Phrase Finder

Idioms · 14 entries

Travel

What does "Travel" mean?

Someone who criticizes from the side-lines without being directly involved.

Back seat driver

USA, 20th century.

City bike

USA, mid-20th century.

Cloud cuckoo-land

‘Cloud cuckoo-land’ derives from a comment made by was coined by the 4th century BC Greek playwright Aristophanes in the whimsical and extravagant play The Birds. First used in English in the 1820s, in the United Kingdom.

Corduroy road

Canada, 19th century.

Designated driver

USA, 1980s

Frog and toad

Britain.

Go the extra mile

USA, late 19th century.

High season

Britain, 18th century.

I’m good to go

Britain.

In the same boat

Britain, 17th century.

Jam jar

Britain.

Miss the boat

The origin of this expression is uncertain. An early 1930 reference describe it as an Americanism, but that reference is from England and there are no earlier known uses from the USA.

Pedal to the metal

USA, 1970s

Riding shotgun

USA, mid 20th century. Initially heard in the dialogue of cowboy films.

Entry 1

Back seat driver

Meaning Someone who criticizes from the side-lines without being directly involved.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • She's always ready to be a back seat driver and tell people what to do but she never does anything herself.

Pronunciation

Entry 2

City bike

Meaning A bicycle designing especially for urban riding.

Usage Predominantly used in urban areas in USA and UK.

Example

  • It's more comfortable in a car but in London you get around much quicker on a city bike.

Pronunciation

Entry 3

Cloud cuckoo-land

Meaning An imaginary idealistic state where everything is perfect. It is usually used with reference to someone who has an overly optimistic and unrealistic belief.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • If you think you can get a managerial job without any qualifications or experience you are living in cloud cuckoo-land.

Pronunciation

Entry 4

Corduroy road

Meaning A road that is ridged and furrowed like the fabric.

Usage Worldwide, but not commonplace.

Example

  • This road can't have been resurfaced since the 1980s. It's all patches - a real corduroy road.

Pronunciation

Entry 5

Designated driver

Meaning Someone who agrees not to drink alcohol at a social event in order to be sober enough to drive others home.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • It really wasn't my turn to be designated driver this week but I was late arriving and by the time I got there all the others were already drunk.

Pronunciation

Entry 6

Frog and toad

Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for road.

Usage Mostly Britain.

Example

  • Hurry up and move the car - I can see a traffic warden coming just down the frog and toad.

Pronunciation

Entry 7

Go the extra mile

Meaning Going beyond what is usually required. Make an extra effort.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • He needed have picked me up from the airport. I'm grateful that he went the extra mile.

Pronunciation

Entry 8

High season

Meaning The most popular time to visit a resort or attraction - when prices are highest.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • It's way too busy here to get a deckchair on the beach. I suppose that's what we should have expected when we booked a holiday in high season.

Pronunciation

Entry 9

I'm good to go

Meaning I am ready to participate.

Example

  • Sorry to hold you up. Just let me get my car keys from my other coat and I'll be good to go.

Entry 10

In the same boat

Meaning Jointly facing the same predicament.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The fog has grounded all the planes and no one is going anywhere. it's annoying but I suppose were all in the same boat.

Pronunciation

Entry 11

Jam jar

Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for car.

Usage Mostly Britain.

Example

  • Check my new Audi. Its the best jam jar I've ever owned.

Pronunciation

Entry 12

Miss the boat

Meaning Missed the chance to take an opportunity.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I should have asked him for that loan when he was in a good mood. Now he's fed up because he's lost at golf and I've missed the boat.

Pronunciation

Entry 13

Pedal to the metal

Meaning To go at full speed, when driving a vehicle.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • Well never make it to the hospital in time at this speed. Put the pedal to the metal and hurry things up.

Pronunciation

Entry 14

Riding shotgun

Meaning Riding in the front passenger seat of a car.

Usage Mostly USA.

Example

  • I prefer to drive but since my drink conviction I have to ride shotgun.

Pronunciation