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Hightail It

Hightail It

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Hightail It--Chipmunk with tail upIn our neck of the woods, we see chipmunks, squirrels, deer, and other critters hightail it across our yards.

Whether they chase food, one another, or something else, we love to watch them.

To hightail it means to go quickly.

The meaning comes from certain animals raising their tails when running. This may happen when they rush forward or run away. In both instances, they leave in a hurry.

People, as well as animals, hightail it.

We sometimes rush toward a goal. Other times, we flee from someone or something.

  • We hurry when late for a meeting.
  • Students rush from class when the bell rings.
  • We head for safety if dangerous weather approaches.

In old western movies, cowboys jump on their horses and hightail it out of there. They leave immediately and ride as fast as they can.

Sometimes God tells us to run. Other times, God tells us to stand firm.

 When tempted to do wrong, we want to run from it. However, when tempted to back down from truth, God calls us to remain strong and courageous.

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22 NIV).

Thanks to Marita Smeathers Mantooth for the suggestion.

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Let the Cat Out of the Bag

Let the Cat Out of the Bag

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Let the Cat Out of the Bag--cat in fabric looking out a windowIf we plan a surprise, we don’t want anyone to let the cat out of the bag.

To let the cat out of the bag means to disclose a secret.

We may reveal the secret:

  • Deliberately or by accident
  • With words or with actions

We often give enough hints that other people figure out what we mean.

The Phrase Finder lists two possible origins for let the cat out of the bag.

  1. The most common comes from merchants substituting a cat for a pig.

Methods differed, but scams occurred years ago. When people bought a pig, merchants might put a less valuable cat in the bag. Anyone who reported the deceit let the cat out of the bag. If no one told the truth, the buyer discovered the switch when he opened the bag at home.

A related idiom warns against buying a pig in a poke.

  1. A less common explanation refers to the cat o’ nine tails.

The cat o’ nine tails was a whip with lashes made from three braided strands of cord. The cords were three braided strands of string. Thus, each lash contained nine strings.

When people were whipped, the cuts from the knotted ends looked similar to cat claw scratches. Although lashes may have been stored in bags, this explanation fails to address secrets.

We need to be careful what we say.

Regardless of the origin, we want to:

  • Reveal what needs to be told.
  • Guard what needs to stay quiet.

“You spread out our sins before you—our secret sins—and see them all” (Psalm 90:8 TLB).

Thanks to Regina Graham and Tracy Crump for the suggestion and to Jeri Stone for the photo.

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Tongue Lashing

Tongue Lashing

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Tongue Lashing--Man speaking to dog. Dog's paws on man's hands and head downOne time when I disobeyed my dad, he caught me red-handed. However, he did not get home to discuss my misdeed until late. I worried all day that I was in hot water. I dreaded the tongue lashing to come.

Dad never said anything. I think he knew I had suffered enough.

Tongue lashings hurt. A lot.

Just ask any of us who have received one. Most people I know prefer almost any other form of correction.

Corporal punishment is seldom used anymore. Yet, we often hear people say they would rather have a spanking than a tongue lashing.

A tongue lashing means a scolding.

Sometimes severe and lengthy, the speaker lectures the other person (or animal). Words may include:

  • Criticism
  • Anger
  • Disappointment

Disappointment is often harder to hear than anger or criticism.

If we have a close relationship with the speaker, we don’t want to let him down. That was the case with my dad.

Tongue lashings can be for our good, or they can be cruel.

Either is hard to take. However, if we know the person desires the best for us, we gain from what he says.

May we speak strong words when needed. May we always speak from a heart of love.

Thanks to Marita Smeathers Mantooth for the suggestion and to Bethany Ferr with Pexels for the photo.

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Give It a Rest

Give It a Rest

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Give It a Rest--Fall leaves hanging above a streamSometimes we want people to give it a rest. Their constant talk or actions get on our nerves. Of course, we probably get on their nerves from time to time too.

When we tell people to give it a rest, we want them to stop irritating talk or actions.

Their annoying talk may include:

  • Fussing
  • Nagging
  • Begging

Their words sound like a broken record.

Actions may include:

  • Constant interruptions
  • Loud videos
  • Rude behavior

They ruffle our feathers.

To tell others to give it a rest can sound impolite.

It is simply another way to tell them to shut up or stop it.

An alternative is to get away from the irritating people.

  • Take a walk.
  • Work outside.
  • Sit beside a calm stream.

Moments alone remind us that silence is golden. We rest and refresh our minds and bodies.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters” (Psalm 23:2 NIV).

Thanks to J.D. Wininger for the suggestion.

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Horse Around

Horse Around

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Horse Around--Diana Derringer on Appaloosa horse in front of house and treesOur family owned a couple of horses for a brief time. We did not race them, show them, or make money from them. We simply enjoyed them. Dad bought horses for us to horse around.

To horse around means to play or waste time.

The activity has no purpose. We often horse around while we avoid work we need to do. Goofing off feels like more fun than work.

Sometimes we horse around in a rough way.

We get rowdy or aggravate others. Occasionally we hurt them. Sometimes we mean to cause their pain. Other times, our rough play causes accidents.

We can all use a little horseplay, if we don’t get too rough.

It allows us to rest our minds and have a fun time. However, when we get too rowdy, we need to hold our horses.

Enjoy life but allow others the same privilege.

Let’s keep our priorities in order.

Responsibilities come first. Then time to relax. We don’t want to put the cart before the horse.

God gives us a few years on earth. Whether working or horsing around, let’s make the most of the time we have to serve God and help one another.

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture” (Psalm 37:3 NIV).

Thanks to Becky Nash Rowe for the suggestion.

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Ruffled Feathers

Ruffled Feathers

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Ruffled Feathers--white bird with ruffled feathers

Notice this bird’s ruffled feathers. The bird may feel mad or scared. It may want to appear stronger if it fears attack. Or a blowing wind may have caused the feathers to stick out. It makes me think of people on bad-hair days.

If we have ruffled feathers, we feel angry or frightened.

Circumstances or people make us:

  • Annoyed
  • Upset
  • Aggravated
  • Afraid

We don’t like what they did or how they did it. They get our goat by irritating us with their words or behavior. Or they scare us.

Riled up has a similar meaning.

Occasionally we combine the two by saying, “Don’t get your feathers all riled up.” Such reactions may occur about:

  • Wars
  • Insults
  • Politics
  • Injustice
  • Negative reactions to anything or anyone we love

Rather than rile or ruffle feathers, let’s try to calm or smooth them.

Bad hair days cause no real harm. Ruffled feathers can.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9 NIV).

Thanks to Beverly Ennis for the suggestion and the photo.

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Fiddlesticks

Fiddlesticks

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Fiddlesticks- a violin and bow on grass amid autumn leavesFiddlesticks often flies from my mouth. Not the actual bows used to play fiddles, but an expression of frustration. I say it when I:

  • Forget an important item or event.
  • Drop what I’m carrying.
  • Believe something is foolish.

Fiddlesticks expresses frustration or impatience.

It also means to be annoyed or to think something makes no sense. The situation or statement sounds or looks like garbage.

Fiddlesticks moments can change into creative ones.

We can turn our frustration or impatience into opportunity. If we don’t like the way things are, we do something about it. When we don’t have the resources we want, we use the resources we have.

For example, another little-known form of fiddlesticks exists. According to The Creole State Exhibit of Louisiana’s Living Traditions, fiddlesticks were “a traditional way of adding percussion…. As one person played the fiddle, another tapped out a rhythm on the strings.”

Wikipedia explains that the second person used “a pair of straws, sticks, or knitting needles to tap out a rhythm on the strings over the upper fingerboard (between the bow and the fiddler’s fingering hand).”

By using their existing resources, they added variety to their music.

We choose: Remain upset or adjust our circumstances.

Like the makers of the rhythmic fiddlesticks, we may have to make do with what we have. Yet, who knows what a difference we can make until we try?

“O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God!” (Psalm 42:11 TLB).

Thanks to Laurel Blevins and Karen Hart for the suggestion. Image by Iryna Bakurskaya from Pixabay.

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Hem and Haw

Hem and Haw

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Hem and Haw: fork in road with a sign pointing the two ways to "later" or "now"A young cousin visited our family years ago. When no one was looking, she helped herself to Mom’s perfume. Lots of perfume. Stink-you-out-of-the-house strong. When Mom asked about it, Kim chose to hem and haw.

Kim looked at the ground, the sky, and the trees. Never at Mom. Regardless of what Mom said, she responded, “I’m just tired.”

Kim did not want to answer Mom’s question. She was not caught red-handed, but she was obviously guilty.

According to The Free Dictionary, to hem and haw is “to refuse to give a definite answer.”

“‘Hem,’ similar … to … ‘ahem,’ [means] to hesitate. ‘Haw’ [means] much the same…. Combine the two, and you have someone who’s stalling for time and hoping not to have to respond any further.”

Some people simply say “hem haw.”

To hem and haw also means to act with uncertainty.

Both meanings often involve:

  • Pauses
  • Unclear speech
  • Poor eye contact
  • Vague answers
  • Frequent throat clearing (a similar sound to the expression)

Such behavior occurs when people don’t know how to answer or don’t want to answer.

Rather than a direct reply, they stall with meaningless sounds or words.

Saying “I don’t know” or “I did it” sounds better than avoiding the truth.

Honesty helps keep people out of hot water. Choose the right way now to stay out of trouble now and later.

“Speak the truth to each other” (Zechariah 8:16 NIV).

Thanks to Terrie Wilson for the suggestion. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

NOTE: While exploring related expressions, I discovered I used a similar introduction for beat around the bush. However, it works so well for both, I decided to keep it here too.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Hornswoggle

Hornswoggle

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Hornswoggle-two little girls in sunsuits, one with a mischievous smileSome of us hornswoggle. Others of us get hornswoggled.  I don’t know about you, but I belong in the second category.

I am gullible from head to toe. Just ask my sister. When we were children, she tricked me into washing dishes for her over and over again.

Can’t you see the fun oozing out of her little body? We still get good laughs from her tricks.

Hornswoggle means to trick or cheat.

Other words describe it as:

  • Deceive
  • Dupe
  • Hoax
  • Bamboozle
  • Swindle
  • Hoodwink

Many hornswoggle experiences are harmless.

No one gets hurt. Laughter usually follows.

  • Surprise parties
  • Jokes

Enjoy those times.

However, other experiences cause great harm.

  • Scams and other money schemes
  • Relationship deceit

Watch out for snakes in the grass who hurt others with their deceptive ways.

The greatest harm comes from religious deceit.

Religious wolves in sheep’s clothing pretend to be someone or something they are not. They look and sound harmless but lead people the wrong way.

We want to be sure we follow the right path in life. We also want to direct others to it. Follow Jesus, “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6 NIV).

“[Jesus] replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them” (Luke 21:8 NIV).

Thanks to Jonna J. LeVan for the idea. Read how her son hornswoggled her on Tracy Crump’s Caregiver Corner.

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Take Down a Peg or Two

Take Down a Peg or Two

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Take Down a Peg or Two--ship with sailsMany of us have personal experience related to take down a peg or two.

My childhood friends and I knew the expression well. When we became too big for our britches,  our parents put an end to our high and mighty behavior.

Their discipline took several forms:

  • The look of disapproval
  • Scolding
  • Time out
  • Loss of privileges
  • Other methods of loving but stern correction

To take down a peg or two means to deflate our pride or ego.

When we think too much of ourselves, we need a good dose of humility. No one is better than anyone else.

If we mistreat others, we may eventually get a taste of our own medicine. Our time for shame will probably come.

Wanting to do well is okay but not at the expense of others.

Hurting anyone in order to succeed spoils true success. Getting ahead never justifies:

  • Rudeness
  • Injury
  • A superior attitude

Take down a peg or two has a maritime connection.

According to The Free Dictionary, the expression “alludes to lowering a ship’s colors … by means of pegs. The higher the colors … the greater the honor.”

Refuse to become arrogant and self-centered.

Choose instead to straighten up and fly right. God, who is Love, calls us to love and help one another.

“Do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves” (Hebrews 12:5-6 NIV).

Thanks to Tracy Crump for sharing this expression following her maritime museum tour.

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