Monthly Archives: November 2024

Idiom of the day

Aid and abet

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Meaning: This idiom refers to helping or supporting someone, especially in doing something wrong or illegal. “Aid” means to help, while “abet” means to encourage or support, particularly in wrongdoing.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “He was arrested for aiding and abetting a criminal in the bank robbery.”
  2. “In some cases, even unknowingly aiding and abetting illegal activity can result in consequences.”
  3. “She was accused of aiding and abetting him in his scheme.”

Origin: The phrase “aid and abet” dates back to the Middle Ages and comes from legal terminology, where it refers to providing help or encouragement to someone committing a crime. It’s often used in legal contexts to describe the action of knowingly assisting in illegal activities.

Aid and abet
Idiom of the day

Thick as thieves

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Meaning: This idiom means that two or more people are very close friends who share secrets and trust each other deeply.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Those two have been thick as thieves since elementary school.”
  2. “My sisters are thick as thieves and always keep each other’s secrets.”
  3. “Ever since they started working together, they’ve become as thick as thieves.”

Origin: The idiom “thick as thieves” likely originated in the 18th century, referring to the close and secretive nature of thieves working together. “Thick” here means close-knit or strongly bonded, describing a friendship with deep loyalty and shared confidences.

Thick as thieves
Idiom of the day

Rip off

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Meaning: This idiom means to cheat or overcharge someone, or to take advantage of someone by charging them too much for something.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “The souvenir shop tried to rip us off by doubling the price.”
  2. “He felt ripped off after paying so much for a low-quality product.”
  3. “Make sure to read reviews first so you don’t get ripped off.”

Origin: The phrase “rip off” likely originated in the 1960s American slang. “Rip” implies forcefully taking something away, and “off” suggests separation or loss, symbolizing a sense of being taken advantage of or unfairly treated, especially in financial contexts.

Rip off
Idiom of the day

Once bitten twice shy

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Meaning: This idiom means that a person is cautious or hesitant to do something again after having a bad or unpleasant experience the first time.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “After being scammed online, he’s very careful about where he shops. Once bitten, twice shy.”
  2. “She’s reluctant to start a new business partnership after her last one failed. Once bitten, twice shy.”
  3. “He doesn’t trust easily anymore. Once bitten, twice shy.”

Origin: This idiom is thought to have originated in the 19th century, with the concept that someone who has experienced something painful or harmful is wary of experiencing it again. The phrase gained popularity and entered common use to describe situations of learned caution or mistrust following a negative experience.

Once bitten twice shy
Idiom of the day

Out of the question

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Meaning: This idiom means something is impossible or not allowed; there’s no chance it will happen.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Going on vacation this month is out of the question with all the work I have.”
  2. “Skipping the final exam is completely out of the question.”
  3. “A pay raise this quarter is out of the question given the company’s budget.”

Origin: This phrase dates back to the 18th century and likely originates from formal meetings or debates, where topics not allowed to be discussed were “out of the question” (meaning not open for debate or consideration). It evolved to mean anything that is impossible or unacceptable.

Out of the question
Idiom of the day

In charge of

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Meaning: This idiom means to be responsible for or to have control over something or someone.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “She’s in charge of organizing the event this year.”
  2. “As the project manager, he’s in charge of overseeing the team’s progress.”
  3. “The teacher put me in charge of collecting homework assignments.”

Origin: The phrase “in charge of” comes from the military, where “charge” referred to responsibility or command over troops or a specific duty. Over time, it expanded to describe taking responsibility or control in non-military contexts.

In charge of
Idiom of the day

In no time

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Meaning: This idiom means very quickly or soon, almost immediately.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Don’t worry, we’ll be finished with the project in no time.”
  2. “She learned to play the piano in no time!”
  3. “The repair shop fixed my car in no time.”

Origin: The phrase “in no time” dates back to the 19th century and implies something happening so quickly that it’s as if no time passed at all. It became a common way to express swift or immediate action.

In no time
Idiom of the day

For the birds

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Meaning: This idiom means something is trivial, unimportant, or worthless.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “I don’t want to spend my time on that project; it’s for the birds.”
  2. “She thought the new policy was for the birds and didn’t benefit anyone.”
  3. “I’ve had enough of his excuses—they’re for the birds.”

Origin: The phrase “for the birds” is believed to have originated in the United States in the mid-20th century, possibly stemming from the idea that small, insignificant things, like seeds or scraps, are only useful or appealing to birds. It’s a dismissive way of saying something isn’t worth time or attention.

For the birds
Idiom of the day

Brush up on

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Meaning: This idiom means to review, practice, or refresh one’s knowledge or skills in a particular subject, especially after some time away from it.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “I need to brush up on my Spanish before the trip.”
  2. “She decided to brush up on her coding skills for the upcoming project.”
  3. “Before the exam, he brushed up on his math formulas.”

Origin: “Brush up on” originates from the 1800s. Originally, “brush” was used in the sense of cleaning or polishing something, and this idea extended metaphorically to refreshing or improving knowledge. The idiom became popular in English as a way to suggest “polishing” one’s understanding of a topic or skill.

Brush up on
Idiom of the day

Sitting ducks

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Meaning: This idiom refers to people or things that are vulnerable, unprotected, or easy targets.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Without any cover, the soldiers were sitting ducks for the enemy.”
  2. “With no security measures in place, the company’s data was sitting ducks for hackers.”
  3. “Walking through that dangerous area at night makes you a sitting duck for trouble.”

Origin: The phrase “sitting ducks” comes from hunting, where a duck sitting on water is an easy target because it can’t escape quickly. It became a popular way to describe situations or people who are defenseless or exposed to danger, especially from the 20th century onward.

Sitting ducks