42
votes
Accepted
Why "having something UP one's sleeve," not "having something IN one's sleeve"?
Your arm is in your sleeve, but you put your arm in from the top of the sleeve and that's what the sleeve is for.
But the idiom uses the preposition "up," because something up your sleeve ...
- 793
31
votes
"Man cannot live by bread alone." — Is there any logical explanation why this idiom doesn't have an article before "man"?
Man (without any article) and mankind used to be used to refer to human beings in general; hence the word people in the Cambridge definition. In recent years this usage has fallen out of favour (as ...
- 59.4k
26
votes
Accepted
What Does 'It's on' Mean When Used in Anger?
In the context in which the speaker means "The fight is on", it would naturally indicate readiness to fight.
This kind of phrase is more likely in "staged" showdowns, rather than ...
- 228k
23
votes
What Does 'It's on' Mean When Used in Anger?
In situations filled with anger or confrontation, It's on likely indicates readiness for a challenge or conflict, physical or otherwise:
It's on; I'll see you in court.
Wiktionary lists a similar ...
- 19.1k
14
votes
Accepted
Allow troops to "shoot the hostages free"?
"Make someone free" means "liberate them". "Shoot them free" means liberate them by shooting, most likely by shooting those holding them captive.
"Free" here is ...
- 7,700
14
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"Man cannot live by bread alone." — Is there any logical explanation why this idiom doesn't have an article before "man"?
Man cannot live by bread alone.
The OP asks if man can be changed:
The man cannot live by bread alone.
Men cannot live by bread alone.
The question is understandable and reasonable, because there ...
- 4,779
12
votes
Her memory is like an elephant's (memory)
There is a short saying, "An elephant never forgets" (see this), and the saying is related.
The saying is relatively recent, and originally relates to the idea that if you have hurt an ...
- 228k
10
votes
Allow troops to "shoot the hostages free"?
One thing I haven't seen anyone mention: The meaning you suggested, of "without cost or at will," could have been created by freely instead of free. That would make all the difference:
...
- 17.4k
10
votes
Why "having something UP one's sleeve," not "having something IN one's sleeve"?
This idiom is from the practice of magicians hiding tricks or gimmicks IN the sleeve, right?
Historically it was more about physical objects being stored there. Stage magicians, for example, may palm ...
- 4,258
8
votes
What Does 'It's on' Mean When Used in Anger?
In the context of "situations filled with anger or confrontation", the expression "It's On" signifies that the speaker is accepting a challenge, either explicitly presented by ...
- 116
8
votes
Why can't I find references to the idiom "silky drawers" online?
If you look up the word drawers, you'll find it's also an old-fashioned term for feminine (and male) underwear.
Merriam Webster
3. dialectal also ˈdrȯ drawers plural: an article of clothing (such as ...
- 28.4k
8
votes
Accepted
"A pebble of disappointment plummets the length of him"
This is a metaphor and poetic language. You are right that it's not an idiom you will likely see anywhere else.
Most simply, the author means that he is disappointed. However, he is describing the ...
- 3,294
7
votes
Climbing without moving, how do you say that?
"Running in place" means making running motions without moving forward, rather than on a treadmill. In British English the expression is "running on the spot". When you are on a ...
- 228k
7
votes
Accepted
Does the proverb "having your cake and eating it too" imply hypocrisy?
You can't have your cake and eat it (too) just means
... one cannot have two incompatible things ... one should not try to have more than is reasonable ... you can't have it both ways ... you can't ...
- 19.1k
7
votes
"Man cannot live by bread alone." — Is there any logical explanation why this idiom doesn't have an article before "man"?
The man hunted, gathered wild berries, and fended for himself.
This refers to a nameless male individual.
So God created man in his own image, […] male and female created he them.
King James Version (...
- 28.4k
7
votes
Accepted
Difference between "backpedal" and "change your tune"
Backpedaling involves an attempt to unsay, either completely or merely to some degree, what has been previously said, to "walk it back". It is a form of damage control. The speaker or their ...
- 133k
7
votes
Accepted
What's the meaning of "running us off an embankment"?
Perhaps a picture would help, this one being from Wikipedia:
This hopefully clarifies the meaning. Another similar phrase might be drove us off a cliff.
In a comment, I mentioned the phrase go off ...
- 643
6
votes
Accepted
Meaning of "That was a home word of Pinkerton's"
In 19th century and early 20th century texts in both British English and educated American English the phrase home word means "native" word, that is, word in one's native language. We find ...
- 3,596
6
votes
Her memory is like an elephant's (memory)
According to the Cambridge Dictionary website, the phrase "have a memory like an elephant" is indeed an idiom.
You can check the page here.
- 596
5
votes
Meaning of "That was a home word of Pinkerton's"
I can't be 100% sure, but the OED has the following for home, adj.,
3.b.† Of, relating to, or concerning oneself; intimate, private, personal. Obsolete.
and the following attestation
1880 - He knew ...
- 3,821
5
votes
"Have those off you" in context of an item/sale - does it imply free or purchased?
"I'll have X off of you" can have multiple meanings depending on context. The common factor is that is that is a request that something (goods or cash) should be handed to the speaker.
It ...
- 8,522
5
votes
What is the meaning of "in the knee of somewhere"? Is it a common phrase in English?
The history of that Wikipedia article shows that it originated as a translation from the article in German Wikipedia, the current version of which makes mention of “Martigny-Ville im Knie des Wallis,”...
- 9,821
5
votes
"Man cannot live by bread alone." — Is there any logical explanation why this idiom doesn't have an article before "man"?
The quote comes from the Bible, specifically the section of the Bible commonly known as the 'New Testament' which was mainly written in ancient Greek and subsequently translated into modern languages. ...
- 109k
4
votes
Accepted
Does "race against" mean "sail"?
Here raced means moved swiftly. Against highlights that the sky is the apparent backdrop that’s visually behind them.
- 9,821
4
votes
Accepted
Politicians talk too much
This is a joke.
"Politicians" are people who have an elected office in a legislature or senate (for example). Their job involves lots of discussion. So they have to talk a lot. Some people ...
- 228k
4
votes
Does the proverb "having your cake and eating it too" imply hypocrisy?
Two ways to use the idiom.
This idiom can be used in a positive or negative connotation:
Ref. Cambridge dictionary
have your cake and eat it too.
idiom.
to do or get two good things at the same time, ...
- 2,251
4
votes
"Man cannot live by bread alone." — Is there any logical explanation why this idiom doesn't have an article before "man"?
Certainly not "the man", because it applies to all mankind. (3) is almost true to the intent, but limits the subject to "men", whereas it likely was understood that "man" ...
- 6,001
3
votes
Accepted
How does it really feel when people say "thank you for your patience" to their clients in English?
In my opinion, "thank you for your patience" is perfectly appropriate when the wait comes to an end: a restaurant patron has been waiting for a table, so you thank them for their patience ...
- 8,187
3
votes
Accepted
What's meant by ". . . he went the pace extraordinary"? (go the pace ?)
to go the pace
1829– colloquial. to go the pace: to move at great speed in the course of a hunt, race, etc.; (hence) to proceed in a vigorous, energetic, or dissipated way.
1905 “Well, you have been ...
- 47.5k
3
votes
Do "l know something like the back of my hand" and "I know something like the palm of my hand" mean the exact same thing?
Both are in use, but I've always heard "like the back of (one's) hand". According to COCA, this form is many times more popular than the version with "palm" (maybe as much as 20 ...
- 15.8k
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