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Idioms, Cliches, and Slang

Includes questions related to distinct vocabularies used by a group of people such as physicians use medical terminology; also includes words, terms and phrases that are deemed inappropriate for a formal setting.

12,657 Questions

What it means to make a moral decision?

Making a moral decision involves choosing an action or course of action based on ethical principles, values, and conscience. It often requires considering the consequences of different choices and selecting the one that aligns with what is considered right or good. Personal beliefs, societal norms, and the impact on others are integral factors in making moral decisions.

Where did the idiom happy accident come from?

Happy accident isn't an idiom since the words do not mean something figurative. They are literal. It more than likely came from the definition of serendipitous. It is an accident that makes you happy.

What is a gloomy gus?

A gloomy gus is a person who is consistently negative, pessimistic, or morose. This term is often used to describe someone who tends to focus on the downside of situations and lacks enthusiasm or positivity.

What is meant by someone's 'personal space'?

Answer

If somebody intrudes on somebody else's personal space, they are intruding on somebody's territory. In other words they are intruding on that person's rights.

Answer

Personal space can also refer to the "comfort zone" around a person's body. This space varies from person-to-person, but is usually a distance of a few feet and changes according to one's relationship to the other person. If one person gets physically closer to the other person than that person can tolerate, the first person is "invading" the second one's "personal space."

Most people have a natural sense of appropriate physical difference and stay outside others' personal space, but a few deliberately invade the space as a way of dominating or intimidating. Some people may unintentionally enter another's personal space due to poor social skills, inadequate personal boundaries, or lack of awareness that the other person's zone of comfort may be larger than most.

What does the Geordie slang word linty mean?

It's slang for a bird; originally it referred to the linnet, a songbird which was popular as a pet cagebird in Victorian times, but has since come to mean any bird.

Why do people say the F-word?

It's human nature to get angry at times: frustration, stress, or pain can lead to an overwhelming emotion, and a need to lash out at something.

But at a young age, we're taught that it's unacceptable to hit people or break things; if we do, there'll be a price to pay. So instead, all that anger gets channeled into a single word: a short loud burst of energy, which gives one the satisfaction of "breaking" a social convention, without most of the trouble which actual physical damage would cause.

It's no coincidence that the F-word (and its cousin, the S-word) start with a sliding consonant, and end with a hard one. It's the verbal equivalent of opening and then slamming a door, and provides the same sense of relief.

Of course, if you don't want to develop a reputation for being foul-mouthed, you could substitute a different word (such as "Ow!") or even a made-up one: my personal favorite is, "Frack!"

What does the idiom going off your rocker mean?

It means that you are acting irrationally or acting crazy. The image is of a machine whose rocker has slipped out of the groove and is now rocking madly and damaging the rest of the machine.

Is calling a redhead a ginger mean?

It can be considered derogatory or offensive to some people, as it perpetuates stereotypes about red-haired individuals. It's important to be mindful of the language we use and to respect others' feelings and preferences when referring to their physical characteristics.

Where does the expression your driving me crazy mean come from?

First you must correct your use of English. It should be YOU'RE driving me crazy, not YOUR. In this sentence, it is meant to be a shortening, or contraction, of YOU ARE, therefore YOU'RE is correct. If you want to be using the possessive word YOUR, it would be as "we are in YOUR car".

What does cop a feel as you walk by mean?

"Cop a feel" is a slang term used to describe the act of touching someone in a sexual or inappropriate way without their consent. In the context of walking by someone, it suggests someone attempting to touch or grope someone as they pass by. It is considered disrespectful and violates personal boundaries.

What does it mean to call someone a black sheep?

Black sheep are a rarity and are thus considered abnormal. The usage of the phrase when referring to people similarly marks them as those considered outside or beyond the normal group. Another phrase with the same meaning would be 'odd one out'.

What does the idiom give free rein mean?

If you give a horse free rein, you let it go wherever it wants without trying to control it. The idiom uses the same definition, only with people - you've given someone permission to do something however they wish to do it, without trying to control things.

What is the definiton for the idiom branching out?

It means to broaden one's scope or to take on similar activities.

Example: "The ear doctor decided to branch out and become an ENT specialist. Problems related to the nose and throat can affect hearing."

What is the meaning of the phrase A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks he becomes?

meaning:

if a man thinks in a negative way he ends up as a negative man.Take osama for instance ,a genius; he wasted his grey matter on terrorism.And Dr apj Abdul kalam used his genius to serve the country.nevertheless,what a person thinks he surely becomes .so aim high and be positive!

What is scratched the surface meaning idiomatic?

"Scratched the surface" is an idiomatic expression meaning to only understand a small part of a much larger or deeper issue or topic. It suggests that there is much more to explore or uncover beyond what has been briefly examined.

What is the difference between an analogy and an idiom?

Short answer:

To explain something with something similar is an analogy.

To mean something totally different than what you are actually saying is an idiom.

Longer and more explaining answer: To explain one thing by using something different yet similar as a maybe easier "example" is an analogy.

We can crudely explain electricity and a light-switch like this:

"Electricity is like water. When you turn on the water, it starts flowing.

When you turn on a light-switch, electricity starts flowing"

An idiom however is very different. It is a common saying that does not mean what it actually say.

Examples of this is:

1 A piece of cake.... ---> We say this to indicate that something is easy.

2 To wake up with the wrong foot.... ---> Person being grumphy.

In my opinion, an Idiom is also a kind of analogy but only because we are taught the added meaning of the wording.

An example here is that foreigners of a country do not easily understand the local idiomatic expressions. This because idiomatic expressions are mostly local to that country alone. A huge exception is all the English speaking countries who share a lot of idiomatic expressions.

Foreigners need to be taught the expressions in order to understand their meaning.

An analogy is something that normally would works universally with no barrier of language or country.

There are however other barriers when using analogies.

The key here is knowledge.

A good analogy will explain a difficult subject in easy terms using only phenomenons or science the listener can relate to.

Analogies can be made up on the go...

: She was as clever as a duck drowning.

---> Not very clever of a duck to drown.. Ergo, She was not the brightest one.

: The paint on that house is as good as the paint on my scrapped car.

---> We can count on that the car didn't look very good. Ergo, The paint on the house was not much good either.

Idioms can not be "made up on the go" normally.

It is only when many people recognise a sentence or a particular wording as having a different meaning that it becomes an idiomatic expression.

There are some idiomatic expressions that are also an analogy. Not that many though.

What is the correct expression- A Place in Time or A Space in Time?

Both are silly. Use a time.

Place is better than space, but I would say "a point in time".

How do you find an idioms literal meaning?

To find the literal meaning of an idiom, break down the individual words to understand their straightforward definitions. Then, consider how those words might be used together in a non-literal sense to convey a different meaning. Lastly, research the history or cultural context of the idiom to fully grasp its intended interpretation.

What does 'you've got more nerve than brain' mean?

it means that you think without acting, you do things impulsively without actually thinking them through beforehand.

What is the difference between analogy and idiom?

An analogy is a comparison between two things to highlight their similarities, while an idiom is a phrase with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation of its individual words. Analogies are used to explain complex ideas by drawing parallels, whereas idioms are expressions unique to a language or culture.

What does the slang tickle it mean?

In slang terms, "tickle it" often refers to trying something out or attempting to do something in a humorous or light-hearted way. It can also imply exploring or experimenting with something new or unfamiliar.

What does sounds ok mean?

It is an expression of agreement, not necessarily with a lot of enthusiasm but also without relectance. Usually it is a response to a suggestion.

E.g.

Bob: What should we do tonight?

Jane: Why don't we go to a movie?

Bob: Sounds ok. (Bob agrees to go to the movie)

Will someone give you a paragraph five sentence on what a analogies and idioms are?

An analogy is a comparison between two things, showing their similarities to help explain or illustrate a concept. Idioms are phrases that have a figurative meaning different from their literal meaning and are used to express ideas in a creative or colorful way. Analogies typically involve explaining a complex idea by comparing it to a more familiar concept, while idioms are expressions that convey a particular meaning unique to the language or culture in which they are used. Both analogies and idioms are important tools in language that help us communicate effectively and add depth to our expressions.

What is the meaning of 'it crossed my mind'?

It means that you had a certain idea, e.g., "It crossed my mind that it might be better to take the train because of all the traffic jams."