Browsed by
Tag: simile

Sleep Like a Log

Sleep Like a Log

Comments 14 comments

 

Sleep Like a Log--large log with branches still attached before a tall treeI rise early most mornings. However, caregiving, especially getting up several times a night, occasionally wears me down. If I become extremely tired and have few interruptions, I sleep like a log.

Recently, after days of meeting myself coming and going, I slept almost two hours past my usual wakeup. I felt wonderful! A good night’s sleep solves a lot of life’s woes!

To sleep like a log means a deep, restful sleep.

Similar expressions include sleep like a:

  • Baby
  • Top
  • Rock

All mean to sleep:

  • Well
  • Soundly
  • Without waking

To sleep like a log can be dangerous.

Although we want to sleep soundly, we can overdo it. A friend in college slept so well that other people in his dorm had to wake him when his alarm went off. I once slept through a tornado warning. Someone finally realized I was missing and woke me.

Several steps help achieve a good night’s rest.

  • Go to bed and get up about the same time every day.
  • Keep the room free of distractions.
  • Maintain a regular pre-sleep routine.
  • Eliminate screen time an hour or more before going to bed.

God gave us the gift of sleep. Let’s make the most of it.

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8 NIV).

Thanks to Joanne Viola for the suggestion.

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

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Scarce as Hens’ Teeth

Scarce as Hens’ Teeth

Comments 10 comments

Scarce as Hens' Teeth--a rooster followed by a row of ducksThis photo, with lots of ducks and a rooster, has no hens. Hens are as scarce as hens’ teeth here.

Scarce as hens’ teeth means very scarce.

What we seek is:

  • Rare
  • Impossible or almost impossible to find

We seldom find a:

  • Mud puddle in the desert
  • Polar bear in Kentucky
  • Pessimist at an optimists’ meeting

Hens have no teeth.

That fact emphasizes how scarce an item can be. Finding what we want is like looking for a needle in a haystack. However, as with mud puddles in the desert, we may find them once in a blue moon.

We often give greater value to scarce items.

Supply and demand teach that demand (and prices) go up when supply goes down. We see that with:

  • One-of-a-kind art
  • Antiques
  • Limited editions of anything

Truth frequently feels as scarce as hens’ teeth.

Everywhere we turn, we find people trying to deceive us. Scams appear:

  • On our phones
  • In the mail
  • During business deals

Such occurrences make us mad as a wet hen.

Occasionally, we wonder if truth exists anymore.

However, one truth never fails.

God, who is truth, offers each of us grace and truth through the gift of Jesus. Hang on to that truth and never let go.

 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NIV).

Thanks to Emily Akin for the suggestion.

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

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Packed Like Sardines

Packed Like Sardines

Comments 2 comments

Packed Like Sardines--an opened can of sardinesI am not a sardine fan, but many people are. Whether we like them or not, we get our money’s worth when we buy a tin of sardines. Those cans are full of little fish. We enjoy food packed like sardines. However, we don’t like to feel crowded ourselves.

Packed like sardines means to be packed tightly.

Usually that includes feeling:

  • Uncomfortable
  • Unable to move

We hope for relief soon

The space is too small for the number of people in it. That often happens with:

  • Subways
  • Buses
  • Concerts
  • Shopping centers
  • City streets

We don’t have enough room. We feel trapped

Rather than crowds and fenced in places, we long for the freedom of wide-open spaces.

Crowds can be good sometimes.

We want lots of people to show up to:

  • Learn important information
  • Help others
  • Receive the services they need

Jesus welcomed crowds while on earth and continues to welcome crowds today. However, Jesus also spent time alone. We do well to follow that example.

“Crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:15-16 NIV).

Thanks to Joe and Ann Klotz for the suggestion. Image by monicore from Pixabay.

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

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Like a Broken Record

Like a Broken Record

Comments 3 comments

Like a broken record--an open record playerFor young people unfamiliar with vintage audio, saying someone sounds like a broken record fails to compute. Many can’t relate to a record player needle landing on a scratched vinyl record—a sound definitely not music to our ears.

  • The needle gets stuck in a record groove.
  • The same line plays over and over again.
  • We must manually correct our broken record before the music proceeds.

How like those records we sound when we constantly beg for something. We may rephrase our requests, but the sound comes out the same — nag, nag, nag. I want it. I want it. I want it. Did you hear me? I want it!

We may receive our request, just so we will shut up and go away. Granted, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Yet we also know that most people try to avoid that squeaky wheel.

Many of us could benefit from a little assertiveness training. We don’t want to sit back, never sharing our needs.  At the same time, we don’t want to annoy people until we drive them away.

Speak well. Speak clearly. Know when to stop repeating.

“Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God” (Ecclesiastes 5:7 NIV).

Thanks to Karen Hart for the suggestion.

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

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Wise as an Owl

Wise as an Owl

Comments 11 comments

Wise as an Owl--snowy owl on a logI had never seen a snowy owl until this one showed up near our house. Northern Canada is home to snowy owls, not central Kentucky. Yet, this one decided to stop for a visit.

As a result, people traveled here from several states. They wanted to see and take pictures of our unusual guest.

All owls, including our lovely visitor, remind us to be wise as an owl.

Wise as an owl means very wise.

We use our brains. That includes:

  • Learning new information
  • Using that information well (We can be sharp as a tack yet not wise.)
  • Sharing our information, so others can also grow wise as an owl

Wise as an owl does not mean having all the answers.

No one but God knows everything. Therefore, a wise person:

Remember a word to the wise can come from unusual places:

Watch. Listen. Always remain ready to learn.

“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning” (Proverbs 9:9 NIV).

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

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.