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
Idiom of the day

Turn around

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Meaning: This phrase has a few meanings. It can mean to physically rotate in the opposite direction, to change or reverse a situation, or to make improvements, especially in performance or fortune.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “When she called his name, he turned around to see her.”
  2. “The new manager was able to turn around the company’s declining profits.”
  3. “After a slow start, the team managed to turn things around and win the game.”

Origin: The literal meaning of “turn around” has been used since the 16th century, describing physical movement. The figurative sense, meaning to improve or reverse a situation, likely developed over time as a natural extension, and it became popular in business and sports contexts in the 20th century.

Turn around
Idiom of the day

Over and over again

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Meaning: This idiom means to repeat something multiple times or to do something repeatedly.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “She practiced the song over and over again until she memorized it.”
  2. “The teacher explained the concept over and over again to make sure everyone understood.”
  3. “I’ve watched that movie over and over again; it’s one of my favorites.”

Origin: The phrase “over and over again” is a repetition for emphasis, adding the word “again” to stress continual repetition. It has been used in English since the early 1800s and remains a common way to convey the idea of something happening repeatedly.

Over and over again
Idiom of the day

Wear out

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Meaning: This idiom means to exhaust someone or something through use, effort, or time. It can refer to both physical objects (becoming unusable) and people (becoming very tired).

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “If you wear out your shoes hiking every day, you’ll need a new pair soon.”
  2. “Looking after the kids all day really wears me out.”
  3. “That old sweater is finally worn out after all these years.”

Origin: The phrase “wear out” has been used since at least the 16th century. “Wear” initially referred to the gradual erosion of physical items, such as clothing or tools, due to repeated use. Eventually, this extended metaphorically to describe the exhaustion of people or animals through effort or activity.

Wear out
Idiom of the day

Blow off steam

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Meaning: This idiom means to release pent-up energy, frustration, or anger in a healthy or harmless way, often through physical activity or venting.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “After a stressful day at work, I like to go for a run to blow off steam.”
  2. “He was upset about the situation, so he went to the gym to blow off steam.”
  3. “Let’s play a game of basketball to blow off some steam after the meeting.”

Origin: “Blow off steam” comes from the early days of steam engines, where pressure from steam would build up, and releasing it was necessary to prevent damage. In a figurative sense, it refers to releasing emotional pressure or frustration, just as a steam engine releases steam to maintain control. This usage began in the 19th century.

Blow off steam