Reader Opinions
Aiswarya – (back to the wall) September 18, 2023
I had my back against the wall when I had to bribe a student to get exam answers for a bully who blackmailed me.
Juan Chaco – (run a tight ship) September 17, 2023
To “run a tight ship” vs a “loose ship” actually has much more serious implications. A captain who ran a tight ship was more demanding of the sailors in keeping everything in order and some resented it. However, if there was a storm or other emergency, the “tight” ship was prepared and the “loose” ship was not and many times went down.
Anonymous – (up and about) September 16, 2023
Up [ out of bed ]
and
about [ his/her business ]
Jacob – (all the way up) September 15, 2023
ESPN, which likes to include slang from the African-American community in its highlights, must mean an athlete has reached his peak
Stephanie Soressi – (just deserts) September 8, 2023
Leaving the final e rather than discarding it in adding the plural signifier would lessen confusion: just desertes — the final 4 letters being pronounced just as with the (albeit most singular) Descartes.
Bradley Eugene Myers – (keep your nose clean) September 6, 2023
I have never heard that phrase to do anything with cocaine and I done cooking for years I mean I’ve been clean for 8 years but I never heard that term they use that way for that reason now keep your nurse out of it other people’s business I’ve heard that part you know but really keep your nose clean really actually to mean to me and everybody else I know is to just not get in trouble and stay out of trouble.
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! 😎
