Reader Opinions
David – (love is blind) December 10, 2021
I love Shila Kay. I do. (Veda too!) I’m astonished, dumbfounded and amazed all anew every time our eyes meet.♥️
Kate – (Verbs) December 10, 2021
Thank whoever is responsible for these knowlege they willingly impart to the world of learners.
Rey Musselman – (a little knowledge is a dangerous thing) December 6, 2021
A little misinformation is also a dangerous thing.
James A Llamozas – (hit the sack) December 4, 2021
So I’m seeing questions here that I hope I can help answer. I’m from Texas and that is an extremely common phrase here. It is totally acceptable to tell someone to say, “I’m going to hit the sack”. it may be awkward to tell someone to “hit the sack” . Reason being, you are telling someone to “go to sleep” and that may not be appropriate to let’s say your in laws.
Someone asked if it was ok to say it in a situation where they were leaving someone’s house, to go home and go to sleep. I have used it this way, pretty often and people here, in Texas will grasp that and it’s perfecting acceptable. There may be other places where you have to preface that statement with “I’m headed home to hit the hay/sack”. As with any phrase, I think you need to have a very clear understanding that this phrase means “go(ing) to sleep”.
Gail A. Wells – (get under someone’s skin) December 4, 2021
Hello, I am trying to find out when the phrase, “getting under one’s skin”, (meaning when someone gets on your nerves) first originated, what year? I have written an historical fiction novel which takes place in 1848 and I use this term to describe one main character’s feelings for the other one. Thank you!
Gail Wells
Queen Bogs – (go the extra mile) December 3, 2021
Anon is exactly right. You deprive the oppressor of the illusion of a hold over you when you consider it nothing to volunteer another mile. You are more free than they recognize. JC was captain passive resistance.
Mark – (blood is thicker than water) December 2, 2021
“The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb” Seems to be a more modern extrapolation of the other “Blood is thicker than water.” It is interesting that on the internet the first is now being given as the “origin” of the second. Yet nowhere can we find exactly where: “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb” is quoted from, other than two books which made the claim without citing a source. It’s a form of “urban legend” now.
Susan G Dunn – (fake it till you make it) November 30, 2021
This is like “A writer writes.” I think of it as – keep doing what you want to do until you get it perfect. Keep acting like a Manager, and then one day you’ll be one.
Act like a winner, and one day you’ll be one.
Will it “get common” now? It’s total slang. And mostly used in a rude way, or at least with rude intent, i.e.,
Asst Mgr walks in, dumps something on Mary’s desk, tells her to do it and then walks out.
Cissy, who is sitting there says, “Yeah, right. Fake it till you make it.” referring to asst mgr’s behavior
Susan G Dunn – (throw under the bus) November 30, 2021
As a Great Generation member, this idiom was totally new to me. In other words, true – it hasn’t been around very long. However, I liked it immediately. I felt it had been needed in our language. I often use SHOVE – ‘she shoved me under the bus.” it seems to fit more.
A similarly modern idiom is “Kicked to the curb”
Mia K – (a needle in a haystack) November 28, 2021
The saying goes way back to the 900 CE, where it was used in the “One Thousand and One Nights” tale, originated in Persia, Arabia and mainly Ancient Middle East. So the term is a translation from Persian and Arabic sayings, which you should include in the information.
