Idiom of the day

Make a slow exit

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Meaning: This idiom means to leave a situation, place, or conversation gradually or subtly, often without drawing much attention.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “She made a slow exit from the party, saying goodbye to a few people at a time.”
  2. “He decided to make a slow exit from the meeting to avoid any awkwardness.”
  3. “We made a slow exit from the conversation as it started to get uncomfortable.”

Origin: “Make a slow exit” combines the literal act of leaving with the idea of doing so deliberately and gradually. It is often used in social situations where someone wants to depart without causing a disruption or drawing too much focus to their departure. The phrase suggests subtlety and often careful timing.

Make a slow exit
Idiom of the day

Cross someone’s path

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Meaning: This idiom means to encounter or meet someone, often unexpectedly.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “I never expected to cross his path again after so many years.”
  2. “She’s very lucky to have crossed paths with such an influential mentor.”
  3. “We crossed paths briefly during the conference, but didn’t have time to talk.”

Origin: The idiom “cross someone’s path” likely originates from the idea of two individuals traveling on different routes that intersect, leading to an encounter. Historically, “cross” has been associated with intersection or opposition, and “path” refers to one’s course or journey in life. Over time, it came to be used figuratively to describe chance or unplanned meetings between people.

Cross someone’s path
Idiom of the day

In the middle of nowhere

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Meaning: This idiom refers to a remote or isolated location, far away from cities, towns, or other places of interest.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “The car broke down in the middle of nowhere, and there was no cell phone service.”
  2. “Their cabin is in the middle of nowhere, perfect for a quiet weekend getaway.”
  3. “We drove for hours and ended up in the middle of nowhere, with no signs of civilization.”

Origin: The phrase “in the middle of nowhere” dates back to at least the 19th century and is commonly used to describe being in a distant or desolate area with few, if any, nearby landmarks or signs of human habitation. “Nowhere” refers to a place that is insignificant or unrecognizable, and “in the middle of” suggests a deep or central location within this remote area. Over time, the idiom has come to be used both literally and figuratively to describe isolated or hard-to-reach places.

In the middle of nowhere
Idiom of the day

Keep one’s cool

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Meaning: This idiom means to remain calm and composed, especially in stressful or difficult situations.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Even when the argument got heated, she managed to keep her cool and respond calmly.”
  2. “It’s important to keep your cool during a job interview, even if you’re nervous.”
  3. “He always keeps his cool, even when things don’t go as planned.”

Origin: The phrase “keep one’s cool” is thought to have emerged in the mid-20th century in American slang. “Cool” has long been used as a synonym for being calm, collected, and in control, especially in tense situations. To “keep one’s cool” means maintaining this calm demeanor, even under pressure. The phrase has become widely used in everyday speech to refer to staying level-headed in moments of emotional or stressful turmoil.

Keep one’s cool
Idiom of the day

Luck out

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Meaning: This idiom means to experience unexpected good fortune or to be very lucky in a particular situation, often when success was not anticipated.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “I really lucked out and found the last ticket for the concert right before it sold out.”
  2. “They lucked out with perfect weather for their outdoor wedding.”
  3. “I thought I missed the bus, but I lucked out because it was running late.”

Origin: The origin of the phrase “luck out” comes from American English, where it originally had the opposite meaning of experiencing bad luck. However, over time, its usage shifted to mean the opposite—experiencing good fortune. The transformation of its meaning likely occurred due to the ironic use of “out” to signify that someone unexpectedly avoided bad luck and instead ended up in a lucky situation. It’s now a common idiom used to describe being fortunate, often in situations where the outcome could easily have gone the other way.

Luck out
Idiom of the day

Hang on

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Meaning: This idiom means to wait for a short period of time or to hold tightly to something, often in difficult situations.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Hang on, I’ll be with you in just a minute.”
  2. “During the bumpy ride, he told us to hang on to the handrails.”
  3. “Just hang on, things will get better soon.”

Origin: The phrase “hang on” originates from the literal action of holding onto something, especially in challenging circumstances. Over time, it evolved into a figurative expression meaning to remain patient, wait, or persist through difficulties. It’s widely used in casual conversation to ask someone to wait briefly or to encourage someone to persevere.

Hang on
Idiom of the day

Get something going

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Meaning: This idiom means to start or initiate something, often referring to getting a project, event, or process in motion.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Let’s get this meeting going so we can finish on time.”
  2. “We need to get the new marketing campaign going by the end of the month.”
  3. “It took some time, but we finally got the project going.”

Origin: “Get something going” is a common idiomatic expression in English, derived from the literal meaning of “going,” which means to move or proceed. Over time, it became a phrase used to describe starting or launching any activity, event, or plan. It’s often used in both casual and formal settings to indicate the beginning of an action or initiative.

Get something going
Idiom of the day

safe bet

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Meaning: This idiom means that something is very likely to happen or be true, or that it is a reliable choice or outcome.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “It’s a safe bet that it will rain tomorrow, given the dark clouds and forecast.”
  2. “Investing in blue-chip stocks is usually a safe bet for long-term returns.”
  3. “If you’re hungry, pizza is always a safe bet for dinner.”

Origin: The idiom “a safe bet” comes from the world of gambling, where a “bet” is a wager placed on a certain outcome. A “safe bet” refers to a wager where the chances of winning are high, indicating that the outcome is almost guaranteed. Over time, the phrase has been adopted into everyday language to describe situations or decisions that carry little risk and are likely to succeed. It is now commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts.

safe bet
YouTube Videos

Surviving in the Wilderness: Basic English vs. Idioms

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Get ready to dive into an exciting survival story where we explore two ways to tell the same tale—Basic English vs. Idioms! Follow Jake as he finds himself in the middle of nowhere, trying to keep his cool and ride out the night. Will he luck out and make it out of the woods? Or will things go south? Watch and see how we break down the language in this thrilling adventure!

Idiom of the day

Take something with a pinch of salt

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Meaning: This idiom means to view something with skepticism or doubt, or not to take something too literally or seriously.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “When he told me about his latest adventure, I took it with a pinch of salt—he tends to exaggerate.”
  2. “You should take the rumors with a pinch of salt until you hear the official statement.”
  3. “She said the project would be done by tomorrow, but I’m taking that with a pinch of salt.”

Origin: The origin of the idiom “take something with a pinch of salt” can be traced back to ancient Rome. The Roman author Pliny the Elder mentioned in his work Naturalis Historia that a grain of salt could be used as an antidote to poison. This led to the idea that salt could help lessen the impact or severity of something harmful. Over time, the phrase evolved to mean taking something with caution or skepticism, as if to mitigate its potential impact or truthfulness. Today, the idiom is commonly used to suggest that a statement or claim should be treated with some level of doubt or disbelief.

Take something with a pinch of salt