April 10, 2013

A-Z 2013 the letter I

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I have developed a passion for words. As fellow bloggers I know you know what I mean. It is amazing to me just how many idioms we use in our everyday conversations.

There are countless amounts of idioms in the English language.

I've guess you've already figured out idiom is my "I" word.

And since I am having such a grand time this year doing the A-Z challenge I will share with you my favorite idiom for each letter of the alphabet!


AAbsence makes the heart grow fonder
When people are apart, their love grows stronger.
BBarking up the wrong tree
You have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong.
C- Can't get a word in edgeways
You don't have the chance to say anything because the person you are with is is talking all the time.
D- Different kettle of fish
Something is very different from the other things referenced
E- Early bird catches the worm
If you start something early, you stand a better chance of success.
F- Face only a mother could love
Someone's  ugly.
G- Get on like the house was on fire
If you are going to get into trouble for doing something, then you ought to stop worrying and should try to get everything you can before you get caught.
H- Hoist with your own petard also hoist on your own petard
To be harmed by something that was intended by you to harm someone else.
I- I’ll be a monkey’s uncle 
Surprise.
J- Jump to conclusions
Judge something without a sufficient examination of the facts.
K- Keep up with the Joneses
People who are competitive about material possessions and always try to have the latest and best things.
L-Laughter is the best medicine
Laughing is often helpful for healing, especially emotional healing.
M- Mad as a wet hen
Someone is extremely angry.
N- New lease on life
If someone finds new enthusiasm and energy for something.
O- On a silver platter
If you hand or give something to them too easily.
P- Paint yourself into a corner
 If someone get themselves into a mess.
Q- Queen Bee
A woman who holds the most important position in a place.
R-Raining cats and dogs
It is raining very heavily.
S- Sea change
A significant change in comparison to a minor, trivial or insignificant change.
T- Take forty winks
You have a short sleep.
U- Up the river without a paddle
You are in an unfortunate situation, unprepared and with none of the resources to remedy the matter.
V- Vent your spleen
They release all their anger about something.
W- Warm and fuzzy
Meaning the feeling evoked as though you were enclosed in a warm and fuzzy blanket.
X- X marks the spot
This is used to say where something is located or hidden.
Y- You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
This means that it is easier to persuade people if you use polite arguments and flattery than if you are confrontational.
Z- Zigged before you zigged
If you did things in the wrong order.

Do you have a favorite expression (idiom) that you say?  It could be one I've used or maybe you'd like to add one of your own.

Please do.










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34 comments:

  1. It is what it is
    A phrase that seems to simply state the obvious but actually implies helplessness.

    This is one I use all the time. I am a realest and often after I have tried to change something to make it better and it does not work out I will say I is what it is.
    Thanks for this one it made me thing which could be good or bad. :)
    Came by from Tales of the Reborn Crafter
    http://talesofthereborncrafter.blogspot.com/

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  2. Love this! I can't believe you found one for each letter. :) GOod job.

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    Replies
    1. There were so many it was actually hard to choose!

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  3. Great idioms - love the zigged before you zagged.

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  4. There were a few there I've never heard of before. Popped in after reading your comment about knowing the names of homeless in the cities you visit. While not part of the a-z challenge, wanted to leave you the link to my blog that focuses on homeless, thought you might be interested in swinging by

    Homeless

    then in the signature is one of the blogs in the a-z

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    Replies
    1. So nice of you Sandy. I'll be sure to do so, Thanks!

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  5. F- Face only a mother could love
    Someone's ugly.

    That is mean, but funny !! Xxx

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  6. This would have been a great theme on its own.
    Katie atBankerchick Scratchings

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  7. I love this list of idioms! My husband always say "Dollars to doughnuts, I'll bet that....." I'm still not quite sure what it means! Maybe I have to start paying him back in tasty treats! LOL! Happy A-to-Z 2013! ~Angela, Whole Foods Living, http://www.wholefoodsliving.blogspot.com/

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    1. I think it means he's pretty sure, but i'm not sure :)

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  8. Love this idea. Great post. I actually have something similar planned further on down the alphabet :) I have three that I use fairly often. "Don't count your eggs before they hatch", "Calling the kettle black" and "Don't put all your eggs in one basket".

    Elliot
    We Are Adventure

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    Replies
    1. Great minds think alike;0
      Can't wait to see what you have planned Elliot

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  9. I use a lot of those with my students. Did you know that some of them have never heard of these before???? I grew up hearing a lot of them.

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  10. Over here we say someone has "A fur coat and nae knickers" Which means on the outside they look rich but don't havce a penny to their name,spends money on the wrong things. Well done on getting one for each letter.Good fun!

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  11. Hah! These are great.

    I've always liked "Drive like you stole it", myself.

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  12. I'm a Monkey's Mom...Chunky Monkey...wait...I don't get this game.
    Kidding.
    I do.

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  13. I didn't see an H entry, so how about, Hoist by your own petard?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Elizabeth,
      I've gone and added your H word.
      I can't believe i missed it!

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  14. That is such a nice list. Many of those can be used to write funny articles.

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    1. I bet it would be fun writing too Yamini

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  15. I am clapping! this was a great list-- and I never gave any thought to the fact that there is an idiom for every letter of the alphabet. Imagine that! LOL

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  16. I'd never heard "mad as a wet hen" before. Great image.

    As for one I use...can't think of any at the moment. But just as soon as I hit "publish" I'm sure one will hit me. Hard.

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  17. Hi Jen. Great collection of idioms. We do use a lot of them in the English language. I think they are there just to make our language as complicated as those with thousands of character, totally different alphabets, and other difficult combinations of sounds. I know they say the English language is most difficult to learn, but I am not buying! Great post. Thanks, Maria from Delight Directed Living

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  18. I think it just makes our language more colorful and interesting.

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  19. So very clever for the Letter I. Enjoyed the entire AlphaIdiom List. Her's one my husband says:
    First your money then your clothes. When someone takes advantage or you've lost something.

    You are INVITED to a Quilt Show...by INVITATION only...click on CITexasGal Link!
    Sue CollectInTexasGal
    AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee

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  20. Love that saying, very direct.
    Coming over to your Quilt show Sue, thanks for the invite.

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  21. This could have been an entire A to Z theme! You really went above and beyond Jen!

    Julie

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  22. How about 'practice makes perfect'.
    Jen, this is a great list! And we all use them here in North America. Now, can you imagine the nightmare anybody learning the English language will have with these idioms? Yikes!!

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  23. I've never heard mad as a wet hen. I'll have to use it sometime with my kids. :)

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  24. I wonder who the Joneses were. Now it's the Khardasians. I think I spelled that wrong but who cares - I'm not a fan. I had heard of a few of these - such as G, H, S, V & Z. So you taught me something knew. I went to home for a quick trip this weekend. Daddy says "Forty winks" and he really does go lay down like for 15 or 30 minutes and he's good.

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