informal. a single thing or person that is spoiling a situation that could have been very positive or enjoyable: I’m looking forward to Sunday, the only fly in the ointment being the fact that I’ll have to sit next to my mother-in-law. Difficult things and people.
What does the fly in the ointment in the family mean?
informal. a single thing or person that is spoiling a situation that could have been very positive or enjoyable: I’m looking forward to Sunday, the only fly in the ointment being the fact that I’ll have to sit next to my mother-in-law. Difficult things and people.
What does fly in the buttermilk mean?
fly in the buttermilk (plural flies in the buttermilk) (colloquial) A black person in a predominantly white group of people.
What does goat in the ointment mean?
a fly in the ointment a minor irritation or other factor that spoils the success or enjoyment of something. This expression alludes to Ecclesiastes 10:1: ‘Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour’.What does the phrase fly in the face of something mean?
Fly in the face of means to directly challenge something or act in defiance of something, as in His bold behavior flies in the face of everything we expect from a vice president.
What does fish out of water mean?
A person away from his or her usual environment or activities. For example, Using a computer for the first time, Carl felt like a fish out of water, or On a hiking trail, Nell was a fish out of water. This expression alludes to the fact that fish cannot survive for long on dry land. [ Late 1300s]
What is the meaning of the idiom smell a rat?
smell a rat. Suspect something is wrong, especially a betrayal of some kind. For example, When I didn’t hear any more from my prospective employer, I began to smell a rat. This expression alludes to a cat sniffing out a rat. [
What is the meaning of the idiom bad egg?
Definition of bad egg : someone who does bad things He was dishonest, but he was the only bad egg in the group.What does of the deepest dye mean?
Of the worst or most extreme type. On outskirts of the kingdom was a prison filled with criminals of the deepest dye.
What is the meaning of the idiom close fisted?Unwilling to spend money; mean. … ‘Being a poor man, filling a place fit only for rich men, he had been driven to think of money, and had become self-denying and parsimonious – perhaps we may say hungry and close-fisted. ‘ ‘A man gives to the free-handed, but no one gives to the close-fisted.
Article first time published onWhat does the idiom to get a fly in one's head mean?
DEFINITIONS1. to completely oppose, or be completely opposite to, something that most people believe or accept.
Do you have tomatoes on your eyes?
Literal translation: “You have tomatoes on your eyes.” What it means: “You are not seeing what everyone else can see. It refers to real objects, though — not abstract meanings.” The idiom: Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof.
What is the meaning of a gentleman at large?
The meaning of the underlined idiom ‘a gentleman at large’ is ‘A person without any serious occupation‘. Example, He sold his business and is now a gentleman at large.
What is the meaning of straight from the horse's mouth?
From a reliable source, on the best authority. For example, I have it from the horse’s mouth that he plans to retire next month. Also put as straight from the horse’s mouth, this expression alludes to examining a horse’s teeth to determine its age and hence its worth. [ 1920s]
What does mean a red rag to a bull?
Definition of a red rag to a bull British, informal. —used of something that makes a person very angry Just mentioning his poor marks to him was like a red rag to a bull.
What does having green fingers mean?
phrase. If someone has green fingers, they are very good at gardening and their plants grow well. [British] You don’t need green fingers to fill your home with lush leaves. regional note: in AM, use a green thumb.
Can't cut the mustard meaning?
(also can’t cut the mustard) to not be able to deal with problems or difficulties in a satisfactory way: If he can’t cut it, then we’ll get someone else to do the job.
What is the meaning of idiom a red letter day?
red-letter day. A special occasion, as in When Jack comes home from his tour of duty, that’ll be a red-letter day. This term alludes to the practice of marking feast days and other holy days in red on church calendars, dating from the 1400s. [ c. 1700]
What's the meaning of grin and bear it?
Definition of grin and bear it : to accept something that one does not like because there is no choice I don’t agree with their decision, but all I can do is grin and bear it.
What does throw up the sponge mean?
When you ‘throw in the sponge’, you admit defeat and decide to give up what you have been doing. You realise that you will not succeed in what you are attempting to do. It is also possible to say, ‘throw in the towel’.
What is dyed in the wool mean?
adjective [ADJ n] If you use dyed-in-the-wool to describe someone or their beliefs, you are saying that they have very strong opinions about something, which they refuse to change.
What is the meaning of Fabian policy?
The Fabian strategy is a military strategy where pitched battles and frontal assaults are avoided in favor of wearing down an opponent through a war of attrition and indirection.
What does spilling the beans mean?
Disclose a secret or reveal something prematurely, as in You can count on little Carol to spill the beans about the surprise. In this colloquial expression, first recorded in 1919, spill means “divulge,” a usage dating from the 1500s.
What does the saying full of beans mean?
Definition of full of beans informal. 1 : full of energy and life We were young and full of beans. 2 US : not correct or truthful : full of nonsense If that’s what he’s been saying, then he’s full of beans.
What is the meaning of the idiom couch potato?
Definition of couch potato : a lazy and inactive person especially : one who spends a great deal of time watching television.
What is the meaning of get hot under the collar?
See synonyms for hot under the collar on Thesaurus.com. Angry, as in She is quick to get hot under the collar, but once the problem is ironed out she forgets it entirely. This expression alludes to the heat of anger. [ c. 1900]
What is the meaning of idiom a dime a dozen?
to be common and/or of very little value: Books like this are a dime a dozen. Plain and ordinary. as it comes idiom.
What is the meaning of the idiom bed of roses?
“A bed of roses” means an easy and comfortable situation in which a person likes to live. … Hence, it means a person is sitting or sleeping on a cozy floor. The phrase, “a bed of roses” is an idiom. It is often considered a synonym of enjoyment, agreeable, pleasant or comfortable.
What language has the most idioms?
English, hands down. << French is a close winner I think. It basic grammar isn’t that hard, but it’s the idioms that makes it such a challenge. >> — I would say French is a close second.
What does let the hair go with the hide mean?
No trace of something lost or missing. For example, I haven’t seen hide nor hair of the children. This expression alludes to the entire outer coat of an animal. [ Mid-1800s]
Do idioms exist in all languages?
Native speakers use idioms much more than they are actually aware of. Other languages have different idioms (and some are downright hilarious) to describe cultural phenomena or beliefs. But here’s the catch: most idioms stem from literal meanings that most people in pop culture have completely forgotten about.
