A Dozen More Idioms to Finish the Year

I love idioms and use them all the time. I must get it from my mother. I grew up listening to her use her favourite idioms, which I have written about before:

It is not only the idioms and their use that capture my attention, but also how they arose.

Here are a dozen more idioms and their origins. Many are derived from early pieces of poetry. Some of the lines you write may become future idioms.

How many of these have you heard of, or do you use?

1. "Beer and skittles"

This originated in 19th-century England. It represented carefree fun and leisure. It mixed the popular pub activity of drinking beer with the bowling-like game of skittles.

It is usually used in the negative sense: "life isn't all beer and skittles.” Charles Dickens and Thomas Hughes demonstrated that life entails both responsibilities and pleasures.

2. “Don’t cry over spilled milk."

I wish I had a dollar for every time my mother said that. She would always remind me of this when I complained about something that had happened. It's pretty common. It means there is no point in getting upset over something that has happened and cannot be changed. It’s a reminder not to dwell on what has happened, but rather to focus on a solution and move forward.

Its origin dates to the 1659 collection of proverbs, which stated, “No weeping for shed milk.”

3. “As easy as pie.”

Is an idiom that means something is not overly challenging to do. The phrase is usually linked to the fact that pies are typically simple take make. It’s more likely linked to the simple pleasure of eating pies in 19th-century America. The first citation was actually made in Australia (the land of the meat pie) in the 1220s.

On a side note, if you have never had a good old Australian “dog’s eye” with "dead horse,” you do not know what you are missing.

4. “Biting off more than you can chew.”

This means taking on more than you can handle, resulting in difficulty or failure to complete a task. It connects to old Chinese proverbs. However, it became popular as an English idiom in 19th-century America. Around this time, chewing tobacco was a popular habit. People say someone has bitten off more than they can chew when tobacco makes them sick.

5. “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch."

This idiom tells us to stay focused and not assume something before it has happened. It derives from "The Milkmaid and Her Pail," one of Aesop's Fables. In the fable, a milkmaid dreamed of making cream and butter from her milk. She hoped to sell them to buy eggs. When the eggs hatched, she imagined having a chicken farm. With the money, she could buy dresses to impress the boys. She became so absorbed in her dreams that she spilled the milk and lost it all.

that advises against anticipating success before it is certain. Stay curious and grounded until you reach your goals.

6. “Don’t judge a book by its cover."

One of the most common idioms advises against judging something before we understand it. It urges us to see beyond looks and first impressions. Instead, we should focus on what’s inside and a person's personality.

It dates to Roman times when the poet Juvenal wrote, “Never judge from appearances.”

7. “All is fair in love and war."

This suggests that in some cases, anything is allowed, even if it's unethical or immoral. The idiom particularly drew attention to love and war. We know anything is fair in war, but what about love? Do you agree that anything goes when it comes to love, that anything goes to get the desired outcome?

Although its origins are unclear, it is believed to date back to 16th-century English poetry.

8. “Ignorance is bliss."

This idiom suggests that not knowing the whole truth can be better. It helps avoid unnecessary stress and worry. Think about the innocence of a child playing with matches, not knowing what could happen.

English poet Thomas Gray's 1742 poem, An Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College. The line, "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise," shows their happiness. They don’t know the sorrows and responsibilities of adulthood.

9. "Good things come to those who wait."

The inference is that patience and perseverance are essential for success. Being patient and waiting for the right moment can lead to great opportunities.

The main idea is from the French proverb, "Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre." This means, "Everything comes in time to those who can wait." The phrase gained fame in the 1980s when Heinz used it in a ketchup ad.

10. “It takes two to tango."

This idiom underscores that tango requires two dancers. In a fight, a negotiation, or any teamwork, there are always two sides and two people involved.

There was a popular song from 1952 called “Takes Two to Tango.” Ex-US President Ronald Reagan also famously used it. Its origin dates to the early 1900s. Hoosier Yackerman loved to dance, but hated people. He danced the tango to perfection on his own. When he entered a dance competition, the judge told him he did not win because “It Takes Two to Tango (boom boom!).”

11. “Actions speak louder than words."

Actions matter more than words. This shows that words can be empty without corresponding actions.

It dates to John 3:18 in the Bible, which says, "Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth."

The famous monk St. Francis of Assisi also used the term in the 1200s, as did Abraham Lincoln in a 1856 speech.

12. “Better late than never."

There had to be at least one that came from Latin. This idiom comes from an ancient Latin proverb, "potiusque sero quam nunquam." Geoffrey Chaucer popularised it in the Canterbury Tales. It’s better to do something late than not do it at all. This idea applies to work, personal projects, and relationships.

How many of these did you know, or do you frequently use?

Till next time,

Calvin