Meaning – be patient, to wait a moment before taking action In Context – Hold your horses, I haven’t finished explaining yet. Origin – originally used to restrain cavalry (army on horses) from attacking on battlefield Idioms with a similar or synonymous meaning – hang on, hold your water (not very common)
IDIOM – TIE THE KNOT
Meaning – to get married In Context – (1) After being engaged for years, Claude and Marie have finally decided to tie the knot next year. (2) Although John and Mary have lived together for the last 20 years, they have never tied the knot. Origin – This idiom refers to an ancient Celtic tradition called handfasting. Couples were once … Read More
IDIOM – KNOW THE ROPES
Meaning – to know how something works, to be familiar with a procedure, to understand how a system operates, to have experience in a particular area In Context – Colin will be responsible for the new intern until he knows the ropes. Origin – A nautical term, this expression originally meant that a sailor only had basic experience (i.e. they … Read More
IDIOM – COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES
Meaning – a false analogy, contrasting two things which cannot be compared against each other In Context – You cannot compare ballet to jazz dance, it’s like trying to compare apples to oranges. Origin – While the origin of this idiom is unclear, it can be found in different variations in many other languages. The most common version is comparing apples … Read More
Ways to say go the toilet in English
Ways to say you need to go to the toilet. May I go to the toilet, please? Can I go to the toilet, please? I need to / have to go to the loo.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX – IDIOM
Think Outside the Box – Idiom The idiom think outside the box means to think creatively. This idiomatic term is used frequently in Business English. In the business world, companies and big corporations must often find creative or innovative solutions to problems. The idea is that you must try and see a problem from a different perspective it. Example: … Read More