Game for learners of English - Idioms

Question

x

• so you would be the first to give a new phrase - Heidita Nov 4, 2011
• Wonderful game, billy! I love it! :) - cogumela Nov 4, 2011
• Nice game Billy! - Yeser007 Nov 4, 2011
• Que juego mas bueno! Gracias! :) - bomberapolac Nov 11, 2011
• ::::adicta!!:::: jeje - Heidita Nov 20, 2011
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Answer 1

Cat got your tongue?

¿Te ha comido la lengua el gato?

This expression is used when you assume that someone should say something and he/she doesn't, either because of shyness or for not daring to. It's an ironic way to invite someone to talk by asking "Why don't you say a word now? Perhaps you don't have a tongue to speak?"

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Next idiom:

To go off on one

• You can write the next idiom in your post, for the next player. :) - pesta Nov 4, 2011
• :) I forgot! How silly I am - cogumela Nov 4, 2011
• como siempre, excelente mi amiga :) - billygoat Nov 4, 2011
• ¿Te comieron la lengua los ratones? - LuisCacheux Nov 8, 2011

Answer 2

To have a chip on your shoulder = to have a sense of inferiority, because you feel that something has been unfair to you.

Estar resentido

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Next idiom to describe:

to be easy on the eye

• excellent Cogu! In fact, its a better explanation than the one I was going to give! - billygoat Nov 4, 2011
• that is a tough one because it also refers to someone with a superiority complex always daring someone to knock the chip off starting a conflict. - Yeser007 Nov 4, 2011
• very interesting Yeser. I have never thought of somebody 'with a chip on their shoulder' has having a superiority complex! I know the phrase can be attributed to an arrogant, possibly aggressive person. But only in the sense that they enter into confli - billygoat Nov 4, 2011
• conflict because of some personally perceived mental deficiencies. In my experience of using the phrase, Cogu's description is fine. Perhaps for more clarity we could add - 'the individual may come across in an arrogant or aggressive way to others'. - billygoat Nov 4, 2011
• To me, this means the person is holding a grudge against someone. - katydew Nov 4, 2011
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Answer 3

to be easy on the eye:

to have an attractive appearance. For example - that girl is very easy on the eye

New phrase:

A doubting Thomas.

• A small point--I have always heard "to be easy on the EYES" rather than "easy on the EYE" :) - ElBúho Nov 4, 2011
• maybe it varies but I have always heard 'easy on the eye'. - MaryMcc Nov 4, 2011
• me too, ive never heard 'easy on the eyes' but with idioms - who knows lol! - billygoat Nov 4, 2011
• Esa chica no canta mal las rancheras. :) - LuisCacheux Nov 8, 2011
• Haha, just to add to the discussion, I've only heard "Easy on the eyes." - Goldie_Miel Nov 9, 2011
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Answer 4

He's out of my league

This is used to refer to somebody who is far superior in wealth, skill, appearance, or other context, so as to be unapproachable and incomparable.

Esto se usa para referirse a alguien que es muy superior.

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Next: Cat got your tongue?

• nice one pesta :) - billygoat Nov 4, 2011
• "Está fuera de mi alcance" es lo único que se me ocurre aquí :) - cogumela Nov 4, 2011
• Esas pulgas no brincan en mi petate. - LuisCacheux Nov 8, 2011

Answer 5

Penny for your thoughts

Expression used to show one's interest in another's thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc.

Expresión usada para mostrar su interés en los pensamientos, las ideas, las opiniones, etc., del otro.

... "¿De qué piensas?"

Next:

To rob the cradle

• The Spanish should read ¿En qué piensas? :) - cogumela Nov 6, 2011
• nice explanation xanderox! A bit of context: For example: You and a friend are having a meal in a restaurant and your friend seems a little quiet or distant. (in England anyway) you may say "what's up? A penny for your thoughts." - billygoat Nov 6, 2011

Answer 6

To rob the cradle

I'm not certain about this, but if it has the same meaning as ' a cradle snatcher' it refers to an amorous or sexual interest in a much younger person.

Next:

My fingers are all thumbs

• Hi castor. You are correct! Google says: rob the cradle = to marry or date someone who is much younger than oneself. eg:I hear that Bill is dating Ann. Isn't that sort of robbing the cradle? She's much younger than he is. Uncle Bill—who is nearly eighty - billygoat Nov 6, 2011
• married a thirty-year-old woman. That is really robbing the cradle! - billygoat Nov 6, 2011
• I've heard a slight variation of your phrase. "I'm all fingers and thumbs" which I'm sure means the same thing :) - billygoat Nov 6, 2011
• And I've always heard it more specificially when they marry someone younger. - katydew Nov 6, 2011
• Billygoat that is how I say it. - MaryMcc Nov 7, 2011
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Answer 7

A doubting Thomas - from the Biblical reference to the New Testament Thomas who doubted that Christ arose unless he could see the nailprints in His hands and side. It refers to anyone who won't believe hardly anything at the first hearing.

Next idiom: He's out of my league.

• wow!!!! Fantastic reply katy. Good stuff :) - billygoat Nov 4, 2011
• Thank you Billy.... you are very encouraging. - katydew Nov 4, 2011
• Yo, como Santo Tomás: hasta no ver no creer. :) - LuisCacheux Nov 8, 2011

Answer 8

To go off on one= to lose your temper, for example I went off on one last night when I phoned home and found my 10 year old was still up at 11.10pm!

Next idiom To put things on the long finger.

• I can't understand this one - cogumela Nov 4, 2011
• Which my explanation or the new idiom? - MaryMcc Nov 4, 2011
• Good one Mary. Another example: A group of men are having a few beers in a bar and one of them suddenly starts talking non stop about how rubbish his football team is. He won't stop and goes on and on and on! One of the other guys turns to his other - billygoat Nov 4, 2011
• friend and says...."I see Jorge has gone off on one again...." - billygoat Nov 4, 2011
• Does this mean 'to postpone something... procrastinate"? - katydew Nov 4, 2011
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Answer 9

To give a thumbs up = to approve
supposedly with roots to the Roman arena when the loser in combat was to be either slain or spared, the emperor (or his representative) gave a thumbs up to sparing the potential victim (and might change his decree if enough of the audience disagreed)

What is a wooden nickel? (Other than something you do not want?)

• good one lector! - billygoat Nov 5, 2011

Answer 10

To get the wrong end of the stick: To misunderstand something completely, to be quite mistaken - equivocarse

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New idiom :

A chip off the old block

• This means to have had something unfair happen to you, have been wronged in some way. - katydew Nov 5, 2011
• This is a very nice explanation for getting the SHORT end of the stick. - Castor77 Nov 5, 2011
• I kept thinking, why didn't they say, 'the short end of the stick'... so this is a totally differnt idiom... I don't know if I've ever used the wrong end of the stick. - katydew Nov 5, 2011

Answer 11

A chip off the old block - It is an expression about a parent and child or could even include a grandparent, meaning that they are very similar in the way they act, work, look, etc.

New idiom: A penny for your thoughts

• De tal palo tal astilla. Hijo de tigre pintito. - LuisCacheux Nov 8, 2011
• Nice addtion Luis! - katydew Nov 11, 2011

Answer 12

My fingers are all thumbs

I am very clumsy, can't get anything right.

New Idiom (not really an idiom but good to know )

I need to go to the john.

• And the shortened version, "I'm all thumbs". - katydew Nov 6, 2011
• muy bien guapa! - billygoat Nov 6, 2011
• 'I'm all fingers and thumbs' is how I would say it. - MaryMcc Nov 7, 2011
• Good one Heidi, gracias por la risa :) - Amor_y_paz Nov 19, 2011
• I have always heard it as "I'm all thumbs". - Yeser007 Nov 30, 2011

Answer 13

I'm not sure if "you can't go swimming in a baseball pool" is idiomatic exactly. I would call it more of a play on words. A "baseball pool" is a betting pool. It is when a group of people (often at a workplace) get together and make bets about something (often sports). This is very common thing to be done for events like the Super Bowl, World Cup, World Series, etc. You can find a more detailed description here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betting_pool

So, "pool" in this case does not mean a swimming pool, thus the play on words. The only place I have ever heard this expression is in the Roger Miller Song, "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd." Lyrics here:

http://www.metrolyrics.com/you-cant-roller-skate-in-a-buffalo-herd-lyrics-roger-miller.html

Just thought I would throw that in, before we move on to "to be thin on the ground," which I believe is up next.

• And I think it means, 'don't get involved in something you know nothing about". - katydew Nov 11, 2011
• I also thought it had to do with the reference to gambling. - katydew Nov 11, 2011
• Interesting! Yeah, it definitely sounds like just a joke more than an actual idiom. - RosaVerde Nov 11, 2011
• Interesting ElBuho. I must admit, Heidita's suggestion sounded very credible to me too lol! - billygoat Nov 11, 2011
• jeje, I was way off, very nice buho, wow, I did not even think of pool in that sense...by the way, so we DO say field?? - Heidita Nov 11, 2011
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Answer 14

"Five finger discount" - shoplifting and can also be other forms of theft.

New idiom:

Better the devil you know

• yay, at last I know one without having to cheat lol. Nice one Katy :) - billygoat Nov 11, 2011
• No kidding! And I thought I knew my own language. It's been a tough 'pool' this week. - katydew Nov 11, 2011
• Más vale malo conocido... (que bueno por conocer) - cogumela Nov 12, 2011
• Mangar - cogumela Nov 12, 2011

Answer 15

to get up someone's nose. = to be really, really annoying. It really gets up my nose when I get phone calls from people wanting me to answer survey questions.

Next idiom Between a rock and a hard place

• between a rock and hard place - yep thats the story of my life lol. Good one Mary :) - billygoat Nov 12, 2011
• Estar "hasta las narices" de algo :) Nice one, Marymcc! - cogumela Nov 12, 2011