Reader Opinions
Steve – (take five) December 16, 2025
“…woman, get out my face” is spoken by Jimmy the pimp to Bessie Smith after he shoves her to the floor. (“Bessie Smith in St Louis Blues” [movie, 1929] soundtrack at approx 6:50.
Glenn Claypoole – (pig in a poke) December 10, 2025
Farmers would take their pigs to market to sell, but the runt often stayed home for dinner or ended up in a bag (a “pig in a poke”). It was then hawked in the crowd outside the auction house. A buyer knew it was alive because it moved and squealed, so you could tell it was a pig. But if you were buying one this way, you were still gambling on what you were getting.
Luilly – (go for broke) November 27, 2025
Una caja de esa es importante para los niños que los necesita
Richard Cutts – (a little of what you fancy does you good) November 23, 2025
Does this include drinking alcohol?
Anonymous – (burn the midnight oil) November 18, 2025
Emblemes was a book of poems
Rahima – (face to face) November 9, 2025
I like this expression because it means meeting people in person. I think face-to-face conversations are better than talking on the phone.
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”
