Idiom of the Week
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Archive March/April 2007
By the end of the school year, both the students and teachers are chomping at the bit with impatience for the beginning of summer vacation.
champing/chomping at the bit- v. To be very keen to start an activity or to go somewhere. Describes the behavior of a horse, anxious to get going. The bit is the metal rod in the horse's mouth attached to the reins, with which one controls the animal.
- Our team is chomping at the bit to start the new product design.
That new coach is a dead ringer for Jake Gyllenhaal.
Dead Ringer- n. An exact duplicate; having a very strong resemblance to something. Originally a racing term for a race horse substituted for another of similar appearance but different ability in order to fool people placing bets.
- In yesterday's meeting we discussed our new product, which is a dead ringer for our competitor's product, except that ours performs much better.
Stop beating around the bush and tell us what you really think about the proposal.
Beat around the bush- v. To speak indirectly or evasively; to avoid getting to the point of an issue or to avoid talking about something
- Beating around the bush during meetings just wastes everyone's time.
Faduma usually bought her family's groceries in bulk to get the best bang for her buck.
Bang for your buck- n. value returned for investment or effort; if something that you buy gives you more bang for your buck, you get more value for your money by buying this product than from buying any other.
- "We have decided to switch to a new, faster and smaller system that is more economical to get better bang for our buck."
Rebecca discovered that without dental insurance, a trip to the dentist can cost an arm and a leg.
To cost an arm and a leg- v. to cost a great deal or an exorbitant amount; a hyperbolic figure of speech comparing the cost of something to the grievous loss of two important limbs.
- The new network at work cost an arm and a leg but the increased efficiency is worth it.
If Paul had only been able to work on his presentation for a few more hours it would have been as right as rain.
Right as rain- adj. In good order or good health, satisfactory; absolutely correct.
- We worked out the glitches in the new system and now everything is running as right as rain.
The teacher made no bones about the rigorous requirements for the seminar.
Make no bones about it- v. To be blunt, straightforward and candid about something; to state something in a way that is perfectly clear.
- Make no bones about it, our company will double its profits within the year .
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