Expression: "go the extra mile"
Meaning: First of all, one must understand that Americans measure long distances in miles, not kilometers. Once you understand that, think of this idiom in terms of running and other distance-related activities. Going an extra mile means putting forth extra effort to go a longer distance. Over time this expression has evolved to mean putting forth extra effort whether or not distance is an issue.
Example: "I had a lot of stuff to move this weekend, and my friends really went the extra mile to help me out."
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Hard Nut to Crack
Expression: "hard nut to crack"
Meaning: Some nuts, such as peanuts, crack open relatively easily. Cracking open some other nuts, however, can require more physical effort. So while some problems can be easy to solve, like the ease with which you can crack open peanuts, this idiom developed as a way to refer to other problems, like hard-to-crack nuts, that are more difficult to solve.
Example: "This crossword puzzle is a hard nut to crack."
Meaning: Some nuts, such as peanuts, crack open relatively easily. Cracking open some other nuts, however, can require more physical effort. So while some problems can be easy to solve, like the ease with which you can crack open peanuts, this idiom developed as a way to refer to other problems, like hard-to-crack nuts, that are more difficult to solve.
Example: "This crossword puzzle is a hard nut to crack."
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Out of My League
Expression: "out of my league"
Meaning: Think of this in terms of sports leagues. Because of having less athletic ability, a lower league team cannot be expected to compete and win versus an upper league team. Over time, this has evolved to mostly describe romantic relationships. Someone who is "out of your league" is perhaps very attractive, or very wealthy, or famous, or in some way is someone who cannot be expected to develop a romantic interest in someone so much less attractive, less wealthy, not famous, and so forth.
Example: "I am in love with my favorite movie actress, but she's out of my league."
Meaning: Think of this in terms of sports leagues. Because of having less athletic ability, a lower league team cannot be expected to compete and win versus an upper league team. Over time, this has evolved to mostly describe romantic relationships. Someone who is "out of your league" is perhaps very attractive, or very wealthy, or famous, or in some way is someone who cannot be expected to develop a romantic interest in someone so much less attractive, less wealthy, not famous, and so forth.
Example: "I am in love with my favorite movie actress, but she's out of my league."
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Fork in the Road
Expression: "fork in the road"
Meaning: A fork in a road is when one road, like the handle of a fork eating utensil, branches off in multiple directions and the driver suddenly has to choose which branch to continue on. Even when not driving, however, this phrase has evolved to mean that one has reached the time to make a decision about something.
Example: "My cellphone died, and so I have come to a fork in the road; should I buy a new Samsung smartphone or a new iPhone?"
Meaning: A fork in a road is when one road, like the handle of a fork eating utensil, branches off in multiple directions and the driver suddenly has to choose which branch to continue on. Even when not driving, however, this phrase has evolved to mean that one has reached the time to make a decision about something.
Example: "My cellphone died, and so I have come to a fork in the road; should I buy a new Samsung smartphone or a new iPhone?"
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