Monday, June 22, 2009

Idioms

Me:  Are you mad at me?

Husband:  Yes, but only because you asked me that question.

Me:  Oh, I guess that was a self . . . self prophetic . . . 

Husband:  Self fulfilling prophecy.

Me:  {pause} That is what I said.

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I'm not good with idioms or colloquial phrases.  I hear them around me, I know how to use them, but I struggle with putting all of the right words together.

Without a bit of exaggeration, this is what I have been known to say:



You hit the head on the nail!

All's fair that ends well.

All minds think alike.

That takes the hat!

I've got eagle ears.

That's the needle that broke the camel's back.

If I heard that every time I got a dollar...

He's got to dot his t's and cross his eyes.

Beggars can't be winners.

We need to nip it in the butt.

(and oh so many more...)

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Sad, I know.  But, don't judge me.  Just give me an E for effort.  

After all, the person who taught me English learned English as her third language.  

And I think she did a dang good job.



5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love these so much that I will have to link to this post as soon as I finish this comment.

I garble my idioms pretty regularly, but sadly can't remember any of my best garbles -- I guess I need to start keeping pencil and paper handy. I think my most recent was was to say that I had gone from "the pot into the frying pan."

Anonymous said...

My husband has the same problem. He's always referring to things that happen "Once in a great moon..."

Erica said...

Possibly EVEN BETTER!

Susan said...

ummmm... i love it. one day my sister said to me, when it rains it floods, which in reality makes sense, but still very funny.

kristib said...

I've heard native English speakers say things such as "that's just not your cup of butter", "I've got a memory like a hawk" and "shooting off the top of my head". I think you're doing great!