Monthly Archives: August 2024

Idiom of the day

Fly off the handle

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Meaning: This idiom means to suddenly lose one’s temper or become very angry, often without much provocation or warning. It implies an outburst of uncontrolled emotion.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “He tends to fly off the handle at the slightest criticism, making it difficult to give him feedback.”
  2. “When she saw the mess in the kitchen, she flew off the handle and started yelling at everyone.”
  3. “You need to stay calm during negotiations; flying off the handle won’t help resolve anything.”

Origin: The origin of the idiom “fly off the handle” dates back to the 19th century in the United States. It is believed to come from the imagery of a loose axe head flying off its handle when swung, which could be sudden and dangerous. This sudden and uncontrollable event serves as a metaphor for someone abruptly losing their temper. The phrase captures the idea of an unexpected and volatile emotional outburst, much like the sudden detachment of an axe head.

Fly off the handle
Idiom of the day

Hit the ground running

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Meaning: This idiom means to begin a project or task with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, starting immediately and effectively.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “As soon as the new manager started, she hit the ground running by implementing several new initiatives.”
  2. “The team hit the ground running after the brainstorming session, quickly turning ideas into action.”
  3. “With his extensive experience, he was able to hit the ground running in his new role.”

Origin: The origin of the idiom “hit the ground running” is believed to come from the military, particularly paratroopers, who needed to start moving quickly upon landing to avoid danger. It has also been associated with railroad hobos who would jump off moving trains and start running immediately to avoid getting caught. The phrase emphasizes the idea of starting something new with immediate and vigorous action.

Hit the ground running
Idiom of the day

Sweep something under the rug

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Meaning: This idiom means to hide or ignore a problem or issue instead of dealing with it. It implies attempting to keep something unpleasant or embarrassing out of sight and out of mind.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “The company tried to sweep the financial irregularities under the rug, but the auditors uncovered the truth.”
  2. “Instead of addressing the conflict directly, they chose to sweep it under the rug and pretend everything was fine.”
  3. “You can’t just sweep your mistakes under the rug; you need to confront them and make things right.”

Origin: The origin of the idiom “sweep something under the rug” comes from the literal act of sweeping dirt or debris under a rug to quickly hide it instead of properly cleaning it up. This act of concealing messes out of sight without addressing the underlying issue has been used metaphorically to describe avoiding or ignoring problems rather than facing them. The phrase effectively conveys the idea of superficial tidiness while leaving unresolved issues hidden and potentially problematic in the future.

Sweep something under the rug
Idiom of the day

Time flies when you’re having fun

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Meaning: This idiom means that time seems to pass quickly when you are enjoying yourself or engaged in pleasurable activities.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “I can’t believe it’s already midnight; time flies when you’re having fun.”
  2. “Our vacation was over before we knew it. Time really flies when you’re having fun.”
  3. “The party was so enjoyable that I lost track of time. Time flies when you’re having fun.”

Origin: The origin of the idiom “time flies when you’re having fun” can be traced back to the Latin phrase “tempus fugit,” which means “time flies.” The phrase highlights the perception that enjoyable activities seem to make time pass more quickly. This concept has been a part of human observation for centuries, with various cultures and languages having similar expressions. The idiom underscores the contrast between how we perceive time during pleasurable experiences versus mundane or unpleasant ones.

Time flies when you’re having fun