Idioms Explained
Viewing comments for Chapter 10 "Three Favorites"Fanstorians explain the backstory of idioms
21 total reviews
Comment from davisr (Rhonda)
A very creative venture, my friend! It's fun to find the meanings behind favorite sayings. I haven't read any of your others, but this was fun. Love the lighthearted style!
Take care,
Rhonda
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2021
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A very creative venture, my friend! It's fun to find the meanings behind favorite sayings. I haven't read any of your others, but this was fun. Love the lighthearted style!
Take care,
Rhonda
Comment Written 20-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2021
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Thank you. This piece is a chapter to Helen (lyenochka's) book on idioms. Everyone was invited to add to it. It is a lot of fun so you should add a chapter as well. I appreciate the six stars.
Beth
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Oh cool, thanks for the heads up!
Comment from prettybluebirds
I have another one that sounds a bit dirty in more ways than one. "Worthless as tits on a boar," I had some guys doing construction work for me when I made that remark and I thought they would crack up. I guess they didn't expect that from what they considered to be a sweet 75-year-old woman. Guess I fooled them. LOL I love your writing.
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2021
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I have another one that sounds a bit dirty in more ways than one. "Worthless as tits on a boar," I had some guys doing construction work for me when I made that remark and I thought they would crack up. I guess they didn't expect that from what they considered to be a sweet 75-year-old woman. Guess I fooled them. LOL I love your writing.
Comment Written 20-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 21-Nov-2021
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Thank you for the review. I'll bet that comment did get some chuckles. I've heard that one before. There are a lot of places where tits are pretty useless like on the old men in my swimming class that seem to be developing them while the older women's are shrinking. Now I've gotten dirty with my comments. LOL
Comment from Begin Again
I've been enjoying the stories behind these idioms that we use so often that we don't even think about them being a bit strange. You've chosen some great ones. Thanks for sharing.
I guess I am guilty of your first one and since things only got worse, I guess I should have expected the second one too.
Carol
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2021
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I've been enjoying the stories behind these idioms that we use so often that we don't even think about them being a bit strange. You've chosen some great ones. Thanks for sharing.
I guess I am guilty of your first one and since things only got worse, I guess I should have expected the second one too.
Carol
Comment Written 20-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2021
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They do come in handy to express what is going on in our lives. Thanks for the great review.
Beth
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
It must be a day for explaining old phrases on Fanstory. This is the third one I've read in less than 24 hours. The ones you picked are interesting also. Thanks for the info.
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2021
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It must be a day for explaining old phrases on Fanstory. This is the third one I've read in less than 24 hours. The ones you picked are interesting also. Thanks for the info.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2021
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Helen (lyenochka) started a book of them encouraging everyone to add a chapter. Last time I looked there were eleven chapters. If you have some favorites you should add them. Go back and check them all. They are a lot of fun.
Beth
Beth
Comment from Spitfire
Ha, ha. I'm glad to see I was the source of the first one and also the reason I stopped my intended book on hubby's descent into dementia. I didn't know the source of the other two, but found them interesting. Trivia to tell at a cocktail party. :-)
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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Ha, ha. I'm glad to see I was the source of the first one and also the reason I stopped my intended book on hubby's descent into dementia. I didn't know the source of the other two, but found them interesting. Trivia to tell at a cocktail party. :-)
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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LOL I figured you would notice you were the source of the first one. I'm glad you're having fun going to cocktail parties. It sounds like you have an active social life. I'm glad you're not letting the threat of virus keep you in.
Beth
Comment from barbara.wilkey
I have used the first two you discussed often, especially the first one. I honestly don't understand, for instance on Facebook why people want to air their dirty laundry. I try hard to keep it at home where it belongs. LOL Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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I have used the first two you discussed often, especially the first one. I honestly don't understand, for instance on Facebook why people want to air their dirty laundry. I try hard to keep it at home where it belongs. LOL Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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I was sure I'd already answered this. I guess I forgot to hit save. Those idioms come in handy sometimes. I think it might be smart to say as little as possible in FaceBook.
Beth
Comment from Bill Schott
This addition to the idiom collection, Three Favorites, covers the biggies. Airing dirty laundry is almost self-explanatory. The handwriting on the wall is usually always understood by anyone familiar with the Bible. The cannonball term is one that surprises me, but is so funny to hear someone say.
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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This addition to the idiom collection, Three Favorites, covers the biggies. Airing dirty laundry is almost self-explanatory. The handwriting on the wall is usually always understood by anyone familiar with the Bible. The cannonball term is one that surprises me, but is so funny to hear someone say.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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Thank you Bill, I appreciate the review. I always thought dirty laundry mean soiled with real dirt, but I learned it could be dirty as in leud or sexy. That surprised me.
Beth
Comment from Ric Myworld
I've heard your idioms all my life, and yes, I've been guilty of using them all, including the last one, which I too thought was referring to something totally different. LOL. Very interesting, and thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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I've heard your idioms all my life, and yes, I've been guilty of using them all, including the last one, which I too thought was referring to something totally different. LOL. Very interesting, and thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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Thank you Ric, I appreciate your review as always. How you are getting back to normal after the surgery.
Beth
Comment from Judy Lawless
I'm familiar with all of these expressions, Beth, and have used them all as well. Except for the balls off the brass monkey, I have not heard the origins before. Thanks for enlightening us.
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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I'm familiar with all of these expressions, Beth, and have used them all as well. Except for the balls off the brass monkey, I have not heard the origins before. Thanks for enlightening us.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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Thank for the review Judy. I've not used that one either but I thought it had the unique origin if that is even the true meaninf of it. There are other ways of expressing how cold it is.
Comment from humpwhistle
Ah, the good old American idiom. I've gotten into a lot of trouble for employing them in my stories. Non-Americans often scratch their heads. Younger Americans are known to say, 'Wha?'. Even so, I use them whenever I can. For one thing, they're colorful, and for another, people really do use them in everyday conversation. It seems to me, that all cultures have their own idioms for the same topics as we do. And, they can usually be deciphered with a minimum of cranium grease--especially if they're used in the right context.
I was still writing ads when I discovered A Dictionary of American Idioms, compiled by Adam Makkai, M.T. Boatner, and J.E. Gates, and published by Barron's Educational. I'm currently on my third copy--having worn out my first two. For me, it's a must have for my writing library, kept right next to my thesaurus, and my People's Almanac.
I agree. The brass monkey's balls bit seems legit to me. I hereby discredit the discreditor!
If you're interested, I'm guessing Amazon carries the Idiom book. My third 'updated' edition boasts 'Over 8,000 idiomatic words, expressions, regionalisms, and informal English expressions . . . defined, and cross-referenced for easy access.'
As much as I enjoy using established idioms, I enjoy creating my own even more. Again, if the context is right, these expressions are usually self-explanatory.
A fun book, Beth. Leave no stone unturned!
Peace, Lee
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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Ah, the good old American idiom. I've gotten into a lot of trouble for employing them in my stories. Non-Americans often scratch their heads. Younger Americans are known to say, 'Wha?'. Even so, I use them whenever I can. For one thing, they're colorful, and for another, people really do use them in everyday conversation. It seems to me, that all cultures have their own idioms for the same topics as we do. And, they can usually be deciphered with a minimum of cranium grease--especially if they're used in the right context.
I was still writing ads when I discovered A Dictionary of American Idioms, compiled by Adam Makkai, M.T. Boatner, and J.E. Gates, and published by Barron's Educational. I'm currently on my third copy--having worn out my first two. For me, it's a must have for my writing library, kept right next to my thesaurus, and my People's Almanac.
I agree. The brass monkey's balls bit seems legit to me. I hereby discredit the discreditor!
If you're interested, I'm guessing Amazon carries the Idiom book. My third 'updated' edition boasts 'Over 8,000 idiomatic words, expressions, regionalisms, and informal English expressions . . . defined, and cross-referenced for easy access.'
As much as I enjoy using established idioms, I enjoy creating my own even more. Again, if the context is right, these expressions are usually self-explanatory.
A fun book, Beth. Leave no stone unturned!
Peace, Lee
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2021
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Thank you so much for the six stars, Lee. I thought you always created your own. We should start a book of original Idioms created by FanStory members, and I'm sure you could write the most chapters
I'm bad about using them in poems without realizing I'm doing it. You have alerted me to fact I'm using too many cliches more than once, but I' love them and would like to check out that book. I told Helen, there are so many I feel like blind dog in a meat house. She hadn't heard that one
Beth
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I do try to write new similes and metaphors whenever I can. Idioms seem best used in dialogue.
The book is paperback. Let me know if you want the ISBN.