Idiom (ˈɪdɪəm) n A phrase which cannot be understood from the meaning of the individual words it contains, for example, “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
My mom introduced me to idioms when I was a kid by using them frequently. When I was misbehaving (roughly 23 hours per day), she would warn me that she had eyes in the back of her head. I can still picture them peering out at me. 
And in the evenings, she’d would ask me to go “stick your head through the door and tell your father dinner’s ready.”
Years later, my circle of friends included a roommate from the Netherlands named Constant who knew very little English. But that didn’t hinder him; he’d just transliterate colorful Dutch idioms. In the midst of a conversation he’d say something like, “Yeah, that’s like handing your uncle a fish while he’s riding a bicycle.”
Another foreign-born friend, an adorable woman from Bulgaria named Yolly, was fluent in English, but used delightfully quirky imported idioms. For example, she’d often tug below her eye and say, “See any boats?” I finally asked her what it meant. She said the phrase and accompanying action were used whenever anyone over-explained something. In fact, the idiom was so common in her country that the eye-tug was usually all that was needed.
She didn’t know the idiom’s derivation, but we figured it must mean something like, “Do you think there’s no brain in my head, just a lake with boats floating around in it?” For years after that, I’d tug on my eye when anyone over-explained something. Just so I could tell them about my wonderfully idiomatic friend Yolly.
What are some of your favorite idioms?
“I feel like a penny waiting to be changed.” Gives a much more positive spin to saying how you feel straight out.
“One taco short of the whole enchilada…” Meaning the same as the boats. 😉 I love the “handing the fish to your uncle while he’s riding a bike” idiom. I laughed out loud when I read it. I can just see trying to hang onto a slippery fish while balancing on a bike… hilarious. Great inspiration for a Laurel and Hardy-like skit! 🙂
;>)
My eight year old just told me yesterday I used an idiom probably for the same reason your mother used her idioms. Lol. I guess she was right to. I have three boys 9, 8,and 4.
Undoubtedly!
I use the idiom, “I’ve been running pillar to post” to describe a time of frantic activity. Although I have no idea what pillar or which post I am allegedly running between.
;>)
Running around like a chicken with its head cut off – – which if you’ve ever seen that in action, is an interesting analogy for some people.
It is indeed!
Another one I picked up in the South is, “you buys your ticket and you takes your ride” used to describe someone who ultimately realized the end game of their behavior(s).
My mother was fond of telling me, “You’re talking like a fish out of water.”
Jerry
Unlike the way fish talk when they’re in the water? ;>)
Idioms can “send you for green caviar” (Bulgarian 🙂 )
Ah, those Bulgarians! ;>)
We are lovely, I know 😉 But as a nod of the head means No and a shake Yes, things can get tricky here (send someone for green caviar = trick them) 🙂
“It’s the bees knees.” I actually use it, because my grandmother always said it. I have no clue it’s roots LOL
There’s something pretty wonderful about bee’s knees apparently. Do they actually have knees?
Never looked but I suspect not lol
I grew up surrounded by a lovely population of Mennonites. That particular group had roots that merges with the Amish, so I’m not sure who originated the sayings:
The following are some of their idioms that I remember
Throw Momma from the train a kiss.
Bend the branch while it is young.
The cookies are all but the milk is yet.
Outten the light.
and I’m not sure of the origin of “He has ants in his pants.”
It’s fun to remember old faces and voices as I recall sayings
that were a part of every day life.
Love it. In their honor, I’ll outten the light when I go to bed tonight.
you’ve got to check out my “Why We Say” posts
Wonderful! I don’t mean to steal your thunder, but I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth that idioms are hilarious if you really think about them!
And horses never lie, so it must be true. ;>)
P.S. If you return the thunder you stole, I won’t press charges.
Yes!
My husband is Mexican, and one that he told me his mom used to say was, “You raise crows to claw your eyes out” talking about disobedient kids lol
;>)
I like the German idiom kummerspeck. It literally means grief bacon and is used to describe overeating when sad.
I suspect we’ve all kummerspecked without knowing it had a name.
There is a series of children’s books with a character called Amelia Bedelia. She takes everything literally. I always used these books when teaching kids about idioms. They are cute and funny.
We read them to our kids when they were little and, yes, they loved them!
One of our family’s idioms is, “The pizza’s on it’s way!”
I pushed send by accident! Anyway, it means saying something inappropriate. A few of us were talking about someone’s death and being serious. My husband pipes up, The pizza’s on it’s way.” We all looked at him and started laughing. He had been checking the pizza’s route while we talked.
My family will have to adopt that one–inappropriate is one of my major modes.
In high school, I befriended an exchange student from Poland named Agnieszka. We always spent our lunch times together, and she asked me what it meant if someone said, “I’m just pulling your leg.” When I explained it means “I’m just joking with you” (at least it does in East TN), she asked, “Why?”
It’s been… a handful… of years since then, and I have yet to answer her question.
;>) Yep, I searched for the origin of the phrase and discovered there’s no real consensus; the few theories that are out there are iffy at best. And I’m not just pulling your leg.
Lol!
He or she as a big heart – My understanding is an enlarged heart is a medical condition that requires immediate attention not a remark that provides positive attention
Well, I suppose if you think you’re going to die soon you’re inclined to be generous, so there’s the connection. ;>)
Hi Mitch,
Hm, “Can’t see the forest for the trees.” I have to remember to not miss details and the flip don’t get caught up into details too much. I love idioms, but can’t think of any this early in the morning.
Thanks, brother.
Gary
When my middle school students give me a line, I like to say, “I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck!” (They don’t know what that means!)
Turnips are gullible, but not Miss Dawson. She’s a radish. You can’t sneak anything past a radish.