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figures-of-speech-cartoon-by-ella-baron

1. Time flies

Meaning: This phrase indicates that time seems to pass very quickly, especially when you're busy or having fun.

Example: It feels like just yesterday you started school, but now you're graduating—time flies!

2. Cat got your tongue

Meaning: This expression is used when someone is unusually quiet or lost for words.

Example: You’ve been silent ever since the meeting started; what's the matter, cat got your tongue?

3. Ace up your sleeve

Meaning: To have a hidden advantage or secret strategy that you can use when needed.

Example: I’m sure he’ll win the game; he always has an ace up his sleeve.

4. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Meaning: Don’t risk everything on a single plan or investment; it's better to diversify.

Example: You shouldn't invest all your money in one stock—don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

5. Wear your heart on your sleeve

Meaning: To openly show your emotions and feelings, without hiding them.

Example: She’s not afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve, so you always know how she feels.

6. Kick the bucket

Meaning: A humorous or euphemistic way to say that someone has died.

Example: After years of adventure, the old explorer finally kicked the bucket.

7. Behind every man is a good woman

Meaning: Suggests that a successful man often has a supportive woman who contributes to his achievements.

Example: He may be the CEO, but behind every man is a good woman who helped him get there.

8. Spill the beans

Meaning: To reveal a secret or disclose confidential information.

Example: Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party to anyone!

9. Everything handed to you on a silver platter

Meaning: To receive something easily or without effort, usually due to privilege or luck.

Example: Unlike her, he had to work hard for his success; nothing was handed to him on a silver platter.

10. Walking on eggshells

Meaning: To be very cautious around someone or a situation to avoid upsetting them.

Example: Ever since the argument, I’ve been walking on eggshells around him.

11. Screw loose

Meaning: Refers to someone acting strangely, suggesting they might be slightly crazy or irrational.

Example: She wants to swim in the icy lake in winter—she must have a screw loose!

12. Born with a silver spoon in your mouth

Meaning: To be born into a wealthy family and enjoy privileges from birth.

Example: He never had to worry about money since he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

13. In a nutshell

Meaning: To summarize something concisely, giving only the main points.

Example: In a nutshell, the project was a success despite the initial setbacks.

14. Tie the knot

Meaning: A colloquial way of saying “to get married.”

Example: After dating for five years, they decided to tie the knot next summer.

15. Cold feet

Meaning: To suddenly feel nervous about a big decision, often before a wedding.

Example: He got cold feet the night before the wedding and started to doubt if he was ready.

16. By the tail

Meaning: To be in control of a situation, especially one that's tricky or unpredictable.

Example: He has the market by the tail with his innovative business strategy.

17. Rags to riches

Meaning: A situation where someone rises from poverty to wealth or success.

Example: Her journey from a small-town waitress to a millionaire entrepreneur is a true rags-to-riches story.

18. Red herring

Meaning: Something that misleads or distracts from the real issue.

Example: The detective thought the suspect’s alibi was a red herring meant to divert attention from the real culprit.

19. Keep your cards close to your chest

Meaning: To be secretive about your plans to maintain an advantage.

Example: During negotiations, it’s wise to keep your cards close to your chest.

20. Birdbrain

Meaning: A playful term for someone who is not very intelligent.

Example: He forgot his keys again—what a birdbrain!

21. In one ear and out the other

Meaning: When someone doesn’t retain information they've heard.

Example: I’ve told him a dozen times, but it just goes in one ear and out the other.

22. Best foot forward

Meaning: To put your best effort into something to make a good impression.

Example: It’s her first day on the job, so she’s determined to put her best foot forward.

23. Big cheese

Meaning: An important or influential person, often in an organization.

Example: He’s the big cheese around here, so you’ll need his approval before making changes.

24. Shoe on the other foot

Meaning: To be in the opposite situation, suggesting a reversal of roles.

Example: Now that the shoe is on the other foot, he understands how difficult it is to manage a team.

25. Skinny as a rail

Meaning: To describe someone who is extremely thin.

Example: After being sick for a month, he was as skinny as a rail.

26. Follow your nose

Meaning: To trust your instincts to guide you.

Example: If you get lost in the city, just follow your nose, and you’ll eventually find your way back.

27. A piece of cake

Meaning: Something that is very easy to do.

Example: The test was a piece of cake; I finished it in 20 minutes.

28. Like a fish out of water

Meaning: To feel uncomfortable, awkward, or out of place in a particular situation.

Example: She felt like a fish out of water at the tech conference since she knew nothing about programming.

29. As the crow flies

Meaning: The shortest, most direct path between two places, usually used to describe distance.

Example: The town is 10 miles away as the crow flies, but the road winds for 15 miles.

30. Not enough room to swing a cat

Meaning: A very cramped or confined space.

Example: Their apartment was so small, there wasn't enough room to swing a cat.

31. Bald as a coot

Meaning: Completely bald.

Example: He's bald as a coot now, though he had a full head of hair in his youth.

32. Can't bake a cake without cracking some eggs

Meaning: Some sacrifices or efforts are necessary to achieve a goal.

Example: Implementing new policies might be unpopular, but you can't bake a cake without cracking some eggs.

33. Grabbing a cat by its tail

Meaning: To do something risky or take on a difficult challenge.

Example: Trying to negotiate with that stubborn manager is like grabbing a cat by its tail.

34. You can't have your cake and eat it

Meaning: You can’t enjoy two mutually exclusive things at once.

Example: He wants the benefits of a job without working hard, but you can't have your cake and eat it.

35. An ear full of worms

Meaning: Hearing something unpleasant or bothersome.

Example: His complaints about the noise were like an ear full of worms.

36. Kick it down the road

Meaning: To delay dealing with an issue.

Example: They decided to kick it down the road and postpone the budget discussion until next month.

37. Dumb waiter

Meaning: A small elevator used for transporting food or dishes between floors.

Example: The restaurant uses a dumb waiter to send meals to the upper dining area.

38. Nail on the head

Meaning: To describe something accurately or get something exactly right.

Example: She hit the nail on the head with her analysis of the market trends.

39. Cherry on the cake

Meaning: An additional benefit or bonus that makes a good situation even better.

Example: Getting a promotion was great, but the extra vacation days were the cherry on the cake.

40. Twist around one's fingers

Meaning: To easily manipulate or control someone.

Example: He was so charming that he could twist everyone around his fingers.

41. The wings of time

Meaning: The swift passage of time.

Example: On the wings of time, the years flew by before they knew it.

42. Tie a knot in it / A knotty problem

Meaning: Solve a difficult problem or situation.

Example: Resolving the conflict was a knotty problem that took weeks.

43. A little fishy

Meaning: Something seems suspicious or not quite right.

Example: His explanation of the missing funds sounded a little fishy.

44. The joker in the pack

Meaning: An unpredictable or surprising factor.

Example: In the election, the independent candidate turned out to be the joker in the pack.

45. Nosey

Meaning: Someone who is overly curious or prying.

Example: She’s so nosey, always asking about everyone’s personal business.

46. The cat's whiskers

Meaning: The best or most excellent person or thing.

Example: She thinks she’s the cat's whiskers after winning that award.

47. Land on your feet

Meaning: To recover well from a difficult situation or have good luck.

Example: Despite the layoffs, he managed to land on his feet with a new job.

48. All knees and elbows

Meaning: Awkward or clumsy, especially in movement.

Example: The teenager, all knees and elbows, stumbled as he grew into his body.

49. Pull your socks up

Meaning: To improve performance or put in more effort.

Example: If you want that promotion, you'll need to pull your socks up at work.

50. A stitch in time

Meaning: Taking care of a problem early to prevent it from getting worse.

Example: Fixing that leak now is a stitch in time that will save you money later.

Date: Sat, 16-Nov-2024

figures-of-speech-cartoon-by-ella-baron.txt · Last modified: 2024/11/17 03:42 by admin

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