In A Nutshell
A nutshell is a small package provided by Mother Nature, containing a seed. The expression "in a nutshell" is for something that can be explained, represented, or summarized, in a small package.
Ex.: "Vegetarianism In A Nutshell" is a website devoted to explaining vegetarianism in a short, concise, and efficient manner.
Egg on your Face
To unknowingly have a piece of egg on your face is a dinnertime embarrassment. To figuratively have "egg on your face" is to be embarrassed by something unrelated to food.
Ex.: "Apple has egg on its face after its claims the iPhone 4's call signal problems are 'software based' now that Consumer Reports has established, through testing by its engineers, that the problem is indeed a hardware based design flaw."
A Hot Potato
A hot potato is far too hot for the bare human hand to hold. A topic or issue that is a figurative "hot potato" is too hot to handle; everyone wants to push the issue aside and avoid responsibility. It is a controversial or sensitive topic.
Ex.: "Carnival Drops Antigua Like A Hot Potato." This means, Carnival (the cruise line) dropped Antigua from its ports of call list without any warning or debate, as if Antigua was physically too hot to hold onto. (This headline was on 30 Sept., 2009)
Hitting the Sauce
To "hit the sauce," figuratively, is to drink alcoholic beverages, usually in a regular manner.
Ex.: "Old Tom's hitting the sauce again. He just won't give his liquor up, even if it kills him." Sounds like liquor really might kill old Tom, but he is unable or unwilling to quit his alcohol drinking habit.
Gravy Train
A gravy train is a job that is paying you more money than the work is actually worth. Therefore, you are not just receiving your meal; you are receiving gravy on top of it, as a metaphor for additional, surplus pay.
Ex.: "That secretary's on the gravy train. She's being paid way more than she's worth because she's having an affair with the boss!" Figuratively, you ride the gravy train as far as it will take you.
Making a Killing
Figuratively, "making a killing" is to make a great deal of money - so much that one would think you killed someone for it. It is used as a boast in American culture, in a positive way.
Ex.: "How Buffett Made A Killing On Chocolate" (an article headline) This refers to Warren Buffett, famous billionaire investor.
Making a Name For Yourself
To "make a name for yourself" is to gain fame and renown. It is to become well known; to obtain a name that is not just a name, but a name widely known to the public.
Ex.: "Country singers go to Nashville in the hope of making a name for themselves."
Getting an Earful
To "get an earful" is to get an earful of words. That is, to have one's ears filled with words; these words are likely loud and angry.
Ex.: "I got an earful from m boss for losing that client. I tried my best, and it wasn't my fault, but the company lost the client and the boss blamed me." Getting an earful usually means being sharply criticized.
It's All Greek To Me
This means, the subject ("it") might as well be in an ancient language no one can be expected to know, like ancient Greek. Thus, the subject is unintelligible, and might as well be gibberish, nonsense; words without meaning. It is a polite way of claiming ignorance about a subject.
Ex.: "Computer programming? It's all Greek to me. I don't understand any of it."
Tugging on Superman's Cape
Similar to "riding someone's coattails," to be "tugging on Superman's cape" is to be along for the ride, benefiting from the work of others for one's own separate, unearned benefit.
Ex.: Spammers trying to take advantage of the wonderful followers of the Facebook page, English Idioms. These people are attempting to "tug on Superman's cape" and profit purely by taking advantage of others. Shame on them.
➤ Read more idioms and phrases, English grammar and vocabulary at Basic English Grammar And Vocabulary .
A nutshell is a small package provided by Mother Nature, containing a seed. The expression "in a nutshell" is for something that can be explained, represented, or summarized, in a small package.
Ex.: "Vegetarianism In A Nutshell" is a website devoted to explaining vegetarianism in a short, concise, and efficient manner.
Egg on your Face
To unknowingly have a piece of egg on your face is a dinnertime embarrassment. To figuratively have "egg on your face" is to be embarrassed by something unrelated to food.
Ex.: "Apple has egg on its face after its claims the iPhone 4's call signal problems are 'software based' now that Consumer Reports has established, through testing by its engineers, that the problem is indeed a hardware based design flaw."
A Hot Potato
A hot potato is far too hot for the bare human hand to hold. A topic or issue that is a figurative "hot potato" is too hot to handle; everyone wants to push the issue aside and avoid responsibility. It is a controversial or sensitive topic.
Ex.: "Carnival Drops Antigua Like A Hot Potato." This means, Carnival (the cruise line) dropped Antigua from its ports of call list without any warning or debate, as if Antigua was physically too hot to hold onto. (This headline was on 30 Sept., 2009)
Hitting the Sauce
To "hit the sauce," figuratively, is to drink alcoholic beverages, usually in a regular manner.
Ex.: "Old Tom's hitting the sauce again. He just won't give his liquor up, even if it kills him." Sounds like liquor really might kill old Tom, but he is unable or unwilling to quit his alcohol drinking habit.
Gravy Train
A gravy train is a job that is paying you more money than the work is actually worth. Therefore, you are not just receiving your meal; you are receiving gravy on top of it, as a metaphor for additional, surplus pay.
Ex.: "That secretary's on the gravy train. She's being paid way more than she's worth because she's having an affair with the boss!" Figuratively, you ride the gravy train as far as it will take you.
Making a Killing
Figuratively, "making a killing" is to make a great deal of money - so much that one would think you killed someone for it. It is used as a boast in American culture, in a positive way.
Ex.: "How Buffett Made A Killing On Chocolate" (an article headline) This refers to Warren Buffett, famous billionaire investor.
Making a Name For Yourself
To "make a name for yourself" is to gain fame and renown. It is to become well known; to obtain a name that is not just a name, but a name widely known to the public.
Ex.: "Country singers go to Nashville in the hope of making a name for themselves."
Getting an Earful
To "get an earful" is to get an earful of words. That is, to have one's ears filled with words; these words are likely loud and angry.
Ex.: "I got an earful from m boss for losing that client. I tried my best, and it wasn't my fault, but the company lost the client and the boss blamed me." Getting an earful usually means being sharply criticized.
It's All Greek To Me
This means, the subject ("it") might as well be in an ancient language no one can be expected to know, like ancient Greek. Thus, the subject is unintelligible, and might as well be gibberish, nonsense; words without meaning. It is a polite way of claiming ignorance about a subject.
Ex.: "Computer programming? It's all Greek to me. I don't understand any of it."
Tugging on Superman's Cape
Similar to "riding someone's coattails," to be "tugging on Superman's cape" is to be along for the ride, benefiting from the work of others for one's own separate, unearned benefit.
Ex.: Spammers trying to take advantage of the wonderful followers of the Facebook page, English Idioms. These people are attempting to "tug on Superman's cape" and profit purely by taking advantage of others. Shame on them.
➤ Read more idioms and phrases, English grammar and vocabulary at Basic English Grammar And Vocabulary .
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