Idioms, Cliches, and Slang

That is an extra point that gets thrown into a debate that really has nothing to do with the debate, and people often attack or defend this side point vehemently. Sometimes someone may knowingly insert red herrings to derail a debate either because they have nothing to argue, or they want the other side to make fools of themselves.

The term probably originated with fishing tournaments. It might be a bass tournament, but they would add a fish of another larger species of fish into the stocked pond just to make things more interesting. Then someone would catch the red herring or whatever instead of the largest bass or trout, and they would think they won. But the judges would see right away that they caught the deliberately planted decoy.

"Touching in your head" is not a common expression by itself. It could potentially refer to physically touching your head or metaphorically referring to engaging in deep thought or introspection. Can you provide more context for a more accurate interpretation?

No. While an idiom often means something other than the literal meaning, a paradox would be a situation that is really opposite of what is expected. For instance, gas and air valves often leak because of debris in the valve. If there were debris in the valve, you'd expect it to be stopped up. That would be a paradox. However, saying that the drinks are "on the house" would be an idiom. There are no drinks on top of any house. It just means they are free.

I think you are actually thinking of "beat your brains out" which is a threat to beat someone's head until their brains fall out. This can be sarcastic or jokingly said, however.

You did something the ultimately wasted your time. If you planted a field of grass, because you wanted to feed your horse, but your horse died, then you would have wasted your time with the grass. Because the horse is dead, you will have no need for the grass.

Jargon can be used when communicating with others who are familiar with the specialized terminology. It helps to convey information more efficiently within specific fields or industries where the technical language is understood and appreciated. However, using jargon outside of these contexts can create barriers to understanding and should be avoided.

This isn't an idiom. It means exactly what it says. If you read the words and look up what you don't know, you'll see that the person mistook what something looked or seemed like for what it actually was.

The saying "keep your nose to the grindstone and your shoulder to the wheel" originated from an old proverb, promoting hard work and diligence. It emphasizes focusing on one's tasks (nose to the grindstone) and putting in physical effort (shoulder to the wheel) to achieve success.

The idiomatic expression 'pay loader' typically refers to a person who is willing to pay for something, often in exchange for a service or to resolve a situation quickly. It can also refer to a person or organization that has the financial means to cover expenses or debts.

You can find single words that describe idioms and expressions in a thesaurus or by searching for synonyms related to the main concept or action of the idiom or expression. This can help you identify key words that capture the essence of the idiom or expression in a succinct manner.

The slang word "squirrelly" typically means fidgety, restless, or unpredictable behavior, similar to how a squirrel may dart around quickly and erratically. It can also imply someone who is jumpy or nervous.

"Turn a deaf ear" is an idiomatic expression meaning to ignore or pay no attention to something.

The slang "gringos" is a term used in some Spanish-speaking countries to refer to foreigners, particularly those from English-speaking countries, often the United States. It can be used in a neutral or pejorative way, depending on the context.

Screwston is often a slang term which can refer to many different things in different cultures. However, the most popular use of this term is for the Texas city of Houston, which is located in southern Texas.

Cockney Rhyming Slang is prevalent in dialects of English from the East End of London. Cockney Rhyming Slang is said to have originated in the market place so vendors could communicate to each other without the customers knowing what they were saying. Others believe it originated in prisons so inmates could talk to each other without the guards knowing what they said.

Slang can add color and informality to communication, but it's important to use it appropriately to avoid misunderstandings. Overall, slang can be a fun and creative way to express oneself in informal settings.

The phrase "identification defenses" is a bit hard to pin down, out of context. The most likely interpretation is, someone in some situation does not wish to be identified, and therefore has some kind of mechanism that conceals his or her identity (such as a mask, or a false name). But there are other possible meanings, depending upon context. It could also be part of someone's defense system that they have to identify people (possibly by the use of identification cards or passwords). I can also imagine a court case in which a person claims that he or she did not commit a particular crime and that he or she has not been correctly identified.

To put someone down means to say negative things about them.

It means to criticize a person harshly mainly for the purpose of making the person feel bad.

"Colitas", Spanish for "Little Tails", refers to the narcotic buds of the Marijuana plant. They are referred to in the Eagles song, "Hotel California".

"Beat around the bush" means to avoid addressing a topic directly or to speak indirectly instead of getting to the point. It refers to not being straightforward in communication.

The phrase "drive someone up a wall" originated from the idea of causing someone extreme frustration or irritation, akin to feeling so overwhelmed that they would climb up a wall to escape the situation. It's used to express exasperation when someone or something is annoying or infuriating.

No, "without gods man is nothing" is not an idiom. It is more of a philosophical statement suggesting that humans may feel insignificant or lacking without the presence or belief in higher powers or gods.

Someone is complimenting your intelligence.

To debit an account means to record an entry on the left side of an account, indicating that the amount has been taken out or reduced. It represents a decrease in assets or an increase in liabilities or equity in accounting.