how to use it, but beats me WHY the phrase "making money hand over fist" should mean "making money at an incredible rate"!

 

[Pugdog007]

Earlier today, I used the phrase "upset the applecart, " i.e. "I don't want to upset the applecart or anything... but." I just realized that I'm not so sure where it comes from. Anyone?

 

[Sparx]

There are many phrases I know how to use, but if you asked me to explain how they originated and WHY they mean what they do, I couldn't tell ya! Like the one just mentioned - hand over fist - I know what that means and how to use it, but beats me WHY the phrase "making money hand over fist" should mean "making money at an incredible rate"!

It is like you are grabbing at something with two hands, and when you bring one FIST back, your other hand is going over it to grab more. If you can picture that.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Lately, I started noticing idioms in my language, too! I have started wondering about the origin of so many phrases I use. I found www.dictionary.com sometimes provide the meanings of phrases, if I put in the phrase. I use idioms all the time and notice they really color my language. But, very often, I'm in the dark as to their origin. There are probably idiom books with the word origins, I'm not sure. Good topic.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Or, you can do a google search on the phrase to find its meaning. "dime a dozen" had an explanatory entry on dictionary.com.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Don't have a cow!!

What the heck DOES that mean, anyway??

 

[nativetxn]

I've never understood the meaning "have your cake and eat it too". I can use it in context but what exactly does it mean?

 

[Sparx]

Don't have a cow!!

What the heck DOES that mean, anyway??

ever seen a cow give birth? It is refering someone being so upset that they could be "having a cow' or calf. I use the phrase "having kittens" personally. same meaning.

 

[Cindyluwho]

Well, maybe I can help with "a dime a dozen". Supposedly, during the Civil War, that's what the Army paid farmers for their horses. That's according to a book that our history teacher, my favorite teacher, used to read passages out of. It had all sorts of neat things in it. Like Attila the Hun, did you know that Attila is not pronounced a-TIL-uh, it's AT-iluh. I love that stuff!

 

[mick67]

eat my shorts

catch as catch can (this one is particulary annoying)

I'd bet dollars to donuts

 

[va32h]

"you can't have your cake and eat it too" means that some things are mutually exclusive - you must choose.

If you eat your cake, you won't have it anymore. If you want to have (keep) your cake, you can't eat it.

"upset the applecart" just means not to disrupt something that depends on keeping order. An apple cart is precariously stacked, and depends on every apple staying in it's place. Move one, and the whole thing falls apart.

On a related note, I saw Bill Murray on a talk show one time - he said the funniest thing:

"They always say you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar - but who wants flies?"

 

[va32h]

I'd bet dollars to donuts

This one means that you are so certain that you are right, you'd bet something valuable (dollars) against something relatively worthless (donuts).

I used to volunteer teaching English - I had to explain a lot of idioms!

 

[mick67]

This one means that you are so certain that you are right, you'd bet something valuable (dollars) against something relatively worthless (donuts).

I used to volunteer teaching English - I had to explain a lot of idioms!

some of the places where I buy donuts are trying to pull even!

Ever hear of a "pregnant idea?"

 

[va32h]

some of the places where I buy donuts are trying to pull even!

Well the phrase had its origins well before the advent of hip bakeries and Krispy Kreme!

A "pregnant idea"? No idea, actually! But my guess is that it would be an idea full of possibilities? I'll have to google that one.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

Try this:

http://www.idiomsite.com/

There is another one that is better, but I can't locate it right now....If I find it, I'll post it. We talked about this a couple of years ago here on the Community Board and I absolutely loved the site. Unfortunately, that was two computers ago!

 

[Kermit]

I used to use the phrase "get our ducks in a row" until I found out that the whole phrase is, "Get our ducks in a row before we shoot them."