English Idioms and Sayings

[RonBee]

What does it mean to burn your bridges behind you?

To eliminate any possibility of a retreat to a former position.

According to The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. :wink:

That's very good.

 

[RonBee]

What is meant by "It took the wind out of our sails"?

 

[RonBee]

What does it mean to "pass with flying colors"?

 

[Beeuurkes]

What does it mean to "pass with flying colors"?

to pass (e.g. an exam) without any difficulty.

 

[MikeNewYork]

What does it mean to "pass with flying colors"?

to pass (e.g. an exam) without any difficulty.

The "flying colors" part is more about the level of success (very high score) than the level of effort. :wink:

 

[RonBee]

What Mike said. "To pass with flying colors" is to do very well.

What about "It took the wind out of our sails"?

 

[RonBee]

What does "from the horse's mouth" mean?

 

[Beeuurkes]

What does "from the horse's mouth" mean?

From a reliable source. :wink:

 

[RonBee]

What does "from the horse's mouth" mean?

From a reliable source. :wink:

Yes. Specifically, it means to get the information directly rather than second-hand.

 

[RonBee]

What is meant by "sour grapes"?

What does the expression "It's like pulling teeth" mean?

 

[RonBee]

What does "That doesn't cut the mustard" mean?

What is meant by "It doesn't sink in"? Example: "Nothing I tell her sinks in. Nothing seems to stick."

What is a tall order? What does it mean if somebody asks me to do something and I say "That's a tall order"?

Pick one.

 

[bmo]

What does "That doesn't cut the mustard" mean?

Doesn't make the grade; doesn't make it to a certain standard.

Ex: Tom doesn't cut the mustard in his new job as a sales manager; I think he will be let go pretty soon.

What is the exact meaning of "Speak of the devil?"

This is when you are talking about someone who unexpectedly appears. Can you use it in a past tense? EX:

It was embarrassing yesterday when we were gossipping about Jenny and, speaking of the devil, she unexpectedly passed by and overheard us.

Thanks.

BMO

 

[RonBee]

What does "That doesn't cut the mustard" mean?

Doesn't make the grade; doesn't make it to a certain standard.

Ex: Tom doesn't cut the mustard in his new job as a sales manager; I think he will be let go pretty soon.

What is the exact meaning of "Speak of the devil?"

This is when you are talking about someone who unexpectedly appears. Can you use it in a past tense? EX:

It was embarrassing yesterday when we were gossipping about Jenny and, speaking of the devil, she unexpectedly passed by and overheard us.

Thanks.

BMO

Excellent!

Yes, you can use it like that. (That wouldn't be past tense, but more like present perfect.)



Here is a site with both expressions.

• Wayne Magnuson: English Idioms
  http://home.t-online.de/home/toni.goeller/idiom_wm/id559.htm

• As I walked into the room, Piotr said to Dorota, "Speaking of the devil, here he is now! Ha ha."
  http://home.t-online.de/home/toni.goeller/idiom_wm/id559.htm

(Some of the idioms on that site are actually phrasal verbs.)

 

[RonBee]

What is the lion's share of something?

• a. the biggest part
  b. an equal portion
  c. an undetermined amount
  d. Donald Trump's portion

:?:

 

[Beeuurkes]

What is the lion's share of something?

• a. the biggest part
  b. an equal portion
  c. an undetermined amount
  d. Donald Trump's portion

:?:

The biggest part, I would say. :wink:

 

[Tdol]

A & D? ;-)

 

[RonBee]

What is the lion's share of something?

• a. the biggest part
  b. an equal portion
  c. an undetermined amount
  d. Donald Trump's portion

:?:

The biggest part, I would say. :wink:

Yep. That's right.

(I like Tdol's answer too. It tickled my funny bone.)

:wink:

 

[RonBee]

What does "It tickled my funny bone" mean?

:?:

 

[Red5]

It made me giggle.

What are Hell's Bells?

 

[Beeuurkes]

What are Hell's Bells?

I don't know, but it might suit the Rhyming Riddles topic. :lol: