Reader Opinions
Katherine Schaperjahn – (cut the mustard) September 5, 2023
It relates to the verb “to muster”. He couldn’t cut the mustard in his quest for Congress is saying that he couldn’t muster the needed support.
Anonymous – (kick the can down the road) September 3, 2023
You are my teacher. I am a foreigner learning English for over 60 years. But I did not know the idiom’s meaning and its history until today. Thank you much.
Carolyn Landry – (just deserts) September 2, 2023
Webster’s Universal College Dictionary has 3 meanings for the word desert.
1. an arid, sandy region
2. to leave (a person, place) without intending to return
3. reward or punishment
Accordingly, it should be “He got his just deserts.”
Tony Chiou – (kick the habit) September 1, 2023
I think the term refers to the “habit that monks wear” as they walk; they kick the habit, which is difficult to avoid! Thus, it’s a repetitive action that is difficult to give up! Hence the idiom!
And I’m a Chinese Malaysian interested in idioms! 😎
Edward Hackemer – (when pigs fly) September 1, 2023
With enough thrust, pigs fly just fine.
Deanna – (dot the i’s and cross the t’s) August 27, 2023
This idiom was first spoken by Jesus and documented in the Holy Bible in Matthew Chapter 5.
Frank – (knotty problem) August 24, 2023
Obviously with a phrase meaning difficult, complicated or problematic the origin is to do with knots in string/ropes etc. A knot in a tree/piece of wood doesn’t pose a ‘knotty’ problem in the normal sense of that phrase.
Вихрен Костадинов – (clean sweep) August 22, 2023
During World War II, American submarine crews, eager to showcase their many accomplishments, revived the practice. If a boat sank every target with which she engaged over the course of a patrol, the crew attached brooms to the periscope shears so their success, a “clean sweep,” was on display as they entered port.
Peter J Muhleisen – (doozy) August 14, 2023
duzy polish for big. Any thoughts?
DBlay – (at the drop of a dime) August 12, 2023
Not only make a phone call, but usually, to divulge some information, tell someone.
“I’ll do it; I don’t need you dropping a dime on me.”
