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Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth

Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth

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Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth--two large cast iron pots hanging over an outdoor fire My husband and I lived in a college campus apartment for two years. It was so small we had to push our table against the wall to open the back door. Just as too many cooks crowded our kitchen, too many cooks spoil the broth.

When too many cooks add too many ingredients, broth tastes terrible.

The same applies to too many:

  • Managers
  • Coaches
  • Music conductors
  • Agencies

 Too many cooks spoil the broth offers a word to the wise.  

It cautions against several people trying to:

  • Do the same task.
  • Gain control.
  • Influence an outcome.

When that happens, the work:

  • Results in confusion.
  • May be ruined.
  • Has little chance of success.

The Phrase Finder lists a similar proverb in 1575 by English historian John Hooker.

In The Life and Times of Sir Peter Carew, Hooker wrote, “There is the proverb, the more cooks the worse potage.”

Several similar proverbs exist.

  • Too many cooks in the kitchen
  • (A shortened phrase) Too many cooks
  • Too many cooks spoil the soup (or stew).

Extra workers usually help. Extra managers often hurt.

Completing the work is more important than taking credit for it.

Whether we manage or not, let’s faithfully do what God calls us to do.

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:23 NIV)

Thanks to Joyce McCullough for the suggestion.

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Skinned Alive

Skinned Alive

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Skinned Alive--man who appears in pain with shaving cream on his face and holding a razorHave you ever been skinned alive? It is no fun, is it? We may not lose skin, but it hurts like we have.

To be skinned alive means to be severely scolded or punished.

Many of us think scolding hurts the most.

People of all ages receive threats to be skinned alive.

  • Children who break their parents’ rules
  • Employees who fail to do their work
  • Friends or family who break promises

This phrase comes from the cruel “practice of flaying a live prisoner.”

The Free Dictionary dates it to the mid-1800s.

The threat to skin alive often comes with the strength and power to hurt others.

However, we never want to harm anyone.

Encouraging people to straighten up and fly right is okay. Blowing our top is not.

When people threaten to skin us alive, we want to make necessary changes.

However, if we have done nothing wrong, we may need to say so. Regardless of how they treat us, we want to treat them with respect. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2 NIV).

Thanks to Kristy Robinson Horine for the suggestion. Image by Sammy-Sander from Pixabay.

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Lie Like a Rug

Lie Like a Rug

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Lie Like a Rug--Jumbled multicolored arrows with truth or lie on themMy dad loved to play with words. He would deliberately use the wrong word to give a sentence a totally new meaning. I’m sure some people thought he did not know better. However, he knew exactly what he was doing. Lie like a rug was one of his favorite expressions.

Lie like a rug is a pun, a usually funny play on words.

Puns use words that are alike or nearly alike but have different meanings. “Lie” can mean either to tell an untruth or to rest in a flat position. Lie like a rug combines those two meanings since a rug lies flat on a floor.

If we lie like a rug, we lie boldly and shamelessly.

Our untruth is no mistake. We deliberately lie. Sometimes we know that no one will believe us but lie anyway.

If we repeat an untruth often enough, we may persuade some people to believe.

We sound ridiculous. Yet repetition eventually convinces those unwilling to look at the evidence. If not convinced, they may choose not to confront us or face the truth.

Always weigh the evidence.

Take what sounds like a lie with a grain of salt. Search for truth and follow it.

“Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” (John 3:21 NIV).

Thanks to Melissa Henderson for the suggestion. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

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Carry Someone Somewhere

Carry Someone Somewhere

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Carry Someone Somewhere--large boy carrying small girl on his backI still remember a college professor saying he had to carry someone somewhere. His statement puzzled me. I knew he could not carry the grown man on his back. Instead, he meant he had to transport the man in his car.

To carry someone somewhere means to take the person somewhere.

Like my college professor, we may take others to:

  • Appointments
  • Church
  • Family gatherings
  • Wherever they need to go

When the need arises, we don’t hem and haw.  We do what needs to be done. That kind of carrying takes time but is easier on our backs.

To carry someone somewhere also means to accompany the person.

Whether we provide transportation or not, people do not have to go alone. We escort them for:

  • Safety precautions
  • Fun times
  • Dates

The key to both meanings is to be there.

At times, we meet needs. Other times, we simply enjoy one another’s company. Either way, we share friendship and fellowship.

“Then Esau said, ‘Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.’” (Genesis 33:12 NIV).

Thanks to Joyce Cordell for the suggestion and to Crystal Gosser for the photo.

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Chew the Fat

Chew the Fat

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Chew the Fat--family around a table for ThanksgivingOur family loves to meet and eat. Thanksgiving, Christmas, special birthdays, or for no reason at all. We also love to chew the fat, spending hours talking and laughing.

To chew the fat means to have long, relaxed conversations.

  • No rush
  • Easy laughter
  • No schedule

We enjoy leisure from the daily grind.

To chew the fat involves little or no heavy discussion.

We simply shoot the breeze. Chats stay:

  • Friendly
  • Relaxed
  • Informal

Conversations may occasionally include bits of gossip. When tempted to gossip, we need to bite our tongue.

Two other expressions share similar meanings.

  • Chew the rag
  • Chew the cud

Origins for chew the fat and chew the rug are unknown. People have guessed possibilities but with no certainty. We find a simpler explanation for chew the cud.

According to Phrase Finder, a cud is the food cows “bring back into their mouths from their first stomach to chew at leisure.” We see that slow chewing while cows graze in pastures.

Enjoy special time to chew the fat with friends and family.

Make memories and strengthen relationships. They are gifts from God.

“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16 NIV).

Thanks to Gail Gosser and Regina Graham for the suggestion.

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Don’t Take Any Wooden Nickels

Don’t Take Any Wooden Nickels

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Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels--wood bowl filled with loose change

I remember my dad saying, “Don’t take any wooden nickels.” At the time, I had no idea what he meant. I knew wooden nickels were not real money. So, why would he make such a strange statement?

Don’t take any wooden nickels warns us not to be conned or swindled.

A wooden nickel is:

  • Fake
  • Worthless
  • Suspicious

Don’t be fooled.

Take precautions. Never accept anything unless you know it is the real thing.

Don’t take any wooden nickels offers a word to the wise.

Before trying anything new, check with people who:

We often hear this primarily American phrase when people say goodbye.

The speaker means:

  • Be careful.
  • Take care of yourself.

According to The Free Dictionary, it probably originated in the early 20th century. “Country residents visiting the city were considered easily duped.” Therefore, they needed to protect themselves from being deceived.

Banks used wooden nickels for promotions during and after the Great Depression.

They redeemed the fake coins for prizes.

 Don’t cheat and don’t get cheated.

We never want to hornswoggle or be hornswoggled. Instead, let’s stay so honest that people can take it to the bank.

“If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:11 NIV).

Thanks to Sharon Berry, Laurel Blevins, Karen Hart, Judy Glen Corbin, Beckham Wilson, and Rebecca Stafford for the suggestion.

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Cold Shoulder

Cold Shoulder

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Cold Shoulder--back of a young woman with off-the-shoulder blouse in a field of yellow flowersHas anyone given you the cold shoulder? It’s no fun, is it?

To receive a cold shoulder means people ignore or reject you.

They:

  • Snub you.
  • Pay no attention to you.
  • Turn away from you.

Rejection is depressing.

A cold shoulder is not accidental. Those who snub you have no interest in contact with you.

The origin of cold shoulder probably differs from widespread belief.

According to The Phrase Finder and The Free Dictionary, many people believe this expression began with a nineteenth century custom.

  • Hosts served a meal of roasted meat to welcomed guests.
  • They served a cold shoulder of meat to guests who outstayed their welcome.

The Phrase Finder says, “There’s no evidence to support this view.” It adds, “The first reference to the phrase in print is in Sir Walter Scott’s ‘The Antiquary,’ 1816.”

Rather than an unfriendly cold shoulder, show love and concern for others.

“If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear” (1 John 3:17 MSG).

Thanks to Kay Emerick for the suggestion. Image by Eszter Miller from Pixabay.

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Throw Your Hat into the Ring

Throw Your Hat into the Ring

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Throw Your Hat into the Ring--two people throwing their hats into the air with the sun setting behind themDo you often throw your hat into the ring? Maybe for a group activity, fun event, or political office? You decide to give it a whirl.

If you throw your hat into the ring, you announce your decision to join or compete.

You may:

  • Enter a contest.
  • Make or accept a challenge.
  • Participate in a special event.
  • Start a new step in life.

Throw your hat into the ring began with boxing.

According to The Phrase Finder, “The expression dates from at least the early 19th century.” Boxing rings were “circular spaces in a crowd of onlookers.” No “square roped ‘rings’” like today. If someone wanted to compete, he threw his hat into the ring. That was easier than shouting above the noisy crowd.

Be careful before you throw your hat into the ring.

Many activities prove worthwhile. Others you want to avoid at all costs.

When Jesus calls, always follow.

The cost may be great, but the reward will be greater. Many believers endure persecution such as:

  • Ridicule
  • Job loss
  • Rejection from friends and family
  • Imprisonment
  • Death

Nevertheless, they throw their hat into the ring with Jesus. They prefer to suffer rather than deny their Savior.

“Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3 NIV).

 Thanks to Lam DeBrot for the suggestion. Photo by Nabil Naidu with Pexels.

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Satisfy Like Honey on a Warm Biscuit

Satisfy Like Honey on a Warm Biscuit

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Satisfy Like Honey on a warm biscuit--honey drizzled on a split biscuitCold winter days call for comfort food. Nothing satisfies like honey on a warm biscuit. It fills our stomachs and sticks to our ribs.

To satisfy like honey on a warm biscuit means to comfort or indulge.

As sweet as honey on a warm biscuit is a related simile. SimiliesGuru.com says the expression is used “for cozy, satisfying happiness.”

Our sources of satisfaction differ.

Some of us enjoy a good book. Others prefer a long walk. Many find satisfaction in both.

We may also enjoy:

  • Time with friends and family
  • Travel
  • Naps

Choices vary according to our personalities and interests.

Reading the Bible satisfies better than honey on a warm biscuit.

God’s Word offers:

  • Lessons for daily life
  • The way to eternal life
  • Direction for life decisions

It also reminds us that our words and actions matter. Luke 6:31 tells us to treat others like we want them to treat us. Be as sweet to them as we want them to be sweet to us. Remember, we catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Seek satisfaction that lasts.

Follow God’s guidance for joy that never fails.

“But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you” (Psalm 81:16 NIV).

Thanks to Sharon Berry for the suggestion.

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Neither Here nor There

Neither Here nor There

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Neither Here nor There--sign post with signs "This Way" and "That Way"Many things that steal our attention are neither here nor there. They take our time but matter little or not at all.

Neither here nor there means unimportant.

The information or action:

  • Does not relate to the circumstances
  • Will not change anything

Therefore, who cares?

Think of daily activities that are neither here nor there.

  • Time on social media
  • Scrolling through television channels
  • Trying to be more important than one another

Frequent decisions are neither here nor there.

Either choice is okay, six of one and half a dozen of another. Examples include:

  • Where or what to eat
  • Which outfit to wear
  • What games to play

According to The Free Dictionary, “this term dates from the sixteenth century.”

Although not the first to use it, Shakespeare included it in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Othello.

When choices do matter, choose wisely.

  • Invest in what lasts.
  • Show respect for everyone.
  • Follow God’s direction.
  • Share God’s love.

“As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message.” (Galatians 2:6 NIV).

Thanks to Rita Smalley for the suggestion. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

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