Idioms Middle School Source Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms

Idioms Middle School Source: Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms

What are Idioms? They appear in every language. Example: “Let the cat out of the bag” means to reveal a secret. *today it has nothing to do with a cat *originally it did (English saying)

Where did these idioms come from? All different sources: *ancient fables *Shakespeare (literature) *customs (Native American) *modern slang Etc. ,

Achilles’ Heel Meaning: The one weakness, fault, flaw, or vulnerable spot in one’s otherwise strong character. origin: From the Iliad… Achilles had a weak spot on the heel of his foot.

Backseat Driver Meaning: a person who gives unwanted attention or advice. Origin: In the 1920’s… rich people sat in the back and gave orders to chauffeurs.

Barking up the wrong tree Meaning: to direct your efforts toward the wrong person. Origin: From American colonial times …Trained dogs would chase a raccoon up a tree and bark widely until the hunter came. Sometimes the raccoon would escape to another tree.

Black Sheep of the Family Meaning: the most unsuccessful, least admirable member of a family or similar group; a disgraced person. Origin (early 1800’s): Shepherds disliked black sheep (can’t dye…and not enough born to sell black wool)… some believed they scared the rest of the flock.

Bury the Hatchet Meaning: to settle an argument; end a war; make peace. Origin: Native American…they would make peace with enemies by holding a ceremony…and they would bury weapons such as hatchets.

Every cloud has a silver lining Meaning: there is something good in every bad situation Origin: from English poet John Milton… he noticed that if the sun is behind a dark cloud, light shines around the edges like a silver lining. He said that even the worst situation has something hopeful.

Fly off the handle Meaning: to lose your temper Origin: In the early 1800’s, many Americans used crudely made axes to chop wood. The axhead would fly off the handle during furious chopping.

In the bag Meaning: certain of success; fixed Origin: (1600’s) *In animal sport fighting, game birds were transported in bags. An owner, confident of a win, would say that the “victory is in the bag. ”

Let your hair down Meaning: to behave freely and naturally; to relax and show your true self. Origin: (1800’s) This idiom started during a time when women pinned their hair up in public and let it down only in private.

The Sky’s the limit Meaning: there’s no limit to what you can spend or how far you can go or what you can achieve Origin: This saying goes back before the 1500’s when people literally saw no limit to the sky…today we know that there is….