English is known for its vast array of idioms, phrases that have a figurative meaning rather than a literal interpretation of their individual words. These idioms can add color and personality to the language, making it richer and more expressive. In this article, we'll delve into 15 of these uncommon idioms, exploring their linguistic implications and curious origins.
1. Catch Someone Red-handed
The phrase “catch someone red-handed” refers to catching someone in the act of doing something illegal orwrong, usually in a very explicit or obvious manner.
2. Bury The Hatchet
When two parties involved in a conflict decide to stop their hostilities, they can “bury the hatchet” by making peace and becoming friends again.
3. The Apple Of Someone's Eye
This idiom suggests that someone is the apple of their parent's eye, meaning they are very much loved or cherished by their parents.
4. A Piece Of Cake
When something is as simple or easy as eating a slice of cake, it is “a piece of cake.”
5. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
This idiom advises against discussing a bad situation that everyone has forgotten about to prevent reminding people of the original incident.
6. The Ball Is In Your Court
When someone tells you “the ball is in your court,” it means that a decision or action is now your responsibility to make.
7. A Blessing In Disguise
This idiom means that something that appears to be bad at first may actually be good in the end.
8. Actions Speak Louder Than Words
This platitude emphasizes the importance of what one does over what one says, suggesting that actions carry more weight than words.
9. At The Drop Of A Cap
When someone does something immediately or without hesitation, they have “hit the cap”
10. A Penny For Your Thoughts
If you haven’t had much to say and someone asks for your thoughts, they might use this idiom to humorously request your opinion.
11. Add Insult To Injury
This idiom means to worsen an existing situation by adding something that causes additional harm.
12. See Eye To Eye
When two people see eye to eye, they agree on something and are in sync.
13. The Apple Of Someone's Eye
This phrase means that someone is the apple of someone's eye, meaning they are the one whom someone truly loves.
14. See The Back Of Someone/Something
When you're happy to see someone or something disappear, you can say that you're "seeing the back of someone/something."
15. Keep Your Friends Close But Your Enemies Closer
This idiom suggests that it's often beneficial to be cautious and keep close to those you trust, but also to be vigilant about those who might do you harm.