Idioms, Proverbs, and Metaphor

1.    IDIOMS

An idiom (also called idiomatic expression) is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning conventionally understood by native speakers. This meaning is different from the literal meaning of the idiom's individual elements. In other words, idioms don't mean exactly what the words say. They have, however, hidden meaning.

1.     A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush:
Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might lose everything.

2.    A Blessing In Disguise:
Something good that isn't recognized at first.

3.    A Chip On Your Shoulder:
Being upset for something that happened in the past.

4.    A Dime A Dozen:
Anything that is common and easy to get.

5.    A Doubting Thomas:
A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something.

6.    Barking Up The Wrong Tree:
A mistake made in something you are trying to achieve.

7.    Beat A Dead Horse:
To force an issue that has already ended.

8.    Between A Rock And A Hard Place:
Stuck between two very bad options.

9.    Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:
To take on a task that is way to big.

10.  Bite Your Tongue:
To avoid talking.

11.   Chip on his Shoulder:
Angry today about something that occured in the past.

12.  Cock and Bull Story:
An unbelievable tale.

13.  Come Hell Or High Water:
Any difficult situation or obstacle.

14.  Crack Someone Up:
To make someone laugh.

15.  Cross Your Fingers:
To hope that something happens the way you want it to.

16.  Dog Days of Summer:
The hottest days of the summer season.

17.  Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining:
Be optomistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.

18.  Feeding Frenzy:
An aggressive attack on someone by a group.

19.  Field Day:
An enjoyable day or circumstance.

20. Finger lickin' good:
A very tasty food or meal.

 

2.    PROVERBS

A proverb (from Latin: proverbium) is a simple and concrete saying, popularly known and repeated, that expresses a truth based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim.

Proverbs are often borrowed from similar languages and cultures, and sometimes come down to the present through more than one language. Both the Bible (including, but not limited to the Book of Proverbs) and medieval Latin (aided by the work of Erasmus) have played a considerable role in distributing proverbs across Europe, although almost every culture has examples of its own.

1.  Between the devil and the deep sea

To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma.

2.  Where there's a will there's a way

When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it.

3.  A burnt child dreads fire

A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking

for a lifetime.

4.  First come, first served

The first in line will be attended to first.

5.  A friend in need is a friend indeed

A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.

6.  Great talkers are little doers

Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do much work.

7.  An idle brain is the devil's workshop

One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts.

8.  An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit

It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever.

9.  Faint heart never won fair lady

To succeed in life one must have the courage to pursue what he wants.

10.      Better late than never

To do something that is right, profitable, or good a little late is still better than not doing it at all. 

11.      A bird in hand is worth two in the bush

Something that one already has is better than going after something seemingly more worthwhile that one may not be able to get.

12.      Birds of a feather flock together

People of the same sort of character or belief always go together.

13.      A great talker is a great liar

A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar.

14.      Any time means no time

When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it will never take place.

15.      Two wrongs don't make a right.

When someone has done something bad to you, trying to get revenge will only make things worse.

16.      The pen is mightier than the sword."

Trying to convince people with ideas and words is more effective than trying to force people to do what you want.

17.      No man is an island.

You can't live completely independently. Everyone needs help from other people.

18.      Fortune favors the bold."

People who bravely go after what they want are more successful than people who try to live safely.

19.      Birds of a feather flock together.

People like to spend time with others who are similar to them.

       20.      Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

"If you have an enemy, pretend to be friends with them instead of openly fighting with them. That way you can watch them carefully and figure out what they're planning.

 

3.    METAPHOR

A metaphor, as defined in our glossary, is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something important in common. The word metaphor itself is a metaphor, coming from a Greek word meaning to "transfer" or "carry across." Metaphors "carry" meaning from one word, image, or idea to another.

1.   A heart of stone

2.  Reality is an enemy

3.  He has the heart of a lion

4.  You are the sun in my sky

5.  Ideas are water

6.  You are the light in my life

7.  Strong as an ox

8.  His hair was bone white

9.  It's raining men

10. Ideas are wings

11.Her eyes are jewels sparkling in the sun.

12.  My life is a dream

13. I am a rainbow

14. Time is money

15. Boiling mad

16. Frozen with fear

17. For me, time is money.

18. Her home was a prison.

19. Your love is an ocean

20. I love you like a love song