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…
CUT (SOMEONE) TO THE QUICK When someone is cut to the quick, it means they have been deeply offended. For example, if a person’s friend makes a joke about their weight, this would be considered cutting them to the quick. A person who is cut to the quick has been deeply wounded and might react…
CUT AND DRIED Cut-and-dried means to be settled, certain, or definite. An example of this is if you have made a decision about something and feel sure it is the right choice. This phrase can also be used to refer to someone who does not have any hidden agendas or secrets that they are trying…
CRY OVER SPILLED MILK The idiom, “cry over spilled milk,” is an English proverb that means to lament over a misfortune that has already occurred. It is usually employed when someone complains about something that cannot be fixed or changed, such as an injury or past event, and is often portrayed as a waste of…
CREAM OF THE CROP This idiom is used to describe the best of a group or category. It’s often used to demonstrate superiority, but can also be used to highlight quality in a variety of contexts. In the context of this idiom, a group is an organism’s population and a category is its hierarchical rank….
CORNERED A situation in which one is backed into a corner with no possible retreat is called ‘cornered’. This can be an idiom for when an individual has gone past the point of no return, or feels that they are in a position where they have nowhere to go. The phrase ‘cornered’ is an idiom…
COOK (SOMEONE’S) GOOSE Cook someone’s goose is used to mean ruining someone’s plans, putting an end to their success. This idiom attracts the image of someone cooking a goose which is then served with stuffing, potatoes, and gravy. Actually, there is no soup in “souping up” which means making something faster or more powerful. Idiom:…