Life Lessons from English Expressions Archives - Page 30 of 50

Pie in the Sky

March 4, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

Pie in the Sky--cherry pie held up to the sky Joe Hill wrote about pie in the sky in his 1911 song, The Preacher and the Slave. His song criticized religious leaders who told people about heaven but ignored their physical needs.

Pie in the sky refers to a good future, usually after death.

However, that often means a bad life now with slim pickings. People wait and hope for better times.

Pie in the sky also means false hope, such as:

Plans or ideas that will never happen
Promises that will not be kept
Dreams that will never come true

Pie in the sky ideas sound good, but they seldom happen in real life. Wishes don’t make them occur.

People need more than pie in the sky.

Everyone should prepare for life after death. Yet, everyone also suffers real needs now.

Jesus showed how to balance the two.

Prepare for the future.

Accept Jesus as the way to heaven.
Live and teach as Jesus lived and taught.

Make a difference now.

Feed the hungry.
Care for the sick.
Give hope to the hopeless.
Help pick up the pieces of broken lives.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me’”(Matthew 25:34-36 NIV).

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Thanks to Brad Leverett for the suggestion and to Lauren Gordon with Gordon Goodies for the photo.

No Holds Barred

February 25, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 1 comment

No holds barred means no rules.

Years ago, wrestlers fought with no limits. They used any hold they chose. Today, most follow rules.

No holds barred also means extreme.

We do whatever it takes to get what we want. We fight for:

The best job
More money
Freedom

Nothing gets in the way of our goal.

No holds barred is a dangerous way to live.

Without rules, wrestlers risk injury and death. The same applies to all of us.

We need rules.

We may not always like them. However, rules:

Give guidance
Keep us safe
Let us know what to expect

Rules make life better for everyone. They help keep us out of hot water.

God gave the Ten Commandments for a better life. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and love one another. If we do that, we keep all the others. We stay on the straight and narrow.

“If anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5 NET)

Thanks to Timothy Lewis for the suggestion and DeWayne Frazier for the photo.

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Teetotal

February 18, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

Teetotal means total or complete.

It refers most often to a person who never drinks alcohol. We call that person a teetotaler. Our family chose a teetotal life. Too many people we love have been ruined by alcohol. We decided better safe than sorry.

We occasionally see teetotal written T Total. Either way we spell it, we stress total.

No question about it
No doubt at all
Absolutely

Teetotal also means certainty.

Someone may ask, “Are you sure?” or “Is that your final answer?” To stress our certainty, we answer, “Teetotally.” We are completely certain. We definitely gave our final answer.

Teetotal also means completely full.

A full moon lights up the night sky.
Our hearts fill with sorrow.
We eat all we can.
Joy makes our cup run over.

For the teetotally best life, we ask God to fill us with His love and power.

“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Acts 2:28 NIV).

Thanks to Betty Johnson for the suggestion.

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Easter Reflections play script, flower, and cross in background Congratulations to Harriet Michael, whose name was randomly drawn from my blog subscribers for a free copy of “Easter Reflections.” You can read a script preview or order the play from Christian Publishers.

Warm the Cockles of My Heart

February 11, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 12 comments

To warm the cockles of my heart, something makes me happy.

I never use this expression. I do say something gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. The two expressions mean almost the same. Deep inside, I feel:

Good
Content
Warm

I have no cockles in my heart.

No one does. So how did this expression start? wiseGEEK and other sources offer these two possibilities:

The “Latin description for the heart’s chambers, cochleae cordis.” Cockles became a slang word for cochleae.
Mollusk shells (cockles) and the human heart have similar shapes. (See photo.)

They give other ideas, but these two seem most common.

The following warm the cockles of my heart:

Children’s laughter
Ocean waves
Hugs
Time with family and friends
Labors of love
Special memories
People with hearts of gold

What about you?

What warms the cockles of your heart? Please comment below.

On Valentine’s Day and every day, may life warm the cockles of your heart.

“We know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Romans 5:5 TLB).

Thanks to Carole Fite for the suggestion.

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Down to the Wire

February 4, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 5 comments

Down to the wire means the last instant.

People put everything off until the last minute.
Or they near the end of a contest.

They have no more time.

This expression comes from horse racing.

Years ago, a wire marked the end of a horse race. When the race was close, the contest was down to the wire. No one knew the winner until the first horse reached the wire. That horse won by a nose.

People often work down to the wire to:

Complete homework
Finish a job
Prepare for guests

People who like to work down to the wire:

Almost always wait until the last minute
Don’t mind close deadlines
Work well under pressure

They usually:

Put off
Fly by the seat of their pants
Get the job done, but not until they have to

People who hate to work down to the wire:

Want to be on time or early
Worry or get nervous when deadlines near
Work poorly under pressure

They usually:

Plan
Go by the book
Get the job done with plenty of time to spare.

I hate working down to the wire. What about you? Please comment below.

“My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24 NIV).

Thanks to Brad Leverett for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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Sharp as a Razor

January 28, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

Sharp as a razor means very sharp.

Razors work best when sharp. However, people must shave carefully. If not, they cut skin as well as hair.

Axes and kitchen knives should also be sharp. Like the person shaving, wood cutters and cooks must cut carefully or suffer the results.

Easy does it makes sense around sharp objects. Better safe than sorry.

People sharp as a razor are very smart.

This expression means the same as sharp as a tack. Sharp people:

Learn easily
Remember well

Smart people choose whether to use their knowledge.

Some smart people apply their knowledge. Others waste their skills.

Sharp razors do no good if never used.
Sharp people do no good if they never use what they know.

People sharp as a razor use their knowledge for good or evil.

Like sharp razors, axes, or knives, sharp people either help or harm. They do well to stay sharp. They do better to put their sharpness to good use.

“A dull ax requires great strength; be wise and sharpen the blade” (Ecclesiastes 10:10 TLB).

Thanks to Bob Emerson for the suggestion.

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Loose Lips Sink Ships

January 21, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

We do well if we think before we speak.

Loose lips sink ships. If we talk too much, we:

Give information we should not give
To people who should not know

According to The Phrase Finder, this expression began during World War II.

The United States Office of War Information tried to keep information from enemy spies.

In times of war or peace, we want to watch our words.

Busybodies, as well as spies, cause much damage.

The children’s song “O Be Careful Little Eyes,” reminds us to be careful what we:

See
Hear
Say
Do
Think
Who we trust
And where we go

That sounds like good advice for any age.

Rather than put our foot in our mouth or hurt someone, let’s be careful what we say.

“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19 MEV).

Thanks to Kristy Robinson Horine for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

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

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Whippersnapper

January 14, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 0 Comment

A whippersnapper usually means a young or small person.

Most often, older people use this phrase for children or youth.

My friend Pamela Noel’s father often said, “You little whippersnapper.” He called her this “if I was good or ugly.”

Many people view a whippersnapper as unimportant. The young person has:

More confidence than ability
More ambition than education

However, young people have to learn. They may only be knee high to a grasshopper. That does not make them unimportant.

A thesaurus lists several synonyms for whippersnapper.

They include:

Pip-squeak
Runt
Lightweight

Pamela’s father probably meant those when her behavior was good.

Other synonyms include:

Sneak
Troublemaker
Brat

Pamela’s father probably meant those when her behavior was “ugly” or bad.

Whether we are whippersnappers or over the hill, may we all follow good guidance.

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. (Psalm 119:9 NIV).

Thanks to Pamela Noel for the suggestion and Gail Gosser for the photo of three of my favorite whippersnappers.

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At the End of the Day

January 7, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

At the end of the day means our final conclusion.

We have considered everything. We have:

Discussed
Analyzed
Experimented
Then made our decision

At the end of the day, we choose.

Who will share my life?
What will I do?
Where will I live?
When will I do what needs to be done?
How will I treat others?

We make our at the end of the day decisions any time of day.

Morning
Midday
Evening
Night

The time matters little, but, at some point, we must decide. We cannot ride the fence forever.

Our at the end of the day decisions show what we value most.

Will we choose:

Money
Status
Power
Popularity

Or will we choose:

A relationship with God
Time with family
Making our world a better place

As the song “When It’s All Been Said and Done” reminds us, only what’s done for love lasts.

“Jesus replied: ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV).

Thanks to Margaret Bertram for the suggestion.

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Slim Pickings

December 31, 2018 Diana Derringer Comments 5 comments

Many stores open early and close late on sale days. Early shoppers find several choices. Those who shop later in the day find slim pickings.

Slim pickings mean few choices.

Not much is left after others take what they want. This applies to more than shopping. We often find slim pickings:

At the end of a food line
Near the end of a gardening season

Slim pickings for one person look like treasures for others.

A small amount of food can save a starving person.
One coat warms a person in freezing weather.

What treasures can we offer others who survive on slim pickings?

Perhaps a good New Year’s resolution would be to share from our wealth.

Buy extra at the grocery to feed the hungry.
Give away some of our clothes and shoes.
Spend less on self and donate the money saved.

Why not make giving a lifestyle? We can’t take it with us when we die. Why not put it to good use while we live. Let’s give of our wealth. Let’s give of ourselves.

“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor” (Proverbs 22:9 NIV).

Thanks to Ruby Colvin for the suggestion.

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

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