Reader Opinions
Robin Dicey – (dot the i’s and cross the t’s) January 2, 2023
Crossing T’s is a naval expression. I found this in Wikipedia under the story of the Confederate ship, the Alabama.
Tom – (up a blind alley) January 1, 2023
I never considered “up a blind alley” to mean doom or failure. To me, it has always meant that the result of a decision is unknown. Perhaps because due to circumstances it is impossible to estimate the outcome, or maybe because the person didn’t do their due diligence before acting on their decision.
Tom – (twenty-three skidoo) January 1, 2023
Article states that “23” and “skidoo” were individual slang terms but does not explain what 23 meant on its own. Anyone know?
Stephen Ulicny – (blast from the past) December 21, 2022
I first heard the phrase Blast from the Past on 1010 WINS Radio New York. DJ Murray Kaufman, also called Murray the K. His line as Its Murray the K with the Swinging Soiree with a blast from the past: let the time slide role. Early 60s.
Elaine – (forty winks) December 13, 2022
It doesn’t make sense. If you are winking you aren’t asleep.
Ysabet – (call a spade a spade) December 8, 2022
Ugh; always thought this had to do with the suite of playing cards. The things you learn… Thank you!
Abhisri – (barking dogs seldom bite) November 15, 2022
A barking dog seldom bites, which is a metaphor for people who are weak on the inside but threaten to harm us.
Marco Benincasa – (the rose that grew from concrete) November 15, 2022
It is to me a great expression, because on the one hand, the concept of “concrete” suggests the squalor and poverty of some urban areas, which is just as opposed to the refreshing and exiling scent of the rose, which brings about emotional life and the magnetic attraction of love.
Mark – (take with a grain of salt) November 15, 2022
“Take it with a grain of salt” implies that a grain of salt has more value than the claim being made. Other idioms clearly place value on salt, so I don’t know why the official explanations don’t mention this.
Nikki – (call a spade a spade) November 7, 2022
I once read the phrase in an old Nancy drew book, but she said, “let’s call a spade a spade and not a pointed digging implement.”
