EAT CROW/HUMBLE PIE In social settings, this idiom is often used when someone is humbled by an experience and does not have a choice but to accept the result. It can also be used in more general contexts, for example when giving a presentation where someone exceeds expectations or a competitor performs better than expected….
DUTCH TREAT {GO DUTCH} The term “go dutch” is an idiomatic phrase meaning to divide the cost of a date between two people. This is usually done by one person offering to pay for half of the cost of the date before it commences, or alternatively, splitting the bill afterwards. The phrase is also used…
DRESSED TO KILL One might say that a person is dressed to kill when they are wearing clothes that are appropriate for the occasion, especially if the outfit is something fancy. The idiom originates from the phrase “to dress (someone) up to kill” meaning to prepare someone for an event or task that will take…
DOWN TO THE WIRE Down to the wire is a term that describes the last few seconds before the deadline. This phrase became popular in the late 1800s when people would use telegraphy to send messages across long distances. The phrase “down to the wire” is a colloquialism used in reference to when time left…
DOWN IN THE DUMPS Some people are down in the dumps because they are experiencing a kind of depression. Their lives are not going as planned and they can’t seem to find meaning in anything that they do. They feel hopeless and cannot find relief from their negative thoughts plaguing them. This is an idiom…
DO (SOMEONE) A GOOD TURN Doing someone a good turn is the act of helping someone out without expecting anything in return. While it sounds like a cliché, doing someone a good turn can actually be very beneficial for both parties involved. There is the psychological effect that the person who is helped feels good…
DOG DAYS (OF SUMMER) The dog days of summer are an idiom meaning the hottest time of the year, often observed by canine behavior. This period is thought to be due to the position of Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, in the eastern sky at this time. The theory is that it heats…
DIVIDE THE SPOILS The phrase divide the spoils is an idiom that has its roots in France. The phrase came into usage during the 1300s, when Edward III of England was trying to assert his dominance over France. He pressured Philippe VI of France to turn over control of French territories to him by using…
DEAD TO THE WORLD If someone is “dead to the world” they are asleep or unconscious. However, this can also be used as an idiom to mean that someone is unaware of something that is happening around them.One example of this is when a salesman comes up to you on the street and tries selling…
DARK HORSE Originally, the phrase “dark horse” was used to describe a candidate in an election who entered relatively unknown or unexpected. In recent years, the term has been used to describe a person or thing that is unexpectedly successful. A dark horse is an unexpected candidate for victory or success. It can also refer…