IDIOM: ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR

All is fair in love and war Meaning: Everything can be justified between people who love each other and times of war. History of the phrase: This phrase, which is now a very common saying, dates to 1578. It first appears in John LyLy’s, ‘Eupheus: The Anatomy of Wit‘. Synonymous Expression:  Do whatever it takes! The opposite of all’s fair in … Read More

IDIOM: RUN-OF-THE-MILL

  IDIOM: RUN-OF-THE-MILL – this idiom is used to mean that something is very ordinary, normal or common-place. Example: I wasn’t very impressed by their wedding.  The whole celebration was very run-of-the-mill.  I doubt I will remember it at all in a few years. If you are using run–of–the–mill in your writing, be sure to remember to punctuate it properly! … Read More

IDIOM – TO BE IN THE SAME BOAT

IDIOM – TO BE IN THE SAME BOAT MEANING – to be in the same bad, difficult or unpleasant situation, to have the same problem EXAMPLES – 1. The economy is terrible at the moment.  All the local businesses are struggling.  They are all in the same boat.  2.  John and I failed our history test.  As, we’re both in … Read More

IDIOM – AS EASY AS PIE

Meaning of As Easy as Pie – something which is very simple or easy.  Interestingly, the Idiom ‘as easy as pie’, does not refer to making pies bur rather to eating them!  In fact, there are many English idioms which use the word pie to indicate something that is pleasurable or good.  There’s also another version of this idiom which is … Read More

IDIOM – PIECE OF CAKE

Idiom a piece of cake

Meaning –  something that is easy to do In Context  – The exam was a piece of cake.  I had no problems answering any of the questions. Synonymous Idioms – as easy as pie, a walk in the park, like stealing candy from a baby, a walkover, as easy as the ABC, like shooting fish in a barrel, a cakewalk, nothing … Read More

IDIOM – HOLD YOUR HORSES

Meaning – be patient, to wait a moment before taking action In Context – Hold your horses, I haven’t finished explaining yet. Origin – originally used to restrain cavalry (army on horses) from attacking on battlefield Idioms with a similar or synonymous meaning – hang on, hold your water (not very common)