โโ๐ Open a can of worms
โ๐พMeaning: Create a whole new set of problems
This phrase is often used when you try to solve a problem or answer a question, but you only create more problems or more questions.
Nobody is sure of the exact origin of this idiom, but some people believe it came from a time when fisherman bought canned worms for bait. They would bring the worms to the fishing site, but if they knocked the can over, they had a whole new problem of catching their bait.
Some also believe that โcan of wormsโ is a modern version of the idiom, โPandoraโs box.โ Pandoraโs box comes from an old myth, and it also means to create a new set of problems.
Example: Youโve opened a real can of worms here.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โ๐พMeaning: Create a whole new set of problems
This phrase is often used when you try to solve a problem or answer a question, but you only create more problems or more questions.
Nobody is sure of the exact origin of this idiom, but some people believe it came from a time when fisherman bought canned worms for bait. They would bring the worms to the fishing site, but if they knocked the can over, they had a whole new problem of catching their bait.
Some also believe that โcan of wormsโ is a modern version of the idiom, โPandoraโs box.โ Pandoraโs box comes from an old myth, and it also means to create a new set of problems.
Example: Youโve opened a real can of worms here.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โโ๐The world is your oyster
โ๐พMeaning: You have many good opportunities in front of you
Itโs not easy to open an oyster. Finding opportunities in the world is like opening an oyster, meaning itโs not easy.
Sometimes, when you open an oyster, youโll find a pearl. When you say that โthe world is your oyster,โ you have a positive outlook about the opportunities in front of you. If you have an oyster in your hands, it could contain a beautiful treasure that belongs completely to you.
Example: You just graduated from a wonderful university, so the world is your oyster!
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โ๐พMeaning: You have many good opportunities in front of you
Itโs not easy to open an oyster. Finding opportunities in the world is like opening an oyster, meaning itโs not easy.
Sometimes, when you open an oyster, youโll find a pearl. When you say that โthe world is your oyster,โ you have a positive outlook about the opportunities in front of you. If you have an oyster in your hands, it could contain a beautiful treasure that belongs completely to you.
Example: You just graduated from a wonderful university, so the world is your oyster!
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โโ๐Watching like a hawk
โ๐พMeaning: Watching something very, very, closely
Children often hear this idiom from a parent or other caregiver, โIโm watching you like a hawk.โ
Itโs often used to make sure that someone or something doesnโt misbehave or make a mistake.
Example: The boss watches us like a hawk.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โ๐พMeaning: Watching something very, very, closely
Children often hear this idiom from a parent or other caregiver, โIโm watching you like a hawk.โ
Itโs often used to make sure that someone or something doesnโt misbehave or make a mistake.
Example: The boss watches us like a hawk.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
๐white coat hypertension
โ๐พA phenomenon in which a patient experiences elevated blood pressure around medical professionals.
A: "I swear, I didn't feel dizzy until the doctor came in." B: "Hmm, sounds like a case of white coat hypertension to me."
โ @IdiomsLand
โ๐พA phenomenon in which a patient experiences elevated blood pressure around medical professionals.
A: "I swear, I didn't feel dizzy until the doctor came in." B: "Hmm, sounds like a case of white coat hypertension to me."
โ @IdiomsLand
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
๐wide berth
โ๐พA good distance (between things, people, etc.). Originally referred to ships.
๐บOnce I learned that there was a lice outbreak, I kept a wide berth from all of my students for the rest of the day.
๐บWe've been keeping a wide berth from John ever since he dumped our good friend.
@IdiomsLand
โ๐พA good distance (between things, people, etc.). Originally referred to ships.
๐บOnce I learned that there was a lice outbreak, I kept a wide berth from all of my students for the rest of the day.
๐บWe've been keeping a wide berth from John ever since he dumped our good friend.
@IdiomsLand
โโ๐Mad as a hornet (USA)
โ๐พMeaning: Very angry, or furious
A hornet is a type of wasp. When it gets angry, it can do a lot of damage, cause pain and generally be dangerous. If someone is saying that theyโre as mad as a hornet, then theyโre warning you to look out. While the term โmad as a hornetโ is popular in the United States, other English-speaking countries and cultures often say something similar.
In the Southern region of the United States where farming was (and in some places still is) a major industry, people used to say the idiom โmad as a wet hen,โ describing the anger a hen would have if you stole her eggs.
Example: Mom was as mad as a hornet when we broke the mirror.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โ๐พMeaning: Very angry, or furious
A hornet is a type of wasp. When it gets angry, it can do a lot of damage, cause pain and generally be dangerous. If someone is saying that theyโre as mad as a hornet, then theyโre warning you to look out. While the term โmad as a hornetโ is popular in the United States, other English-speaking countries and cultures often say something similar.
In the Southern region of the United States where farming was (and in some places still is) a major industry, people used to say the idiom โmad as a wet hen,โ describing the anger a hen would have if you stole her eggs.
Example: Mom was as mad as a hornet when we broke the mirror.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โโ๐Dog eat dog
โ๐พMeaning: Very competitive
When you use this idiom, youโre saying that the competition is so stiff (intense) that people will do anything to get ahead, even if it means hurting someone. โDog eat dogโ may be used to describe a situation, a school, a company or an industry.
The exact origin varies. It may have come from similar phrases used in English writings from a long time ago. For example, one similar phrase was used in a 16th century Latin proverb which says โdog does not eat dog.โ
Example: Itโs a dog eat dog world out there.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โ๐พMeaning: Very competitive
When you use this idiom, youโre saying that the competition is so stiff (intense) that people will do anything to get ahead, even if it means hurting someone. โDog eat dogโ may be used to describe a situation, a school, a company or an industry.
The exact origin varies. It may have come from similar phrases used in English writings from a long time ago. For example, one similar phrase was used in a 16th century Latin proverb which says โdog does not eat dog.โ
Example: Itโs a dog eat dog world out there.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โโ๐Eagle eyes
โ๐พMeaning: Have excellent vision, or watching something very closely, not missing a detail
This animal idiom is similar to โwatching like a hawk,โ but when someone says โeagle eye,โ they may not be referring to catching someone in the act of doing something wrong. If you have an eagle eye, it means that nothing gets past you because you are very focused on details.
Example: The teacher goes over the tests with an eagle eye.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โ๐พMeaning: Have excellent vision, or watching something very closely, not missing a detail
This animal idiom is similar to โwatching like a hawk,โ but when someone says โeagle eye,โ they may not be referring to catching someone in the act of doing something wrong. If you have an eagle eye, it means that nothing gets past you because you are very focused on details.
Example: The teacher goes over the tests with an eagle eye.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โโ๐Iโll be a monkeyโs uncle
โ๐พMeaning: Iโm very surprised
This idiom is used as a complete phrase. People often use this when something happens that they didnโt expect. Itโs used in a lighthearted or comical way. Another idiom, โyou could have knocked me over with a featherโ has a similar meaning.
Example: Well, Iโll be a monkeyโs uncle. I never thought Iโd pass that test.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms+
โ๐พMeaning: Iโm very surprised
This idiom is used as a complete phrase. People often use this when something happens that they didnโt expect. Itโs used in a lighthearted or comical way. Another idiom, โyou could have knocked me over with a featherโ has a similar meaning.
Example: Well, Iโll be a monkeyโs uncle. I never thought Iโd pass that test.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms+
โโ๐Let sleeping dogs lie
โ๐พMeaning: Leave it alone, leave something in peace
Youโll find that dogs show up in a lot of English idioms, as theyโre very common to our culture. When someone tells you to โlet sleeping dogs lie,โ theyโre telling you to let things be. Often, youโre in a situation that you canโt change, so you should just leave it alone and in peace, like a sleeping dog.
Itโs also used to tell someone to stay out of a situation thatโs none of their business.
Example: Iโm not telling the boss about Markโs problem, itโs best to let sleeping dogs lie.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โ๐พMeaning: Leave it alone, leave something in peace
Youโll find that dogs show up in a lot of English idioms, as theyโre very common to our culture. When someone tells you to โlet sleeping dogs lie,โ theyโre telling you to let things be. Often, youโre in a situation that you canโt change, so you should just leave it alone and in peace, like a sleeping dog.
Itโs also used to tell someone to stay out of a situation thatโs none of their business.
Example: Iโm not telling the boss about Markโs problem, itโs best to let sleeping dogs lie.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
๐wit's end
โ๐พA state of distress that is reached when someone has no more patience. Often used in the phrase "at wit's end" or "at (one's) wit's end.
๐บ" The baby's been crying for hours, and I've reached my wit's end!
๐บI'm already at wit's end, so if this train gets delayed too, I'm going to scream.
@IdiomsLand
โ๐พA state of distress that is reached when someone has no more patience. Often used in the phrase "at wit's end" or "at (one's) wit's end.
๐บ" The baby's been crying for hours, and I've reached my wit's end!
๐บI'm already at wit's end, so if this train gets delayed too, I'm going to scream.
@IdiomsLand
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
๐with all (one's) might
โ๐พUtilizing all of one's power and strength to do something.
I pulled at the rope with all my might, but we still lost the tug-of-war.
I swear, your dog pulls at these toys with all his might.
He'll drag us through the yard one day!
@IdiomsLand
โ๐พUtilizing all of one's power and strength to do something.
I pulled at the rope with all my might, but we still lost the tug-of-war.
I swear, your dog pulls at these toys with all his might.
He'll drag us through the yard one day!
@IdiomsLand
๐HASTE MAKES WASTE
โ๐พMeaning
if you do things too quickly, you can make mistakes
hurrying will result in poor endings
you will make mistakes if you are too hasty
rushing through things causes errors, resulting in time, efforts, resources, etc being wasted
doing things too quickly will result in bad finishing
โExample Sentences
Try not to rush through things, even though you are in a hurry. After all, haste makes waste.
You need to check these files carefully. Do not try to finish them too quickly โ remember, haste makes waste.
If you try to finish off your work in a hurry, you might end up making a lot of mistakes and then you would have to redo it. Haste makes waste, you know.
Iโd rather miss the deadline and submit a good report than rush through it and make one full of errors. After all, haste makes waste.
Be careful while checking the papers. Haste makes waste, so check them thoroughly before submitting them.
โOrigin
The idea that haste is counterproductive is an ancient one and can be found in the Book of Wisdom in 190 BC. This exact phrase, however, occurs much later and the first recorded instance is in 1575. It is also found in John Rayโs 1678 proverb collection.
Source: theidioms.com
@IdiomsLand
โ๐พMeaning
if you do things too quickly, you can make mistakes
hurrying will result in poor endings
you will make mistakes if you are too hasty
rushing through things causes errors, resulting in time, efforts, resources, etc being wasted
doing things too quickly will result in bad finishing
โExample Sentences
Try not to rush through things, even though you are in a hurry. After all, haste makes waste.
You need to check these files carefully. Do not try to finish them too quickly โ remember, haste makes waste.
If you try to finish off your work in a hurry, you might end up making a lot of mistakes and then you would have to redo it. Haste makes waste, you know.
Iโd rather miss the deadline and submit a good report than rush through it and make one full of errors. After all, haste makes waste.
Be careful while checking the papers. Haste makes waste, so check them thoroughly before submitting them.
โOrigin
The idea that haste is counterproductive is an ancient one and can be found in the Book of Wisdom in 190 BC. This exact phrase, however, occurs much later and the first recorded instance is in 1575. It is also found in John Rayโs 1678 proverb collection.
Source: theidioms.com
@IdiomsLand
โโ๐Pet peeve
โ๐พMeaning: Common annoyance, something thatโs specifically annoying to you
Itโs usually not a major problem, they just wish it wouldnโt happen. Often it refers to a common habit that people around them do.
Pet peeves vary from person to person. What bothers one may not bother another. Thatโs the meaning of โpet peeve,โ itโs your personal annoyance.
Example: I hate when people donโt put things back where they belong, itโs a pet peeve of mine.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โ๐พMeaning: Common annoyance, something thatโs specifically annoying to you
Itโs usually not a major problem, they just wish it wouldnโt happen. Often it refers to a common habit that people around them do.
Pet peeves vary from person to person. What bothers one may not bother another. Thatโs the meaning of โpet peeve,โ itโs your personal annoyance.
Example: I hate when people donโt put things back where they belong, itโs a pet peeve of mine.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โโ๐Puppy love
โ๐พMeaning: Feelings of love or affection, usually innocent and temporary, occurring during childhood or adolescence.
Other English-speaking cultures may have their variations, such as โcalf love.โ They often compare the love of children to young animals.
Example: I had a crush on my next door neighbor, but that was just puppy love.
@idiomsland #animal_idioms
โ๐พMeaning: Feelings of love or affection, usually innocent and temporary, occurring during childhood or adolescence.
Other English-speaking cultures may have their variations, such as โcalf love.โ They often compare the love of children to young animals.
Example: I had a crush on my next door neighbor, but that was just puppy love.
@idiomsland #animal_idioms
โโ๐Pick of the litter
โ๐พMeaning: The best choice, or your favorite option
If you have the โpick of the litterโ then you have top choice, or you can get the best in the group. This phrase goes back to the early 1900s. When dogs or cats produce offspring, the puppies or kittens are called a โlitter.โ To give someone the pick of the litter, youโre offering the best puppy or kitten.
Variations of this phrase include โpick of the basketโ and โpick of the market.โ
Example: All the boys want to take her on a date, she can have the pick of the litter.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โ๐พMeaning: The best choice, or your favorite option
If you have the โpick of the litterโ then you have top choice, or you can get the best in the group. This phrase goes back to the early 1900s. When dogs or cats produce offspring, the puppies or kittens are called a โlitter.โ To give someone the pick of the litter, youโre offering the best puppy or kitten.
Variations of this phrase include โpick of the basketโ and โpick of the market.โ
Example: All the boys want to take her on a date, she can have the pick of the litter.
@IdiomsLand #animal_Idioms
โโ๐Like shooting fish in a barrel
โ๐พMeaning: Very easy to catch or trick
It can also mean a very easy task. This idiom goes back to the early 1900s. Think of how easy it would be to shoot fish in a barrel. Itโs a given.
Example: Iโm an expert in auto repair, fixing this is like shooting fish in a barrel.
@idiomsland #animal_idioms
โ๐พMeaning: Very easy to catch or trick
It can also mean a very easy task. This idiom goes back to the early 1900s. Think of how easy it would be to shoot fish in a barrel. Itโs a given.
Example: Iโm an expert in auto repair, fixing this is like shooting fish in a barrel.
@idiomsland #animal_idioms
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
๐with (one's) head held high
โ๐พDisplaying pride and confidence, often (but not always) after something has gone wrong.
Even though I knew I blew the presentation, I walked out of the conference room with my head held highโฆ and then cried in my car.
After hearing that he had been named to the all-star team, Paul walked through the halls with his head held high.
@IdiomsLand
โ๐พDisplaying pride and confidence, often (but not always) after something has gone wrong.
Even though I knew I blew the presentation, I walked out of the conference room with my head held highโฆ and then cried in my car.
After hearing that he had been named to the all-star team, Paul walked through the halls with his head held high.
@IdiomsLand