Tagged Questions
1
vote
2answers
157 views
Is there an idiom beginning “when a dog is cornered”?
Is there any saying in a complete sentence including “a dog which is cornered”? I have tried to find a complete one, but there seems to be no one.
Actually, what I want to know is how to explain the ...
2
votes
4answers
252 views
What is a more politically correct way to call something a “Red-Headed Step-Child”?
I can't use the phrase "second-class citizen" either.
This is for a professional blog post, so I'd rather stay away from "red-headed step-child". I can't use "second-class citizen" because I'm ...
3
votes
4answers
363 views
“Best is enemy of the good” (Russian idiom/saying)
What are English equivalents for following Russian idiom: "best is enemy of the good"? In Russian it means that if you are going too much after perfection you may make things even worse instead of ...
11
votes
1answer
205 views
Meaning of “match Greek with Greek”
From Christmas Storms and Sunshine by Elizabeth Gaskell (4th paragraph):
Jenkins had his wife too. Wives were wanting to finish the
completeness of the quarrel, which existed one memorable ...
33
votes
10answers
2k views
“To shoot out of cannon into sparrows”
In Russian we have idiom/saying "To shoot out of cannon into sparrows" (literal translation) which is used to convey an idea of applying too drastic measures to small problems. I believe there should ...
1
vote
2answers
342 views
Expression for “someone who's clueless of their surroundings”?
What is an expression or saying you could use to describe someone that is totally clueless of their surroundings?
10
votes
2answers
4k views
Is it “a tough row to hoe?”, or “a tough road to hold?”
Is it an old farming metaphor, or a military saying? Where did this(these) saying(s) originate?
1
vote
6answers
322 views
A phrase for ignoring the disparity at a low level, while seeking commonality at a high level
I'm having a hard time describing the phrase I'm looking for, so I think the best way to ask the question is to simply present the problem.
At work I've been tasked with merging the guidelines (the ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Why is the term “double-edged sword” used for something that can be favorable and unfavorable?
When something can have both favorable and unfavorable consequences, the term double-edged sword is often used to describe it. Why?
Does a double-edged sword have unfavorable consequences? Are ...
13
votes
12answers
2k views
Phrase for focusing on unimportant details
I'm looking for a idiom or saying that I could use when people are focusing too much on small details and not seeing the big picture.
A couple that come to mind are "being penny-wise and pound ...
1
vote
2answers
903 views
Sayings similar to “a picture is worth a thousand words”
I' m looking for a common saying or catchphrase that has the same meaning as "a picture is worth a thousand words". I need this as a title for an article that illustrates that point in a specific ...
2
votes
1answer
547 views
Idiomatic expression related to “cat-putting” [closed]
I lived in a scholarship house for all of one year when I was in college (in the US). At the end of every year, they held an event that they called "The Cat-Putting" in which a few residents would ...
5
votes
6answers
8k views
What is the origin of the saying, “faint heart never won fair lady”?
Having heard the phrase, "faint heart never won fair lady" for the third time in very short span, I'm determined to find out its origin. Unfortunately, when I Google, I'm getting a bunch of ...
4
votes
3answers
8k views
More idioms like “needle in a haystack” relevant to hidden/hard to find items? [closed]
Are there more idioms, sayings or phrases similar to "needle in a haystack" that are relevant to hidden objects, or difficult to find items?
Also interested in similar nouns relevant to the somewhat ...
5
votes
5answers
13k views
Is it 'Close to the chest' or 'Close to the vest'?
Apologies if this is a duplicate, I am just curious.
Are they both valid? Which originated first?
12
votes
3answers
6k views
Which is the correct idiom: “First thing's first” or “First things first”?
I've gotten into a debate over which usage of an apostrophe in the phrase "first thing(')s first" is correct.
My thinking is that one would take the first thing and give it priority, hence the first ...
