What are your favourite idioms?

Marie88
Marie88 Online Community Member Posts: 114 Contributor
I recently got a book on idioms and their meanings/origins, it's really fun and interesting to read.

What are some of your favourite idioms?

I really like 'every cloud has a silver lining' and 'actions speak louder than words'

I only just discovered the meaning of to 'spend a penny' haha I feel pretty silly for not knowing this one!  But at least I know it now!!
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Comments

  • leeCal
    leeCal Online Community Member Posts: 7,537 Championing
    Not a favourite but timely is 
    don’t cast a clout til May is out

    id like to know what a clout is but I’m guessing it’s an item of clothing...maybe a thermal vest! ?
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    Clout is a piece of clothing and don't take your extra clothing off untill after May 
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    To late after the horse has bollted 
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    Don't cry over spilt milk 
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,874 Championing
    What comes around goes around 
  • leeCal
    leeCal Online Community Member Posts: 7,537 Championing
    Two swallows do not a summer make. 
  • Sandy_123
    Sandy_123 Scope Member Posts: 59,306 Championing
    Always act the fool to catch the wise
  • leeCal
    leeCal Online Community Member Posts: 7,537 Championing
    Each drop of water wears away the stone.
  • coylygirl
    coylygirl Online Community Member Posts: 282 Empowering
    woodbine said:
    Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

    Not sure where the horse comes into this lol
    You can tell the age of a horse by looking at its teeth...
  • coylygirl
    coylygirl Online Community Member Posts: 282 Empowering
    Not an idiom, but a favourite saying "A woman is like a teabag - you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water!
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,451 Championing
    I like that one @coylygirl :D 
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 14,987 Championing
    edited May 2021
    coylygirl said:
    woodbine said:
    Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

    Not sure where the horse comes into this lol
    You can tell the age of a horse by looking at its teeth...
    I thought (probably incorrectly) it was something to do with the wooden horse of Troy?
  • Dragonslayer
    Dragonslayer Online Community Member Posts: 2,164 Pioneering
    What the eye doesn't see. The heart doesn't grieve over.  
    A favourite of my dear old Mum's ?
  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 3,457 Championing
    66Mustang said:
    coylygirl said:
    woodbine said:
    Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

    Not sure where the horse comes into this lol
    You can tell the age of a horse by looking at its teeth...
    I thought (probably incorrectly) it was something to do with the wooden horse of Troy?
    Colygirl is right.  You can age a horse by it's teeth.  So if someone had an old horse they wanted to get rid of, they could palm it off onto you as long you didn't check it's mouth. But if you did check it's mouth and it was a young horse, then you'd be seen as ungrateful.

    It's not an expression I'm a fan of personally.  Because the idea is that you should take anything offered no matter how unsuitable it is?  Hmm...  I mean, where would I even keep a horse in a studio flat?  :D
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    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Listener
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  • fluffycat
    fluffycat Online Community Member Posts: 240 Empowering
    Stitch in time (saves nine)

    Parable of the Sower (reap what you sow) 

    Can’t swing a cat in here lol

    A watched kettle never boils 

    Fool and money soon parted 


  • Dragonslayer
    Dragonslayer Online Community Member Posts: 2,164 Pioneering
    A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
    There is one I think about turning money over in your pocket, when there's a new moon.
    I don't get that?
    Watch your pennies and they will turn into pounds!!
    I may not have that one right also?
  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 3,457 Championing
    Don't ruin the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar!

    I'm definitely guilty of that one!
  • leeCal
    leeCal Online Community Member Posts: 7,537 Championing
    In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king

    when the wise man points to the moon the fool looks at the finger

    ?
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,451 Championing
    Watch your pennies and they will turn into pounds!!
    Maybe that's similar to this one @Dragonslayer: 'If you look after the penniesthe pounds will look after themselves'? 

    I could be wrong, but I think the one about turning your money over when there's a new moon is more of a superstition type of thing.