Reader Opinions
JohnK – (keep your chin up) March 10, 2021
I disagree with most of these comments, because I have never heard it used, nor would it be sensible to use the phrase to mean “Hey! Suck it up! You’re being a baby!” Language is malleable, and the number one rule of communication is “know your audience”.
Thus, I have always heard the phrase said in a “I have faith in you” kind of way as one might say one of the following to encourage someone: “we’ll get theough this.”/ “this too shall pass.”
It is almost said ironically, as a near admission at how hollow the words alone are, by which the sentiment of belief in the person is magnified.
Abigail Owusu Opoku – (eat humble pie) March 10, 2021
I have learnt so much. Never knew about such a site.
Ekomobong Etteh – (crush) March 10, 2021
Sometimes its hard to open up to your crush especially when you are very close to him or her.
Craig Fritz – (weak in the knees) March 9, 2021
A term possibly of maritime origin. A deteriorating wooden sailing vessel may literally have “weak knees”, which are the structural members that join the hull frames to the deck work.
“Weak in the knees” actually makes sense in this context whereas human knees offer little in the way of sensation and a person who is feeling faint is far more likely to attribute it dizziness in their head than to failing knees. Other than a person with arthritis or a meniscus tear, who takes much awareness of their knees?
Jon black – (sixth sense) March 8, 2021
Six senses when you feel something like for example being around someone you can determine if they’re of good or a bad if there are bad and get a weird, uneasy feeling.
Albert John Rogers – (rocket science) March 8, 2021
Rocket science is dead easy compared with the electromagnetodynamics of an ionised body like the sun or even a laser.
As for biology, compared with biochemistry, the fact of Natural Selection which certain religions REFUSE to understand, is dead-easy and compared with rocket science, biochemistry is extremely difficult.
Albert John Rogers – (do or die) March 8, 2021
I knew of the line in “Bruce’s Address” by Burns and wondered if it had been invented earlier.
I am quite fond of Tennyson, but not of his approval of the “Charge of the Light Brigade” I prefer the opinion quoted, or alleged by the account of the mastermind of “The Great Train Robbery” that although he had stolen gold intended for the Crimean War, he had not by his stupidity caused the slaughter of os many god Englishmen.
Anonymous – (idle hands are the devil’s tools) March 7, 2021
Also engage in some occupation, so that the devil may always find you busy.
Proverbs 16:27-29
27 Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.
28 An evil man sows strife; gossip separates the best of friends.
29 Wickedness loves company—and leads others into sin.
Zulfiqar Qazi – (stir up a hornet’s nest) March 6, 2021
Trying to relate this idiom with the wordings, but seems quite puzzling as origin is unclear, in which context was used originally .
Anonymous – (stab in the back) March 5, 2021
Feeling of betrayal
