Idiom of the day

Nitty gritty

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Meaning: This idiom refers to the most important, fundamental, or practical details of a situation or subject.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Let’s skip the introduction and get down to the nitty-gritty of the plan.”
  2. “The report covers the nitty-gritty of the financial data we need.”
  3. “Once the team got into the nitty-gritty of the project, progress sped up.”

Origin: The exact origin of “nitty gritty” is uncertain, but it is believed to have emerged in American English in the early to mid-20th century. It’s often thought to refer to getting down to the basics or essential details of a task or issue, bypassing surface-level elements.

Nitty gritty
Idiom of the day

Get something off your chest

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Meaning: This idiom means to share or confess something that has been bothering or worrying you, often bringing relief.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “I feel much better now that I got that off my chest.”
  2. “She finally got her concerns off her chest during the meeting.”
  3. “If something is troubling you, it’s best to get it off your chest.”

Origin: The phrase “get something off your chest” dates back to the late 1800s. It suggests that troubling thoughts or secrets feel like a physical weight on one’s chest, and sharing them provides emotional relief.

Get something off your chest
Idiom of the day

Take a flyer

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Meaning: This idiom means to take a risk or make a bold decision, often without much information or certainty of success.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Investing in that startup was taking a flyer, but it paid off.”
  2. “He took a flyer on a new career path and moved to another country.”
  3. “She didn’t have all the details but decided to take a flyer and join the project.”

Origin: The origin of “take a flyer” is unclear, but it likely stems from early 20th-century American slang, where “flyer” indicated a leap or quick move, often risky. In stock trading, “taking a flyer” means investing in something speculative, hoping for a big payoff.

Take a flyer
Idiom of the day

Fill someone in

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Meaning: This idiom means to provide someone with information or to update them on details they missed.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “I missed the meeting; can you fill me in on what happened?”
  2. “Let me fill you in on the latest developments in the project.”
  3. “She wasn’t aware of the changes, so I filled her in.”

Origin: The phrase “fill someone in” likely originated in the mid-20th century, using “fill” to represent supplying missing parts or information, as if completing a blank space. This informal expression became widely used to describe catching someone up on news or events.

Fill someone in
Idiom of the day

Pay off

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Meaning: This idiom has two common meanings:

  1. To yield successful results or rewards.
  2. To completely pay a debt.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “All her hard work finally paid off when she got the promotion.”
  2. “If you stay dedicated, your efforts will pay off in the long run.”
  3. “He paid off his student loans last year.”

Origin: “Pay off” has origins in financial language, with the sense of settling debts dating back to the 16th century. Over time, it took on the additional meaning of achieving a beneficial outcome or reward, as if one’s efforts are fully “settled” or rewarded.

Pay off
Idiom of the day

Wind up

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Meaning: This idiom has two primary meanings:

  1. To bring something to a conclusion or end.
  2. To intentionally tease or provoke someone (often used in British English).

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Let’s wind up the meeting with final remarks from everyone.”
  2. “The event wound up around midnight after the final performance.”
  3. “He’s only winding you up—don’t take it seriously.”

Origin: The phrase “wind up” originates from the winding of a clock or mechanical device, signifying bringing something to a point of readiness or an end. Over time, it expanded to mean finishing tasks or, in a more figurative sense, agitating someone by “winding” them up.

Wind up
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