It is not known for certain when and where the expression “the whole nine yards” originated. There are many theories, including some that link the idiom to the length of Scottish kilts, weaponry used in World War II, American football, sailing ships, and more.
Some synonyms or near synonyms for “salt of the earth” include:
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The idiom “play it by ear” comes from John Playford’s A Brief Introduction to the Skill of Musick (1658). He writes, “To learn to play by rote or ear without book.”
Use the idiom “play it by ear” when you are discussing an action or situation that is done or will be done without a plan in place.
The Merchant of Venice is the play in which Shylock demands a pound of flesh from a merchant. “Pound of flesh” has since become a well-known idiom meaning an unreasonable demand.
A “pound of flesh” comes from Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice. A debt collector named Shylock requests a pound of flesh from a merchant as payment for treating him poorly. While the demand was hefty, it was fair according to their contract.
Some synonyms and near synonyms for the idiom “rule of thumb” include:
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In the seventeenth century, many trades used the width of a thumb as a rough measurement, as it equaled about an inch across on average. As this was a quick rule for measurement, any loose guideline like this became known as a “rule of thumb.”
Some synonyms and near synonyms for the idiom “hook, line, and sinker” include:
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“Hook, line, and sinker” was first used in the mid-nineteenth century and initially referred to the way a fish might consume all of the fishing equipment besides the bait. As an idiom, it means “fall for something without question.”
If you fall for someone “hook, line, and sinker” it means you’ve fallen in love with them completely and without reservation. You are entirely enamored with the person.
Many people credit the playwright Terence with the origin of the idiom “fortune favors the strong.” However, Virgil is credited with the more popular version “fortune favors the bold.”
The idiom “fortune favors the bold” is a translation of the Lain proverb audentes fortuna iuvat.
If you are the salt of the earth, you are someone who is humble, gracious, and loyal. You have a great work ethic and sense of responsibility, and others look up to you.
The expression “salt of the earth” originates from the Bible, wherein Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Yes, calling someone “the salt of the earth” could be considered a compliment. When you say this about someone, you mean they are driven and trustworthy, which are both positive characteristics.
“Once in a blue moon” is an idiom that means something happens “infrequently” or “rarely.” For instance, because it’s usually hot and sunny in Las Vegas, one could say that it only rains there once in a blue moon.
Some synonyms or near synonyms for “better late than never” include:
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The phrase “better late than never” is a direct translation of the Latin phrase, potiusque sero quam nunquam. The first recorded use in the English language is from Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
Use “better late than never” when you are discussing something that is being done behind schedule, or when responding to someone who is informing you of something they are doing in a tardy manner (e.g., “It’s great you’re learning how to cook; better late than never, I always say”).
It can be used in a sarcastic manner, particularly by the person receiving the action that is late (e.g., “Thanks for the birthday gift, even though it’s two months late. Better late than never, I guess”).
Some synonyms and near synonyms for “piece of cake” include:
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Use the idiom “piece of cake” when describing something that is easy to do or understand (e.g., “Completing the project was a piece of cake”).
Some synonyms or near synonyms for “diamond in the rough” include:
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“Diamond in the rough” can be considered a compliment. If someone calls you this, it means they think you have potential.
If you’re unsure when to use phrases like “diamond in the rough,” QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you find alternative phrasings to reflect your intended meaning.
Use the phrase “diamond in the rough” when describing a person or thing that is more sturdy/polite/educated than they look.
If you are playing the devil’s advocate, you are intentionally taking the side of the opposition to foster debate and offer a dissenting point of view.
Some synonyms and near synonyms for devil’s advocate include:
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You would use “devil’s advocate” when referring to someone who holds a contrarian viewpoint and actively shares a differing opinion.
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If you tell someone they are “a class act,” you are telling them they are a good person who acts in a classy, respectful manner.
A person who is described as “a class act” is thoughtful, professional, and held in high regard.
Some synonyms and near synonyms for “class act” include:
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Idioms are used to emphasize an idea or point in a more colorful way than literal language (e.g., “After her nap, the child got a second wind”). In this case, “got a second wind” is synonymous with “gained more energy.”
“Weather the storm” is an idiom that means “to endure and overcome something difficult, often with minimal impact.” For example, a company that was able to withstand financial difficulties can be described as one that “weathered the storm.”
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Synonyms for “under the weather” include:
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No, “spill the beans” is an idiom, not a metaphor.
An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood based on the meaning of the individual words that comprise it (e.g., “once in a blue moon”).
A metaphor compares two unrelated things by stating that one is (or isn’t) like the other (e.g., “Laura is the light of my life.”)
“Spilt the beans” is a variant of “spilled the beans,” although the latter is more popular. “Spilt” is sometimes used as the past tense and past participle of “spilled” in British English. Both phrases mean “to reveal private information.”
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“Spill the tea” and “spill the beans” are closely related idioms that mean “reveal secret information.” However, “spill the tea” is more closely related to “gossip,” whereas “spill the beans” is often used when someone unintentionally or prematurely discloses private information.
“Break a leg” is an idiom that means “good luck.”
When wanting to express words of encouragement, other expressions you can use in place of “break a leg” include:
People say “break a leg” as a way to wish others success and good luck.
Some theories suggest that the idiom “break a leg” originated in theater, as performers believed it was unlucky to say “good luck.”
“In light of recent events” is a variant of the idiom “in light of” and introduces a change in something because of the events that preceded it (e.g., “In light of recent events, Lola will be transferring to another department”).
In light of this is a less specific variant of the idiom “in light of.” While both phrases are used to explain a change or state of something due to new circumstances, “in light of this” uses the demonstrative pronoun “this” and functions on a presumption of the audience’s knowledge of what is being referred to (e.g., “In light of this, we’ll be going home early”).
Other ways to say “in light of this” include:
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The “full nine yards” is a less popular variant of the American English expression “the whole nine yards.” Both mean “everything” or “the full extent of something” and describe someone or something as having, desiring, or giving their all in a certain situation (e.g., “I wanted the whole nine yards for my going away party”).
A “rags-to-riches” story tells of someone or something that went from poor to rich, or from an unfavorable situation to a favorable one. For example, if someone invents something and makes a lot of money from it, that would be considered a “rags-to-riches” story.
“Riches to rags” is a less popular version of the idiom “rags to riches.” It typically describes a situation in which someone transitions from being financially wealthy to being poor or disadvantaged, but it can also refer to any situation where one goes from being fortunate to being unfortunate (e.g., “The poor lad went from riches to rags”).
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The correct expression is “under the weather,” which is a euphemism for “feeling sick.” Remember, “weather” refers to the condition of the atmosphere in a certain location, whereas “whether” is a conjunction that expresses doubt or indicates a choice between two options.
An idiom employs figurative language to make a point (e.g., “It’s a piece of cake”). Idioms can be used in a variety of contexts.
An aphorism is a short phrase used to impart wisdom. Some aphorisms may use figurative language also. But this is not always the case (e.g., “You can’t always get what you want”).
We use many idioms in our everyday language. Some examples of common idioms include “The early bird gets the worm,” “Curiosity killed the cat,” and “It’s raining cats and dogs.” They make language more playful and are used to emphasize the things we are saying.
There is no perfect synonym for the word “idiom,” but some close synonyms include:
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“Bricks and mortar” is a variant of the phrase “brick-and-mortar,” which refers to the physical location which a business operates out of to sell their goods and services (e.g., “We finally opened up a brick-and-mortar store”).
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Brick and mortar stores (often written as brick-and-mortar) refer to stores that operate out of permanent, fixed locations instead of temporary or online shops (e.g., “I prefer going to brick-and-mortar stores over online shopping”).
A brick and mortar business (often spelled brick-and-mortar) refers to a business that sells goods or serves its customers in a physical, permanent location. For example, a hair salon is an example of a brick-and-mortar business because clients are served in person.
Some synonyms that can be used in place of “take it with a grain of salt” include:
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Take it with a pinch of salt is a variant of the idiom take it with a grain of salt. Both convey the same meaning—to consider something skeptically because it may be untrue or misleading.
“Take it with a pinch of salt” is more popular in British English, whereas “take it with a grain of salt” is more commonly used in American English. Usage depends on the dialect being used and stylistic preferences.
The idiom “cut to the chase” originates from the silent film era of the 1920s. Directors and writers would literally cut to a chase scene after a slower sequence to keep the audience’s attention.
Some synonyms or near synonyms for the idiom “cut to the chase” include:
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In modern terms, a “blue moon” refers to the second full moon of the month, which typically has only one full moon. This happens once every few years.
However, historically, a “blue moon” referred to a rarer phenomenon: the fourth full moon in a season, which would typically have only three. That is why people use the idiom “once in a blue moon” to mean “very rarely.”
Synonyms you can use in place of “once in a blue moon” include:
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