Idiom of the Week

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Week of November 26, 2007

“Jeff’s boss thought the new business venture would really bring home the bacon.”

Bring home the bacon – v.  To achieve the desired results.  To bring success.  To earn a good living.

Bacon is a salted and cured meat taken from the back and sides of a pig.  The expression bring home the bacon is thought to have originated in England in the 12th century, when young couples were given bacon if they were still happily married after one year.

“Sandra’s new promotion was certainly bringing home the bacon compared to her previous job.”

Week of November 19, 2007

“Jane’s new technology proposal certainly gave her partner’s food for thought about the direction the company was taking.”

Food for thought – n.  Something worth thinking carefully about.

• Although I was not 100% in favor of the business proposal it definitely gave me food for thought.

Week of November 12, 2007

“A couple of participants, however, had a tendency to hog the discussion and throw their weight around because they came from large, global companies.

--From Take The Bull By The Horns, by Jolinda Osborne

Throw one’s weight around – v. to use one’s position, prestige, size, accomplishments or anything else to exert power or influence over others. 

• Henry tried to throw his weight around at the strategy meeting, but the others in the room didn’t let him dominate the conversation.

Week of November 4, 2007

“Although he usually contributed to his team with some good defensive fielding, his record for base hits was a goose egg.”

--From Touch All the Bases by Jolinda Osborne

Goose egg – n. zero, especially when written numerically.

• Income today from our open-air market stall was a goose egg.