Idioms Until the Cows Come Home

Presented by: David W. Hylan, Jr, MA, CI/CT Wendi Coker, NIC

Earl Harden, BEI

IDIOMS

A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.

The fire was actually a blessing in disguise.

A CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER

He got upset so easily I think he has a chip on his shoulder

A DIME A DOZEN

Good deals come a dime a dozen.

A DOUBTING THOMAS

He’s a real doubting Thomas- he simply wouldn’t believe I’d won the car until he saw it.

A DROP IN THE BUCKET

A few pennies is just a drop in the bucket in comparison.

A LEOPARD CAN’T CHANGE HIS SPOTS.

Do not hire a thief to manage your money, a leopard can’t change his spots.

A PIECE OF CAKE

Changing that tire will be a piece of cake.

A SLAP ON THE WRIST

All he got for his crime was a slap on the wrist.

A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE

I see she yelled at you and gave you a taste of your own medicine.

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

People promise a lot of things but really actions speak louder than words.

APPLE OF MY EYE

My son is the apple of my eye.

BACK SEAT DRIVER

I appreciate your help but please stop being a back seat driver.

BAKER'S DOZEN

I picked up a baker’s dozen of donuts.

BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE

Don’t ask me you are barking up the wrong tree!

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

This situation has really put me between a rock and a hard place.

CAN’T CUT THE MUSTARD

Our new employee can’t cut the mustard when it comes to typing.

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

Come hell or high water I am going to learn to bowl.

CRY OVER SPILT MILK

Oh there is no reason to cry over spilt milk.

DEAD RINGER

He is a dead ringer for his brother.

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

Ok, I’m just going to play devil’s advocate here.

DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH

I know it seems you will win but don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

DON'T LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH

The car is free so don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

DRASTIC TIMES CALL FOR DRASTIC MEASURES

This is very important so drastic times call for drastic measures.

EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING

It’s hard to imagine but every cloud has a silver lining.

EXCUSE MY FRENCH

This is a heck of a day! Excuse my French.

GO OUT ON A LIMB

I know it is a chance but I’m going to go out on a limb here.

GOOD SAMARITAN

He is such a good Samaritan.

GUT FEELING

After seeing the movie I have a gut feeling there will be a sequel.

MORE IDIOMS

HAT TRICK

It looked as though he was going to pull off a hat trick in the football game.

HAVE AN AXE TO GRIND

Well it seems to me he has an axe to grind.

HELL IN A HAND BASKET

If we are not careful we are headed for hell in a hand basket.

HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD

You hit the nail on the head.

HOCUS POCUS

That’s just nothing but a bunch of hocus pocus.

HOLD YOUR HORSES

Now you just hold your horses.

IDLE HANDS ARE THE DEVIL'S TOOLS

You need to keep busy because idle hands are the devil’s tools.

IF IT'S NOT ONE THING, IT'S ANOTHER

The car won’t start, if it’s not one thing, it’s another.

IN LIKE FLYNN

I got selected for the team - I was in like Flynn.

IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT

I didn’t know what to say in the heat of the moment.

IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO

I heard he was guilty but it takes two to tango.

IT’S ANYONE'S CALL

The vote could go either way – it’s anyone’s call.

KNOCK ON WOOD

I sure hope you win – knock on wood!

KNOW THE ROPES

He has been here long enough to know the ropes.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

And, last but not least I want to say…

LET BYGONES BE BYGONES

Let’s just move forward and let bygones be bygones.

LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE

I think the best thing to do is to just let sleeping dogs lie.

MAKE NO BONES ABOUT

I don’t mind saying and I won’t make no bones about it.

METHOD TO MY MADNESS

I know it looks crazy but there is a method to my madness.

MUMBO JUMBO

Oh that’s just a bunch of mumbo jumbo.

NEVER BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU

It’s good to remember to never bite the hand that feeds you.

NOT PLAYING WITH A FULL DECK

When he talks it seems like he isn’t playing with a full deck.

OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT

Let’s start over, I think we started off on the wrong foot.

ON THE FENCE

We are still on the fence about what we support.

ON THE SAME PAGE

Are we all on the same page now?

OUT OF THE BLUE

The car just appeared out of the blue.

OVER MY DEAD BODY

You can only do that over my dead body.

PASS THE BUCK

There is no way you can pass the buck with this.

PULLING YOUR LEG

Oh, I think they are just pulling your leg.

RAIN CHECK

I can’t go out to eat with you so I’d like to have a rain check.

ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN ONE DAY

Be patient, Rome wasn’t built in one day.

RULE OF THUMB

!   I’m glad that you came to here to learn more about how to sell this very special product. When approaching customers we follow a very simple rule of thumb. We treat people with courtesy and dignity; allowing them to decide their needs.

SCAPEGOAT

!   We believe that everyone should accept responsibility for his or her own actions. Leaving someone else to be the scapegoat is not a good idea. That is not taking responsibility.

SMELL A RAT

!   The entire time we were listening to the witness’ testimony things just didn’t seem right. It didn’t take long before we started to smell a rat. Before the questioning was over it was clear they were not being honest.

THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT

!   I think I have given you enough information about the opportunity here. As far as I’m concerned the ball is in your court. Now you think about it and get back with me as to if you are interested or not.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

!   As I was looking over your situation and reviewing your choices it became very clear that you have the best of both worlds. That is a very fortunate turn of events for you. You can benefit greatly from this.

THIRD TIMES A CHARM

!   I don’t think you should be discouraged. I’ve heard it said many times that a third times a charm. In your case this might be the time you succeed.

TILL THE COWS COME HOME

!   I am prepared to continue to try and move that block of stone. I’m so determined that I will try till the cows come home. You should probably help me.

TO STEAL SOMEONE'S THUNDER

!   I was so glad to hear you were successful in making that deal work out. I was not too happy to hear her try to steal your thunder. Doesn’t she know that you should be the one to announce your own good news?

TURN A BLIND EYE

!   I’m not sure that it does anyone a favor by turning a blind eye to their mistakes. We all learn from our mistakes when they are pointed out to us constructively.

WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE

!   Do you really think it will do any good to discuss that now after so much time has passed? I mean that is water under the bridge. When did that happen? Two years ago?

WHEN PIGS FLY

!   Oh she is not a very good employee. I guarantee you she will get that promotion when pigs fly. I just don’t see that happening because it wouldn’t be fair to the others.

WILD AND WOOLLY

!   He doesn’t seem to be a very settled person. I’ve always thought of him as being so wild and woolly. How many times have you seen him acting out and speaking out of turn?

YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

!   I learned a very valuable lesson today after getting to know Bob. I learned you can’t judge a book by its cover. Even though he doesn’t dress very nice he is actually very caring deep inside.