"Figures of speech" you never understood

  • 87 results
  • 1
  • 2

This topic is locked from further discussion.

Avatar image for KH-mixerX
KH-mixerX

5702

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

#1 KH-mixerX
Member since 2007 • 5702 Posts

"The straw that broke the camels back." That's one I never understood.

Avatar image for ShadowNinja606
ShadowNinja606

611

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#2 ShadowNinja606
Member since 2010 • 611 Posts

It means the one that pushed you past breaking point, however small it may be.

Avatar image for 194197844077667059316682358889
194197844077667059316682358889

49173

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#3 194197844077667059316682358889
Member since 2003 • 49173 Posts

"The straw that broke the camels back." That's one I never understood.

KH-mixerX
The relatively small problem that, taken in combination with a lot of other relatively small problems, makes a situation unbearable
Avatar image for Necrifer
Necrifer

10629

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#4 Necrifer
Member since 2010 • 10629 Posts

The straw that broke the camel's back is like the small amount of extra pressure that pushed someone beyond what they can handle. Or that's how I learned it.

Head over heels.
-could care less.

Avatar image for aransom
aransom

7408

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

#5 aransom
Member since 2002 • 7408 Posts

"The straw that broke the camels back." That's one I never understood.

KH-mixerX

One piece of straw isn't very heavy, but if you loaded it on a camel one piece at a time, sooner or later you'd reach the point where he couldn't carry any more. That's the 'straw'.

Avatar image for GabuEx
GabuEx

36552

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 27

User Lists: 0

#6 GabuEx
Member since 2006 • 36552 Posts

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating".

It seems to me that if someone sees brown glop, the proper way to verify that it is indeed pudding as opposed to something else is not to eat it.

Avatar image for 194197844077667059316682358889
194197844077667059316682358889

49173

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#7 194197844077667059316682358889
Member since 2003 • 49173 Posts

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating".

It seems to me that if someone sees brown glop, the proper way to verify that it is indeed pudding as opposed to something else is not to eat it.

GabuEx
I always took the proof as being relative to the quality of the pudding, not the quality of it being pudding
Avatar image for aransom
aransom

7408

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

#8 aransom
Member since 2002 • 7408 Posts

I like 'couldn't care less' because so many people say 'could care less' which means the opposite, that they care a lot, because they could care less.

Avatar image for 196432160425370547874320627439
196432160425370547874320627439

1739

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

#9 196432160425370547874320627439
Member since 2003 • 1739 Posts

I always thoughtdollars to donuts was odd.

Thats the bees knees.

Cats meow.

I also find it amusing when people say "I could care less." When they mean "I couldn't care lesss."

Avatar image for GabuEx
GabuEx

36552

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 27

User Lists: 0

#10 GabuEx
Member since 2006 • 36552 Posts

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating".

It seems to me that if someone sees brown glop, the proper way to verify that it is indeed pudding as opposed to something else is not to eat it.

xaos

I always took the proof as being relative to the quality of the pudding, not the quality of it being pudding

I suppose that's one way of reading it, although I much prefer my version where a guy thinks it might be pudding or it might be ****, and eats it to find out which it is. :P

(Speaking of which, the garbled version of "the proof is in the pudding" almost annoys me as much as "could care less".)

Avatar image for aransom
aransom

7408

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

#11 aransom
Member since 2002 • 7408 Posts

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating".

It seems to me that if someone sees brown glop, the proper way to verify that it is indeed pudding as opposed to something else is not to eat it.

xaos

I always took the proof as being relative to the quality of the pudding, not the quality of it being pudding

I have to agree with xaos on this one. The person already knows it's pudding, or else the saying would be 'the proof is in whatever that stuff is'.

Avatar image for 196432160425370547874320627439
196432160425370547874320627439

1739

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

#12 196432160425370547874320627439
Member since 2003 • 1739 Posts
(Speaking of which, the garbled version of "the proof is in the pudding" almost annoys me as much as "could care less".)GabuEx
What a great world if that were true though. Murders solved with some delicious pudding. Or make scientific discoveries more tasty. Sit down eat some Vanilla pudding and voila.. the theory is correct.
Avatar image for poptart
poptart

7298

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#14 poptart
Member since 2003 • 7298 Posts

"A different kettle of fish"

I'm sure I could googlify it but................ I guess I'm just lazy.

Avatar image for 196432160425370547874320627439
196432160425370547874320627439

1739

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

#15 196432160425370547874320627439
Member since 2003 • 1739 Posts
[QUOTE="poptart"]

"A different kettle of fish"

I'm sure I could googlify it but................ I guess I'm just lazy.

WTF?! LOL I have NEVER heard of that.
Avatar image for poptart
poptart

7298

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#17 poptart
Member since 2003 • 7298 Posts

[QUOTE="poptart"]

"A different kettle of fish"

I'm sure I could googlify it but................ I guess I'm just lazy.

irishscott99

WTF?! LOL I have NEVER heard of that.

Hmm... Well maybe it's a little more common over our side of the Atlantic. Either way I like it - it's just tickety boo.

Avatar image for 196432160425370547874320627439
196432160425370547874320627439

1739

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

#18 196432160425370547874320627439
Member since 2003 • 1739 Posts
[QUOTE="poptart"]

[QUOTE="irishscott99"][QUOTE="poptart"]

"A different kettle of fish"

I'm sure I could googlify it but................ I guess I'm just lazy.

WTF?! LOL I have NEVER heard of that.

Hmm... Well maybe it's a little more common over our side of the Atlantic. Either way I like it - it's just tickety boo.

It's hilarious... and what the heck is tickety boo... lol you crazy foreigners :P
Avatar image for deactivated-6127ced9bcba0
deactivated-6127ced9bcba0

31700

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#20 deactivated-6127ced9bcba0
Member since 2006 • 31700 Posts

(Speaking of which, the garbled version of "the proof is in the pudding" almost annoys me as much as "could care less".)

GabuEx

I could care less about what you think, Gabu. :)

Avatar image for funsohng
funsohng

29976

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#21 funsohng
Member since 2005 • 29976 Posts
I thought figures of speech were grammatical things.
Avatar image for HellsAngel2c
HellsAngel2c

5540

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

#22 HellsAngel2c
Member since 2004 • 5540 Posts
"I could care less" enrages me. It implies that you have some level of care, no matter how small. 'I couldn't care less' implies you have NO care for it, therefore it's impossible for it to get any lower.
Avatar image for Hseptic
Hseptic

1566

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#23 Hseptic
Member since 2003 • 1566 Posts

I never understood "don't cut off your nose to spite your face"

Avatar image for Brutal_Elitegs
Brutal_Elitegs

16426

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#24 Brutal_Elitegs
Member since 2004 • 16426 Posts

"I could care less" enrages me. It implies that you have some level of care, no matter how small. 'I couldn't care less' implies you have NO care for it, therefore it's impossible for it to get any lower.HellsAngel2c

hold down the fort, and when i get back the two of us can tickle the fort.

Avatar image for Feryraiser
Feryraiser

1574

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#25 Feryraiser
Member since 2009 • 1574 Posts

break a leg

i mean wtf just say good luck ;/

Avatar image for GabuEx
GabuEx

36552

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 27

User Lists: 0

#26 GabuEx
Member since 2006 • 36552 Posts

I never understood "don't cut off your nose to spite your face"

georgestone

It basically means, "Don't hurt yourself to get back at someone to whom you're connected." For example, suppose you're in a team event, but you really don't like your teammate, so you purposefully sabotage your team's efforts to get back at him, thereby hurting yourself too.

Avatar image for 194197844077667059316682358889
194197844077667059316682358889

49173

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#27 194197844077667059316682358889
Member since 2003 • 49173 Posts

[QUOTE="georgestone"]

I never understood "don't cut off your nose to spite your face"

GabuEx

It basically means, "Don't hurt yourself to get back at someone to whom you're connected." For example, suppose you're in a team event, but you really don't like your teammate, so you purposefully sabotage your team's efforts to get back at him, thereby hurting yourself too.

Or more generally, don't harm your greater interests to gain revenge for some petty affront =D
Avatar image for deactivated-5e7f221e304c9
deactivated-5e7f221e304c9

14645

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

#28 deactivated-5e7f221e304c9
Member since 2004 • 14645 Posts

"The wealth will just 'trickle down'"

Avatar image for Lonelynight
Lonelynight

30051

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#29 Lonelynight
Member since 2006 • 30051 Posts
"less is more" Why don't people just ****ing say less is better.
Avatar image for flipin_jackass
flipin_jackass

9772

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#30 flipin_jackass
Member since 2004 • 9772 Posts

"you can't have your cake and eat it too" :x it doesn't make sense to me

Avatar image for cybrcatter
cybrcatter

16210

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#31 cybrcatter
Member since 2003 • 16210 Posts

"The wealth will just 'trickle down'"

jaydough
lol You will never see that in an economics textbook. You might find it in a poly sci textbook under, 'political catchphrases'.
Avatar image for no_more_fayth
no_more_fayth

11928

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#32 no_more_fayth
Member since 2010 • 11928 Posts

Sometimes you gotta look yourself in the mirror and say, "When in Rome."

Avatar image for DigitalExile
DigitalExile

16046

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#33 DigitalExile
Member since 2008 • 16046 Posts

-could care less.

Necrifer

I like 'couldn't care less' because so many people say 'could care less' which means the opposite, that they care a lot, because they could care less.

aransom

I only run into this issue with Americans.

I've never heard anyone in Australia say anything other than "I couldn't care less."

Avatar image for Mousetaches
Mousetaches

1293

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#34 Mousetaches
Member since 2009 • 1293 Posts
I've never understood the root of "head over heels." I understand what it means, but I'm almost always head over heels, so it seems like you're saying, "this person is in a state they are used to being in, oh, and they are in love."
Avatar image for DigitalExile
DigitalExile

16046

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#35 DigitalExile
Member since 2008 • 16046 Posts

"less is more" Why don't people just ****ing say less is better.Lonelynight
Because "less is more" (or some variant of it) is a famous quite by a Bauhaus artist.

"The phrase as adopted by the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe as a precept for minimalist design"

Avatar image for Oleg_Huzwog
Oleg_Huzwog

21885

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#36 Oleg_Huzwog
Member since 2007 • 21885 Posts

"Colder than a witch's teat"

Avatar image for dave123321
dave123321

35554

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#37 dave123321
Member since 2003 • 35554 Posts

"you can't have your cake and eat it too" :x it doesn't make sense to me

flipin_jackass
Means you can't have it both ways. If you eat the cake you no longer have it.
Avatar image for 194197844077667059316682358889
194197844077667059316682358889

49173

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#38 194197844077667059316682358889
Member since 2003 • 49173 Posts
[QUOTE="flipin_jackass"]

"you can't have your cake and eat it too" :x it doesn't make sense to me

dave123321
Means you can't have it both ways. If you eat the cake you no longer have it.

But who wants to have a cake that you can't eat? Well, unless it's like a urinal cake or something
Avatar image for arad96
arad96

7783

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

#39 arad96
Member since 2009 • 7783 Posts

[QUOTE="dave123321"][QUOTE="flipin_jackass"]

"you can't have your cake and eat it too" :x it doesn't make sense to me

xaos

Means you can't have it both ways. If you eat the cake you no longer have it.

But who wants to have a cake that you can't eat? Well, unless it's like a urinal cake or something

I do! :o I want to own a cake shop when I growup. :)

Avatar image for Brutal_Elitegs
Brutal_Elitegs

16426

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#40 Brutal_Elitegs
Member since 2004 • 16426 Posts

"you can't have your cake and eat it too" :x it doesn't make sense to me

flipin_jackass

It's a backwards way of saying you can't eat your cake and have it too. I think confusion arises when people think, "why the **** would I buy a cake if I can't eat it?"

Avatar image for Necrifer
Necrifer

10629

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#41 Necrifer
Member since 2010 • 10629 Posts

[QUOTE="xaos"]

[QUOTE="dave123321"]

Means you can't have it both ways. If you eat the cake you no longer have it.

arad96

But who wants to have a cake that you can't eat? Well, unless it's like a urinal cake or something

I do! :o I want to own a cake shop when I growup. :)

Best urinal cakes in town.

Avatar image for mrmusicman247
mrmusicman247

17601

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#42 mrmusicman247
Member since 2008 • 17601 Posts
Head over heels. It should be heels over head!
Avatar image for 194197844077667059316682358889
194197844077667059316682358889

49173

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#43 194197844077667059316682358889
Member since 2003 • 49173 Posts
Head over heels. It should be heels over head!mrmusicman247
I agree :oops:
Avatar image for dave123321
dave123321

35554

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#44 dave123321
Member since 2003 • 35554 Posts
[QUOTE="dave123321"][QUOTE="flipin_jackass"]

"you can't have your cake and eat it too" :x it doesn't make sense to me

xaos
Means you can't have it both ways. If you eat the cake you no longer have it.

But who wants to have a cake that you can't eat? Well, unless it's like a urinal cake or something

That's a good point .
Avatar image for cd_rom
cd_rom

13951

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#45 cd_rom
Member since 2003 • 13951 Posts
"I guess he grabbed the short end of the stick." I guess there's something I'm not thinking of, but to me a stick doesn't have a short or long end. The stick itself has two ends, but they're both the length of the stick.
Avatar image for flipin_jackass
flipin_jackass

9772

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#46 flipin_jackass
Member since 2004 • 9772 Posts
But isn't that like saying you can't have your money and spend it too. Of course you can have your money, and spending it is the point.
Avatar image for cd_rom
cd_rom

13951

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

#47 cd_rom
Member since 2003 • 13951 Posts
But isn't that like saying you can't have your money and spend it too. Of course you can have your money, and spending it is the point. flipin_jackass
You can't have money and spend it too. If you spend it, you don't have it. If you have it, you don't spend it. You choose one or the other.
Avatar image for JinjonatorX
JinjonatorX

639

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#48 JinjonatorX
Member since 2010 • 639 Posts
[QUOTE="flipin_jackass"]But isn't that like saying you can't have your money and spend it too. Of course you can have your money, and spending it is the point. cd_rom
You can't have money and spend it too. If you spend it, you don't have it. If you have it, you don't spend it. You choose one or the other.

Or spend some, and save the rest. You can have your money, and spend it too!
Avatar image for Dark__Link
Dark__Link

32653

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#49 Dark__Link
Member since 2003 • 32653 Posts
Head over heels. It should be heels over head!mrmusicman247
I thought it was more the general motion than a state of being. Head over heels over head over heels, etc.
Avatar image for jerk-o-tron2000
jerk-o-tron2000

10036

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#50 jerk-o-tron2000
Member since 2007 • 10036 Posts

No good deed goes unpunished......

WHAT!?