May
17
2016
The three idiomatic expressions above – one Native American in origin, one Chinese-American, and one associated with the practices of American politics – have absolutely nothing to do with the story of George Washington, his little hatchet, a cherry tree, and not telling lies. Or, for that matter, of the tale of Carrie A. Nation’s hatchet-swinging, tavern-busting antics. Continue reading
3 comments | tags: Bury the Hatchet, Carrie A. Nation, Glenmore Distilleries, Grant Wood, Hatchet Job, Hatchet Man, Idioms, Justice Samuel Sewall, Michael Moore, Mock Duck, Parson Weems’ Fable, Sai Wing Mock, Up in the Air | posted in More Idioms!
Dec
15
2015
I remember plenty of family picnics in the 1950s. After the eating was over the adult male relatives would gather round the picnic table, break out frosty bottles of Schlitz beer, light up cigars, and commence to play penny ante poker.
But seriously, how many people smoke cigars today? Nevertheless, “Close, but no cigar!” is an idiom that still has currency today and is as instantly understood in the way as it has been for more than a century. Continue reading
5 comments | tags: Annie Oakley, Annie Oakleys, Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show, Close but no cigar, Havana’s Best cigars, Idioms, Never Give a Sucker an Even Break, Schlitz beer, Toby Walker, W.C. Fields | posted in More Idioms!
Apr
2
2014
If you’ve read my earlier blog entry It’s All Greek to Me, Part 1, you’ll see that a handful of figures of speech still in use refer to Ancient Greek culture, history, arts, writings and mythology.
But what I was lamenting in Part 1 was that fewer and fewer Americans know the backstory of these idioms. And without that knowledge, eventually these expressions, rich in culture and history, will fade away.
Which is too bad, because not only will we lose some really fascinating figures of speech, it also means that before that happens a lot of us will have already lost a valuable part of our cultural heritage.
Continue reading
2 comments | tags: Archimedes, Back to the Future, Christopher Lloyd, Confessio amantis, hydraulic screw, Idioms, It’s All Greek to Me, John Gower, Mr. Peabody, naval claw, Rocky and His Friends, The Eureka Effect, Way Back Machine, “Doc” Emmett L. Brown, “Eureka!”, “Rich as Croesus” | posted in More Idioms!
Mar
29
2014
I dunno. When I was a kid, maybe five years old, my parents gave me an illustrated children’s book of Greek mythology.

Famous Myths of the Golden Age – 1958.
And it was all there – Apollo in his golden chariot, Prometheus chained to a rock, Icarus falling into the sea, Jason, Medusa, the Golden Fleece, even tales of the brave Odysseus. And I ate it up with a spoon. I loved every page.
But today, how many people do you think really have had any direct exposure to the history, ideas, art, and culture of Ancient Greece, except maybe having once attended a toga party at a Greek fraternity in college?
Continue reading
no comments | tags: Famous Myths of the Golden Age, Goldfinger, Idioms, It’s All Greek to Me, James Bond, Opening Pandora’s Box, Shazam!, Shirley Bassey, The Midas Touch | posted in More Idioms!
Feb
13
2013
“To Fold Like a Cheap Camera” means to back down from one’s position quickly under not so heavy pressure; to abandon one’s argument absolutely with little possibility returning to it in the future; to self-collapse one’s stand.
Continue reading
no comments | tags: folding cameras, Idioms, Polaroid cameras | posted in More Idioms!
Jul
11
2012
“Cooking with gas” means performing a difficult task with maximum efficiency and capability. There is a hint in the expression that an obstacle had to be overcome in order to achieve a state of “cooking with gas.” Continue reading
1 comment | tags: Idioms | posted in More Idioms!