Nature
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Meaning
It’s better to have a lesser but certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing.
Examples
The questions in the final round looked hard so we opted out of the big prize and took the smaller $2,000 second prize. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush you know.
Where did it originate?
The United Kingdom.
Where is it used?
One of the most widely used proverbs throughout the English-speaking world.
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A thorn in my flesh
Meaning
A persistent and difficult to ignore annoyance.
Examples
The anti-capitalist campaigners turned up at every political meeting. They were are real thorn in the flesh for the government.
Where did it originate?
The United Kingdom.
Where is it used?
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Al fresco
Meaning
In the open air.
Examples
The weather’s lovely, let’s have our lunch al fresco on the terrace.
Where did it originate?
The United Kingdom adaptation of an Italian expression
Where is it used?
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All at sea
Meaning
In a confused, disordered state.
Examples
He dropped his notes just before the interview and panicked. You could say he was all at sea.
Where did it originate?
Britain, late 19th century.
Where is it used?
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Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning
Responding to something which isn’t the important issue.
Examples
The government is blaming the immigrants for the banking crisis, but they’re barking up the wrong tree there.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 19th century.
Where is it used?
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Beat around the bush
Meaning
Avoiding the main topic.
Examples
If you want Jill to go out with her, don’t beat around the bush – ask her.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 1400s. One of the oldest non-Biblical phrases in the language.
Where is it used?
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Between a rock and a hard place
Meaning
Between two unwelcome options.
Examples
The only choices I have are poverty or a boring job – I’m between a rock and a hard place.
Where did it originate?
USA, 20th century. Sometimes mistakenly thought to come from Homer’s Odyssey.
Where is it used?
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Big fish in a small pond
Meaning
An important person but only so within a small area of influence.
Examples
Alison is the queen of the post room. She’s a big fish in a small pond though – no one in the rest of the company knows who she is.
Where did it originate?
USA, late 19th century.
Where is it used?
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Blood is thicker than water
Meaning
Family loyalties are stronger than those to other people.
Examples
It was just me and his son in the job interview. I had no chance, blood is thicker than water you know.
Where did it originate?
Britain. Probably coined by Sir Walter Scott, 1815.
Where is it used?
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Come hell or high water
Meaning
Despite any great difficult or obstacle.
Examples
I’m going to get to Cornwall by nightfall, come hell or high water.
Where did it originate?
USA, late 19th century.
Where is it used?
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Daisy roots
Meaning
Cockney rhyming slang for boots.
Examples
I can’t get them on. Either my feet have got bigger or these daisies have shrunk.
Where did it originate?
Where is it used?
Mostly Britain.
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Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning
An encouragement to be optimistic. Even bad events have a good side to them.
Examples
Okay he wasn’t faithful but at least you found out now rather than after the wedding – every cloud has a silver lining.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 17th century. From a poem by John Milton.
Where is it used?
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Factory farming
Meaning
Rearing livestock under industrial conditions.
Examples
I’m dead against factory farming of pigs. I prefer to see them out in the open air, rooting about for their food.
Where did it originate?
USA, mid-20th century.
Where is it used?
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Feeding frenzy
Meaning
A frantic competition or exploitation – like a group shark attack.
Examples
When Princess Diana was killed there was a feeding frenzy of journalists trying to get the story.
Where did it originate?
USA, mid 20th century.
Where is it used?
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Field day
Meaning
A day noted for remarkable or exciting events.
Examples
When my daughter was married everyone had a real field day.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 18th century.
Where is it used?
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Go out on a limb
Meaning
Take a risk to support someone or something.
Examples
He knew his boss was an army man, so saying that he was against the war was really going out on a limb.
Where did it originate?
USA, 19th century.
Where is it used?
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Hit the hay
Meaning
Retire to bed.
Examples
I’m exhausted. Do you mind if I hit the hay.
Where did it originate?
USA, early 20th century.
Where is it used?
Mostly USA.
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Knock on wood
Meaning
Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid bad luck or to continue having good luck.
Examples
I have never broken a bone – touch wood.
Where did it originate?
USA, early 20th century. Other variants, like ‘touch wood’ are earlier.
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Level playing field
Meaning
Fair competition where no side has an advantage.
Examples
There were six of them and only four of us, so it wasn’t really a level playing field.
Where did it originate?
USA, 20th century.
Where is it used?
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Little fish in a big pond
Meaning
Someone considered unimportant compared to their more significant peers.
Examples
Jimmy’s first school only had seven pupils and he was the star, but when he got to high-school he was a little fish in a big pond.
Where did it originate?
USA, early 20th century.
Where is it used?
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Magic mushroom
Meaning
A type of mushroom with hallucinogenic properties – sometimes known as ‘shrooms’.
Examples
Henry’s turned into a real dope head – stoned every night. If it’s not the wacky backy it’s the magic mushrooms.
Where did it originate?
USA, 1950s, although the plants themselves have been used for centuries.
Where is it used?
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Nest egg
Meaning
Savings set aside for future use.
Examples
That pension will keep building until I’m 65. Its a good little nest egg.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 17th century.
Where is it used?
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Once in a blue moon
Meaning
A rare occurrence.
Examples
West Bromwich Albion have won the cup. but only every once in a blue moon.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 19th century.
Where is it used?
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Steal someones thunder
Meaning
Take the credit for something someone else did.
Examples
Joseph Swan had the first working lightbulb but Edison filed the first patent and effectively stole Swan’s thunder.
Where did it originate?
Britain, early 18th century. From a reference to the machines used in theatres to make the sound of thunder.
Where is it used?
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The Big Pond
Meaning
Nickname of the Atlantic Ocean between the UK and the USA.
Examples
London’s getting boring – I’m planning to hop the big pond and have a weekend in New York.
Where did it originate?
USA, 1840s. Previously called, in both UK and USA as ‘The Great Pond’.
Where is it used?
Mostly USA and Britain.
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The fog of war
Meaning
Confusion caused by the chaos of battle.
Examples
After the bombing raid we had no idea where the enemy were of what was going to happen next – that’s to be expected in the fog of war.
Where is it used?
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The sound of leather on willow
Meaning
The sound of the ball on the bat in cricket.
Examples
There’s nothing more English than this – sitting in a deckchair at the Worcester county ground, watching the match and the sound of leather on willow.
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Up shit creek without a paddle
Meaning
In serious difficulty, with no hope of respite.
Examples
We were halfway across the Australian outback when we realised our water bottle had leaked. We really were up shit creek.
Where did it originate?
USA, 1890s. Note: Shit creek isn’t a real place.
Where is it used?
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Water under the bridge
Meaning
A past experience that you prefer not to affect your current life.
Examples
Losing my wife and my job was difficult at the time but I’ve moved on. Its all water under the bridge now.
Where is it used?
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