Category Archives: Twists & Turns of Phrase
Rare as Hen’s Teeth
Twists & Turns of Phrase When something is as rare (or scarce) as hen’s teeth, it is very rare to find it, perhaps even impossible. This phrase first came into use in mid–19th century America, where anyone with a chicken … Continue reading →
Bells and Whistles
Twists & Turns of Phrase When something’s got all the bells and whistles, it has been constructed with lots of extra features—usually ones that aren’t strictly needed. This phrase is often used to describe electronics, motor vehicles, and other complex … Continue reading →
The Last Straw
Twists & Turns of Phrase The last straw or final straw is a problem or annoyance that on its own would be a trifling matter, but that, when added to series of previous irks and irritations, seems intolerable. This turn … Continue reading →
Beyond the Black Stump
Twists & Turns of Phrase Something that’s beyond the black stump is beyond or outside the realm of civilized life. This Australian idiom or saying originated with the colonial-era habit of setting a charred stump of wood as a landmark for … Continue reading →
A Wild Goose Chase
Twists & Turns of Phrase Calling something a wild goose chase is another way of saying it’s a foolish pursuit or endeavour. Is that because it’s hard to catch a wild goose? Or because people look foolish trying to do … Continue reading →
The Dead Hand (of Something or Other)
Twists & Turns of Phrase When something is held by the dead hand of something else, it is being prevented from attaining its goals. For instance, social progress might be held back by the dead hand of the status quo. … Continue reading →
Riding Shotgun
Twists & Turns of Phrase If you’re riding shotgun these days, you’re probably in the front passenger seat of your buddy’s car. Origins: But most of the lore agrees that this term dates back to the Wild West and refers to … Continue reading →
Open a Can of Worms
A person who opens a can of worms tries to solve a problem, but in doing so creates a lot of new unanticipated complications.
For some reason I always see the image of the snake-in-a-can gag whenever I hear this turn of phrase, but this is clearly just my unusual brain at work. So I wonder just where this saying does come from… Continue reading →
Sell Like Hotcakes
When something sells like hotcakes it sells quickly and in large quantities.
I like a hotcake as much as the next person, but do they really sell that well? Yes, they do, or at least they did at county fairs in the 1800s… Continue reading →