Reader Opinions
Chris – (like a hole in the head) November 4, 2025
I wonder if this “hole in the head” idiom originated from the story of an army chief’s death (Sisera) from the hands of a Jewish woman (Jael)? This account is found in Judges 4:21.
Diane – (at odds) November 2, 2025
I respectfully submit that “at odds” is an evolution of the earlier phrase “at sixes and sevens”, which would put one at odds.
Roger Harrower – (toot one’s own horn) October 28, 2025
Did the religious leaders in Israel have people blow a horn to announce their presence and if they could not hire someone to blow the horn they did it themselves?
Ardeshir – (too many cooks spoil the broth) October 13, 2025
In Iran we say: “When you have two cooks, the food is going to be either bland or overly salty”
Franchesca Ford – (can’t hold a candle to) October 11, 2025
On another thread, it was referenced that the phrase initially came from the days of textile works when one would require an assistant to literally hold a candle to the fabric to inspect. As it goes, if the person were ill equipped to hold such candles one then sees the phrase come into play “He/She couldn’t even hold a candle.
Karen Arnold – (eager beaver) October 4, 2025
Work horse is anther reference I’ve heard used to describe an individual who may be somewhat similar to an eager beaver.
Zyanya Mahetzi Cabello Alcántara – (when pigs fly) September 29, 2025
It’s often used sarcastically to express disbelief in a promise or expectation that something will happen, as in the example: “Sure, he’ll clean his room when pigs fly.”
Being an idiom, it’s an informal expression used in everyday conversations rather than in formal contexts.
Shawnna Shaw – (dig one’s own grave) September 13, 2025
The phrase dig your own grave. If you were to watch The treasure of the Sierra Madre starring Humphrey Bogart back in the day when it was filmed the federales the Mexican federales at the end of the film make the Mexican terrorists, the murdering thieves that that befriended Humphrey Bogart in the end the federal is catch up to these bad guys and they force these three men to dig their own graves because they’re going to be executed right outside their graves that’s where that term originates it’s a probably a punishment a a punishment and execution that went on in Mexico originating in Mexico. When you got caught for being a horrible murdering character by the Mexican federales they make you dig your own grave and then they shoot you and you fall into that grave and then you’re buried!
To dig your own grave is that reference in The treasure of the Sierra Madre starring Humphrey Bogart is a black and white movie I’m not Sherman of is made probably late mid 30s late 30 probably mid late 1930s early 1940s, I have to look that up to find out exactly what year that movie was made. But most certainly the Mexican Federales who determined that these three different men all of whom were connected together had robbed and stolen from Humphrey Bogart essentially what killed him was his ruthless fight to try and stay alive I guess but they they burned him these three men burn them in the Federalists became involved at the hand of a very dear professor friend of Humphrey Bogart and his partner who were there in Mexico trying to find treasure and it’s a pretty good movie I haven’t seen the whole thing it’s on today which is why I bring this up.
The Mexican Federales at the end of this film Humphrey Bogart dies I believe and the professor that contacted the federales to begin with he I believe is there witnessing this these three men being forced with each a shovel in their hands having to dig a hole for their own Graves they were forced to dig their own holes and Graves and then you get the idea they’re going to be executed directly thereafter that’s what I seem to recall at the end of that movie so that’s where that came from that’s the practice at the federal days did on to others who were bad people I believe that’s where it came from “dig your own grave”!
Karlheinz Hartkopf – (raise the wind) August 30, 2025
To raise the wind means “Staub aufwirbeln” in Deutsch.
Mark Woods – (Dutch uncle) August 26, 2025
Have you heard of the Pennsylvania Dutch? This term actually refers to people of German descent who settled in Pennsylvania. The word “Deutsch” means German and “Deutschland” means Germany. So, it’s possible the word “Deutsch” was bent into “Dutch” when the English coined the term “Dutch uncle”. This said, people from the Netherlands (a.k.a., the Dutch) and people from Germany are both known for speaking candidly.
