Hey there! In our previous blog posts, we delved into the fascinating quirks of the English language. Let's dive right in – mastering English requires a constant effort, but don't worry, it's all part of the fun. Whether you're gearing up to learn the language or aiming to teach it like a pro, we understand it can feel a bit nerve-wracking.
Notice the little tricks? Idioms are scattered throughout English, popping up in everyday chats, formal documents, government speeches, and casual street conversations. While some languages are direct to the point or boast unique, beautiful expressions, English takes the cake with seemingly simple phrases that might sound normal to native speakers but come off as quirky to others.
Just between us, your students might encounter these quirks, rain or shine (two more idioms for you!). This is especially true if they're into sports – there are entire podcasts dedicated to the peculiar language of football! You'd feel pretty disappointed if you didn't understand what football managers were going on about.
In the spirit of embracing idioms, we've handpicked some of our favorites and explored how they're used (or not used, as the case may be). Let's make learning about idioms a breeze!
‘The Elephant in the Room’
Hey, picture yourself learning English, and someone comes along saying this? It might make you a bit uneasy.
Now, when folks talk about "the elephant in the room," they're referring to a touchy or tricky subject that everyone's avoiding. Surprisingly, this phrase isn't from an English writer but a Russian one, Ivan Krylov. He's the guy who made it popular through a story about a man in a museum who notices all the little things but misses the elephant. Fyodor Dostoevsky later referenced it in his book 'Demons,' comparing it to Belinsky not noticing the elephant in the museum.
But there are other stories about where the phrase came from. Alexandra Burke, the X Factor winner, once claimed she brought it from the USA to the UK. There were even rumors that her management avoided discussing the elephant in the room because it was already such a popular phrase. How interesting is that?
‘You can say that again’
Sure thing! Here's a friendlier version:
Hey, here's another quirky expression that might cause a little head-scratching. Imagine I mention how pricey the coffee is at a café, and you respond with a cheerful "you can say that again." Well, it might seem a bit odd if I actually repeated myself, right?
This phrase can be a bit of a linguistic detour. Despite sounding like a straightforward agreement, it could be puzzling for those learning English. So, if someone throws this line your way, no need to literally say it again—just roll with the conversation!
‘Lose your marbles’
In the UK, there's a saying about "losing one's marbles," which means forgetting, getting frustrated, or feeling confused. For instance, I totally lost my marbles while trying to choose the best idioms for this article.
Wondering why marbles? Well, they're those small round toys that existed before the Xbox era. People have been passionately playing competitive marble games for centuries. Fans of the popular marble game even gather for events like the annual British and World Marbles Championship in Tinsley Green, West Sussex.
As far as we know, there haven't been any scientific studies connecting misplacing marbles to cognitive decline, but we're open to correction on that.
‘Butterflies in my stomach’
Feeling a bit jittery? Well, it turns out those butterflies in your stomach aren't really insects—they're just a quirky way your body reacts to stress. Picture this: you're gearing up for a job interview, facing an exam, or even glancing at your bank balance after a night out. Cue the fluttery sensation.
So, where does this phenomenon come from? According to the Washington Post, it all links back to the "fight-or-flight" response. Imagine stumbling upon a lion on the African savanna (yikes!). In moments of stress, your body gets ready to either face the lion or make a speedy exit. Signals rush from your brain to the adrenal glands, which release adrenaline, gearing you up for action. Now, here's the twist: while all this is happening, less blood reaches your stomach, and hormonal changes might make you feel a bit queasy. No lions involved in your everyday stress? No worries—the same process, albeit milder, can still give you those fluttery "butterflies."
In a nutshell, when nerves kick in, your body does its fight-or-flight dance, leading to that distinctive fluttering sensation in your stomach. Mystery solved—no actual insects involved!
‘Easier said than done’
Describing this expression is, um... you know.
When someone uses this phrase, they mean it quite literally. For instance, saying "I'm going to climb Mount Everest" may sound simple, but based on what we've heard, it's actually quite a challenging endeavor.
In an educational setting, one might declare, "I'm going to conquer irregular verbs this week," but executing that plan is much more challenging than stating it. Following our discussion about the "butterflies in my stomach," we thought we'd present you with something a bit simpler to, well, understand.
‘Let the cat out of the bag’
Hey there fellow animal lovers! Before we dive into today's topic, we've got a little request: let's keep those kitties out of bags, okay?
Now, let's chat about an interesting saying: "Letting the cat out of the bag." Surprisingly, it's not about felines or bags at all, but rather spilling the beans or accidentally revealing a secret. Like when Judas spilled the beans about Jesus's whereabouts – definitely not a friendly kitty moment, more like an act of betrayal. The Watergate scandal? No cats were involved there either.
But imagine accidentally spilling the surprise about your friend's birthday party – yep, that's like letting the cat out of the bag! Just a fun way to talk about sharing secrets, no actual cats or bags were harmed in the making of this idiom.
‘Hit the sack’/’Hit the hay’
It's been a really long day, hasn't it? You've put in some serious effort, and now it's finally time to catch some Zs or hit the hay, whichever phrase you prefer.
Now, why do English speakers talk about violence towards burlap or herbaceous plants? Well, not to worry, it's just a fun way of saying "going to bed."
The roots of these expressions are pretty clear. Back in the days before beds came in flat-packed boxes, people often rested their heads on loose fabric or even hay. Sounds a bit scratchy, doesn't it?
Similar to the saying about letting the cat out of the bag, these bedtime idioms can be taken both literally and figuratively. Letting a cat out of a bag would be quite a surprise, so it kind of makes sense. The violence towards sacks isn't the real focus here.
All this talk about bedtime is making us feel a bit sleepy. Good night!
‘The best thing since sliced bread’
Isn't it amazing how versatile complex carbohydrates are?
Back in the 1920s, sliced bread hit the market and was hailed as "the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped.” It's like the ultimate convenience, right?
No doubt, slicing bread was a brilliant move. We get it, sourdough lovers! But there's no denying the sheer convenience of pre-sliced bread. That's why the saying "best thing since sliced bread" started applying to all sorts of modern conveniences, turning into a phrase we use every day.
Now, you could say that this blog about idioms is the best thing since sliced bread. Feel free to drop that in the comments below!
‘The bee’s knees’
Hey there! Let's take a trip back to the 1920s, a time when not only sliced bread was making waves but also the fascinating world of animal-related expressions. One such quirky phrase was "the bee's knees," which, believe it or not, meant something top-notch!
Now, add in "the cat's pyjamas" and the less-known "gnat's elbow," and you've got yourself a trio of charming expressions that have managed to endure through the years. It's really just a cute way of saying something is excellent. Imagine complimenting your dinner host with a cheerful "this meal is the bee's knees" instead of a plain old "it was good" — guaranteed to bring a wider smile to their face!
And here's a fun tidbit: there's a rhyme to "the bee's knees," which might explain why "cat's pajamas" and "gnat's elbow" didn't quite catch on in the same way.
Oh, and in case you're curious about whether bees actually have knees, here's the buzz: "Bees, like all insects, have six sections to their legs: the coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, metatarsus, and tarsus. The joint between the femur and tibia is the one most like a knee." Big shoutout to bees, those legendary pollen collectors!
‘It takes two to tango’
Hey there! Wanna speak English like a pro? Well, here's a cool phrase to add to your arsenal—it's like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, but not literally!
So, this nifty phrase is a bit on the fancy side. Basically, it means that whatever task or action we're talking about wasn't a solo effort. Nope, it took two to make it happen—just like the saying goes, "It takes two to tango."
And by the way, we're not talking about the fizzy juice here; we're talking about the dance. The tango has its roots along the border of Argentina and Uruguay, and back in the day, it was considered a bit scandalous and associated with the working class.
Now, here's a fun fact: The tango is actually recognized by UNESCO as a cultural movement. So, while someone out there might be trying to master a solo tango, as of now, it still takes two to tango. Cool, right?
