Search results for 'tag:Idioms tag:Metaphors' matching tags 'Idioms' and 'Metaphors'

Re: The thief in the temple...

YoungCalifornian — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:41:05 GMT

"The thief in the temple" seems to merely be a poetic metaphor and not an idiom. I'm not sure if the temple that is referenced is part of that metaphor or a literal structure (the diary belonged to a priest after all). Regardless, the usage of "thief" is probably a reflection of the flower figuratively robbing people of their lives. The ultimate point is simply that the flower is the source of the contagion.

Re: question about hillary's speech

nona the brit — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:07:00 GMT

Phew, that's a lot of questions!

1. what does fabric mean? an underlying structure? can we use any other words intead of "fabric"? You could certainly use a different metaphor. In this metaphor though, 'fabric' is the word used. You have pretty much got the meaning - imagine lots of threads being woven together.

2. She is not doing all this for her own benefit but her daughters.

3. Its another metaphor. Imagine sitting in the front row of a theatre or cinema.

4. 'Live the dream' is quite a common idiom.

5. Not up to something = not capable of doing it.

6. You could phrase it either way. She is not personally providing the services, so she wants to get someone else to do it. Or, you could think that as a society as a whole, we are providing the services. Kust depends on your point of view.

7. Yes, but this sounds good as it is.

8. the contestants are so close together you can't predict you will win. Whoever wins will do so by a verysmall margin.

9. When you're knocked down, get right back up. The whole phrase is a metaphor. If you suffer a defeat/disadvantage, you should not give up - just try even harder!

10. No, she is talking about ones who died because of their efforts to end slavery. They didn't see the end of it. They hoped to - that was why they did what they did.

11. grow up - common phrasal verb meaning to grow from a child to an adult.

12. I don't know enough about US election process. It could be a special 'department' name for her staff or she might just be complimenting her staff (I would have assumed the latter).

13. While.

14. Count my/your blessings. A common idiom.

Re: Selma bridge

Abil — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:34:40 GMT

Mr. MM you are right. It's not an idiom, but a metaphor and relates to Marthin Luther King's march that ended in Selma Bridge.

Re: Selma bridge

Mister Micawber — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:42:25 GMT

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I don't know because I am not familiar with the context of your quote. Did you read the link I gave you? Then apply it to the situation. It is not an idiom-- though it may be a metaphor.
.

Re: cool down or off

Feebs11 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:45:24 GMT

Cool off = become calmer

Cool down = allow the body to return to its normal temperature.

In your sentence, either might be used, as the second idiom can be used as a metaphor for allowing the temper to cool down.

Re: Idiom: "I's" dotted, "t's" crossed

Grammar Geek — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:08:02 GMT

When you are writing in longhand, in "script" or "cursive" you keep writing letters and don't stop to dot the i's or the j's, or cross the t's. You go back and do that after you write the entire word. Sometimes, you write so fast that you forget to go back and do that. If you have made sure that all the i's are dotted and all the t's are crossed, you have performed your task carefully and made sure you did not miss anything.

It is almost never used as an actualy admonition to school children. It's used instead as a metaphor to mean that you did absolutely everything that is supposed to be done, usually as it relates to following a specific procedure.

A similar metaphor: I made sure nothing is going to fall through the cracks.

Re: please guys, help me with slang phrase.

RayH — Sat, 24 May 2008 16:09:49 GMT

As you discovered, this idiom can mean many things depending on the context.

Mostly people yell. Sometimes, somebody takes a swing. ?? It can mean literally hitting or trying to hit someone

- Hillary Clinton takes a swing at sports metaphors. it can mean to attempt something

- Mike Tyson Film takes a swing at His Old Image. it can mean criticizing or making fun of someone or something

- Acer takes a swing at Windows Vista. it can mean to test something

I'm sure you will find many other examples on the Internet.

Re: help me with i think pun or annoatation ...

Mister Micawber — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:54:28 GMT

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These are metaphors, or perhaps anthropomorphization. Cities cannot really choke or have visions; people do.

At a crossroads is an idiom: at the point where a decision must be made. We are at a crossroads where we must choose between more talk and plain old hard work. Based on the literal meaning of crossroads (= the place where two roads come together and lead off in different directions).

synonyms

Anatbs — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:17:31 GMT

Does anyone know a synonym for the phrase "living life to its fullest" or something that conveys the idea of evaluating every minute by living it?

if you know of any good web-sites helping in understanding or finding idioms, metaphors or other phrases, I'd appreciate if you told me.

Thank you.

Re: expect to be waited on hand and foot

Maple — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:13:22 GMT

CalifJim
Hi, Maple.

You're parsing this wrong. It's waited on as a unit -- past participle of an inseparable phrasal verb to wait on meaning served.

I love others to give me all the things I need. I love others to run and fetch things for me. I love others to serve me. = I love to be waited on.

Note the relationship to waiter -- a server in a restaurant. The waiter waits on the customers.

The expression as a whole is an idiom. to wait on (someone) hand and foot. Adding hand and foot adds the idea of extreme attention to every little need. The person serving does everything possible to please the other, using hands to present needed things, using feet to run and fetch things for the other.

When you say it, group waited and on together and pause slightly. Then say hand and foot. Don't group it as on hand and foot.

Hi, CJ, I think I get it now.

It reminds me that long ago, I read one of your discussions about whether we can say we know the word out and blue, if we haven't got the least idea of what "out of blue" means. Same kind of problem.

It is very unusual to speak of an inanimate like a tree as 'being waited on', however!

As to this point, the whole article is kinda a metaphor; they're comparing plant husbandry with child education.

Thanks and Regards!

Maple