Mother Knows Best: What Do These Old-Fashioned Sayings Actually Mean?

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What Does It Mean To Say Something Is A Piece Of Cake?

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What Are You Doing If You Break A Leg?

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If You Are Under The Weather How Do You Feel?

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What Is Happening When It Is Raining Cats And Dogs?

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What Does It Mean To Hit The Sack?

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If Something Costs An Arm And A Leg What Is Its Price?

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What Does It Mean To Let The Cat Out Of The Bag?

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What Are You Doing When You Piece Together A Story?

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What Does It Mean To Bite The Bullet?

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If Someone Tells You To Break The Ice What Should You Do?

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What Does It Mean To Bark Up The Wrong Tree?

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What Is The Meaning Of Better Late Than Never?

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What Are You Doing If You Pull Someone's Leg?

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What Does It Mean To Hit The Nail On The Head?

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What Is The Meaning Of When Pigs Fly?

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What Does It Mean To Keep Your Chin Up?

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What Happens If You Spill The Beans?

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What Does It Mean To Be All Ears?

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What Are You Doing When You Cut Corners?

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What Does It Mean To Be In The Same Boat?

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What Is The Meaning Of Out Of The Blue?

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What Does It Mean To See Eye To Eye?

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What Are You Doing If You Blow Off Steam?

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What Is The Meaning Of A Piece Of Cake?

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What Does It Mean To Go The Extra Mile?

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What Are You Doing When You Hold Your Horses?

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What Does It Mean To Bite Off More Than You Can Chew?

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What Is The Meaning Of The Best Of Both Worlds?

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What Does It Mean To Beat Around The Bush?

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What Are You Doing When You Call It A Day?

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What Does It Mean To Mind Your P's And Q's?

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What Does It Mean To Throw The Baby Out With The Bathwater?

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What Is The Meaning Of A Stitch In Time Saves Nine?

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What Does It Mean To Be On The Ball?

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What Is The Meaning Of Curiosity Killed The Cat?

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What Does It Mean To Burn The Midnight Oil?

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What Does It Mean To Be Caught Between A Rock And A Hard Place?

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What Does It Mean To Cry Wolf?

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What Is The Meaning Of Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch?

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What Does It Mean To Give Someone The Cold Shoulder?

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What Is The Meaning Of Ignorance Is Bliss?

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What Does It Mean To It Takes Two To Tango?

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What Is The Meaning Of Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining?

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What Does It Mean To Get Your Act Together?

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What Is The Meaning Of Hang In There?

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What Does It Mean To Let Someone Off The Hook?

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What Does It Mean To Make A Long Story Short?

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What Is The Meaning Of Miss The Boat?

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What Does It Mean To Be On The Ball?

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What Does It Mean To Pull Yourself Together?

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What Is The Meaning Of Speak Of The Devil?

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What Does It Mean To Be The Last Straw?

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What Does It Mean To Go Through Thick And Thin?

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What Is The Meaning Of Under The Radar?

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What Does It Mean To Wrap Your Head Around Something?

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What Is The Meaning Of Your Guess Is As Good As Mine?

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What Does It Mean To Have A Penny For Your Thoughts?

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What Does It Mean To Keep Someone At Arm's Length?

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What Is The Meaning Of A Blessing In Disguise?

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What Does It Mean To Burn Bridges?

1

The Task Is Extremely Easy To Accomplish

2

The Task Is Very Difficult To Finish

3

The Task Requires Many Different Ingredients

4

The Task Involves Baking A Dessert

This Phrase Is Used To Describe An Activity Or Task That Is Very Simple For Someone To Complete Successfully.

1

Running A Race Very Quickly

2

Wishing Someone Good Luck Before A Performance

3

Actually Injuring Yourself During An Accident

4

Dancing Until You Are Completely Exhausted

This Common Expression Is A Superstitious Way To Wish Performers Success Without Actually Saying The Words Good Luck.

1

You Are Feeling Very Happy And Excited

2

You Are Feeling Sick Or Not Well

3

You Are Hiding From A Thunderstorm

4

You Are Standing In The Rain

This Phrase Is Commonly Used To Describe Someone Who Is Feeling Ill Or Not At Their Usual Level Of Health.

1

It Is Starting To Snow Lightly

2

Animals Are Falling From The Sky

3

The Weather Is Clear And Sunny

4

It Is Raining Very Heavily Outside

This Old Saying Describes A Heavy Downpour Of Rain That Makes A Lot Of Noise On The Roof Above.

1

It Means That You Are Going To Bed

2

You Are Punching A Bag Of Flour

3

You Are Going To The Grocery Store

4

You Are Packing Your Bags For Travel

This Casual Expression Simply Means That A Person Is Tired And Is Heading To Sleep For The Night.

1

The Item Is Sold At A Discount

2

The Item Is Free Of Charge

3

The Item Costs Only One Dollar

4

The Item Is Very Expensive

People Use This Phrase To Describe Something That Is Overpriced Or Requires A Large Amount Of Money To Purchase.

1

You Are Going Shopping For New Clothes

2

You Are Releasing A Pet Outdoors

3

You Have Accidentally Revealed A Secret

4

You Are Cleaning Up A Messy Room

This Saying Refers To Someone Sharing Confidential Information Or A Secret That Was Supposed To Stay Hidden From Others.

1

You Are Cutting Paper Into Small Shapes

2

You Are Writing A Letter To Someone

3

You Are Figuring Out The Whole Truth

4

You Are Reading A Book Out Loud

This Expression Means Connecting Different Bits Of Information To Understand The Full Situation Or What Really Happened In Reality.

1

Going To The Dentist For Surgery

2

Cleaning A Rusty Metal Object

3

Eating Something That Is Very Hard

4

Accepting Something Difficult Or Unpleasant

This Phrase Means Enduring A Painful Or Unpleasant Situation That Is Unavoidable And Must Be Faced With Great Courage.

1

Start A Conversation To Relieve Tension

2

Put Ice Cubes Into A Drink

3

Chip Away At A Frozen Lake

4

Go Skating With A Group Of Friends

Breaking The Ice Means Starting A Friendly Interaction To Help People Feel More Comfortable In A New Social Setting.

1

You Are Shouting At A Large Plant

2

You Are Painting A Wooden Fence

3

You Are Looking In The Wrong Place

4

You Are Chasing A Squirrel Outside

This Saying Means That Your Line Of Thought Or Course Of Action Is Mistaken And Will Not Lead Anywhere.

1

Doing Something Late Is Better Than Not Doing It

2

Arriving Early Is The Most Important Goal

3

You Should Always Be Exactly On Time

4

Time Does Not Matter In Any Situation

This Phrase Suggests That Completing A Task Or Arriving Somewhere Eventually Is Always Preferable To Failing To Do So.

1

You Are Tripping Them While They Walk

2

You Are Helping Them Stand Up Straighter

3

You Are Stretching Their Muscles For Them

4

You Are Teasing Them Or Joking Around

This Idiom Is Used When Someone Is Lightly Teasing Another Person By Telling Them Something That Is Not True.

1

To Get A Headache From Working Hard

2

To Win A Game Of Skill Easily

3

To Describe Exactly What Is Causing A Situation

4

To Use A Hammer On A Piece Of Wood

This Expression Describes When Someone Says Something That Is Exactly Correct Or Identifies The True Heart Of A Matter.

1

Something That Will Never Ever Happen

2

A Great Achievement For A Farmer

3

A Farm Animal Learning To Glide

4

A Very Unusual Sight In The Sky

This Humorous Phrase Is Used To Describe A Situation Or Event That Is Completely Impossible And Will Never Occur.

1

Lift Your Head To See The Ceiling

2

Balance An Object On Your Face

3

Try To Act Much Taller Than Normal

4

Stay Positive During A Difficult Situation

This Encouraging Saying Is Often Used To Tell Someone To Remain Optimistic And Brave Despite Facing Very Tough Challenges.

1

You Give Away A Secret Prematurely

2

You Are Cooking A Large Pot Of Soup

3

You Are Planting Seeds In A Garden

4

You Drop Your Dinner On The Floor

This Phrase Refers To Accidentally Or Intentionally Sharing Private Information That Was Supposed To Be Kept Quiet And Secret.

1

You Are Wearing Multiple Pairs Of Earrings

2

You Have Very Large Physical Ears

3

You Are Not Paying Any Attention At All

4

You Are Listening Very Closely To Someone

When Someone Says They Are All Ears They Mean They Are Giving Their Full Attention To What Is Being Said.

1

Doing Something Poorly To Save Time Or Money

2

Using Scissors To Shape A Piece Of Paper

3

Trimming The Edges Of A Grass Lawn

4

Turning A Vehicle Very Sharply On The Road

This Expression Refers To Performing A Task In The Cheapest Or Fastest Way Rather Than The Best Way Possible.

1

Traveling On A Ship Across The Ocean

2

Living In The Same Neighborhood Or Town

3

Wearing The Same Type Of Clothing

4

Being In The Same Unpleasant Situation Together

This Saying Means That Two Or More People Are Facing The Same Difficult Circumstances And Must Deal With Them.

1

Something That Is Painted A Bright Color

2

Something That Happens Suddenly And Unexpectedly

3

Feeling Very Sad For No Reason

4

Falling From The Clear Sunny Sky

This Idiom Describes An Event That Occurs Without Any Warning And Is Completely Surprising To Everyone Involved In It.

1

To Wear Glasses To Improve Vision

2

To Agree Fully With Another Person

3

To Look Directly Into Someone's Pupils

4

To Stand At The Exact Same Height

When People See Eye To Eye It Means They Share The Same Opinion Or Viewpoint On A Particular Topic.

1

Standing Outside On A Very Cold Day

2

Cooking With A Very Large Whistling Kettle

3

Doing Something To Relieve Stress Or Anger

4

Cleaning A Machine That Uses Vapor

This Phrase Means Releasing Pent Up Emotions Or Energy Through Physical Activity Or By Talking About Your Internal Feelings.

1

Something That Requires A Great Deal Of Effort

2

An Activity That Is Very Simple To Do

3

A Slice Of Food Served At Parties

4

A Task That Is Impossible To Complete

This Common Phrase Describes Any Task That Is Extremely Easy And Can Be Done Without Any Difficulty Or Trouble.

1

Running Faster Than Other People In Races

2

Driving A Very Long Distance On Vacation

3

Putting In More Effort Than Is Expected

4

Walking One More Mile For Exercise

Going The Extra Mile Means Doing More Than Your Duty To Ensure That A Project Or Person Is Successful.

1

You Are Gripping The Reins Of An Animal

2

You Are Owning A Large Number Of Equines

3

You Are Waiting Or Slowing Down

4

You Are Building A Fence For A Pasture

This Old Fashioned Command Means That Someone Needs To Be Patient Or Slow Down Before They Make A Big Mistake.

1

Buying Too Many Items At The Store

2

Taking On A Task That Is Too Big

3

Talking While You Are Still Eating Dinner

4

Eating Too Much Food At One Time

This Saying Describes Trying To Do Something That Is Far Beyond Your Current Capability Or Your Available Amount Of Time.

1

Benefiting From Two Different Situations At Once

2

Traveling To Every Continent On The Earth

3

Having Two Very Different Jobs To Do

4

Living On Two Different Planets In Space

This Phrase Describes A Situation Where You Can Enjoy All The Advantages Of Two Different Options At The Same Time.

1

Looking For Something Lost In The Woods

2

Chasing A Small Animal Into The Brush

3

Trimming The Hedges In Your Garden

4

Avoiding The Main Topic Or Not Being Direct

Someone Who Beats Around The Bush Avoids Speaking Directly About A Difficult Subject Or Getting Straight To The Main Point.

1

Shouting Out Loud In The Morning

2

Writing In Your Personal Daily Journal

3

Deciding To Stop Working On Something

4

Giving A Name To A Specific Date

This Expression Is Used When Someone Decides That They Have Done Enough Work For One Day And Should Stop.

1

To Count The Number Of Letters In Words

2

To Be On Your Best Behavior And Polite

3

To Check Your Spelling In A Letter

4

To Mind Your Own Business And Be Quiet

This Traditional Saying Encourages People To Maintain Good Manners And Behave Appropriately In Both Social And Professional Formal Situations.

1

Giving A Small Child A Bath In Sink

2

Changing The Water In A Fish Tank

3

Emptying A Small Tub Of Water Outside

4

Discarding Something Valuable While Getting Rid Of Trash

This Saying Warns Against Losing Essential Or Valuable Things When You Are Trying To Clean Up Or Make Improvements.

1

Working Faster To Get More Things Done

2

Sewing A Pattern Onto A Piece Of Fabric

3

Fixing A Small Problem Now Prevents Bigger Ones

4

Counting The Seconds On A Grandfather Clock

This Proverb Means That Taking Quick Action To Fix A Small Error Now Will Save A Lot Of Work.

1

To Balance On Top Of A Round Object

2

To Play A Sport Like Soccer Or Baseball

3

To Stand In The Middle Of A Large Room

4

To Be Very Alert And Doing A Good Job

Being On The Ball Means That A Person Is Quick To Understand Situations And Is Reacting Very Efficiently To Challenges.

1

Cats Are Very Dangerous Animals To Keep

2

Being Too Inquisitive Can Lead To Trouble

3

Asking Questions Is Always A Good Thing

4

Animals Should Be Kept Inside The House

This Warning Suggests That Investigating Or Prying Into Affairs That Do Not Concern You Can Sometimes Lead To Unpleasant Results.

1

To Light A Lamp During An Evening Party

2

To Waste Fuel In An Old Engine Room

3

To Work Or Study Very Late Into The Night

4

To Cook A Meal After The Sun Sets

This Idiom Refers To The Old Practice Of Using Oil Lamps To Work Deep Into The Night Or Early Morning.

1

Walking On A Path Made Of Sharp Rocks

2

Standing Underneath A Very Large Stone Wall

3

Facing A Choice Between Two Equally Difficult Options

4

Getting Stuck Inside A Narrow Canyon Pass

This Phrase Describes A Dilemma Where Every Possible Choice Available To You Seems To Have A Negative Or Unpleasant Outcome.

1

To Tell A Scary Story To Young Children

2

To Give A False Alarm Too Many Times

3

To Make A Sound Like A Howling Dog

4

To Scream When You See A Wild Animal

Crying Wolf Means Claiming There Is A Crisis When There Is Not Which Leads People To Ignore Future Actual Emergencies.

1

Always Keep Track Of Every Animal You Own

2

Wait Until The Morning To Check On Eggs

3

Make Sure You Buy Plenty Of Bird Feed

4

Do Not Plan On Success Before It Actually Happens

This Wise Saying Advises People Not To Make Plans Based On Good Things That Might Happen But Have Not Yet.

1

To Place An Ice Pack On A Person's Body

2

To Carry A Heavy Load On Your Back

3

To Wear A Shirt That Has No Sleeves

4

To Intentionally Ignore Or Be Unfriendly To Someone

Giving The Cold Shoulder Is A Way Of Showing Someone That You Are Angry Or Unhappy By Refusing To Speak.

1

People Who Are Wise Are Always Very Happy

2

Sometimes You Are Happier If You Do Not Know

3

It Is Important To Know Everything At Once

4

Learning New Things Is Always Very Exciting

This Expression Suggests That Not Knowing About Problems Or Unpleasant Truths Can Sometimes Be A Way To Remain Mentally Peaceful.

1

Music Is Better With Two Different Instruments

2

Both People Are Responsible For A Certain Situation

3

Dancing Requires Two Partners On The Floor

4

Learning A New Dance Takes A Long Time

This Saying Emphasizes That For Many Conflicts Or Activities To Occur It Requires The Participation Of More Than One Person.

1

Storms Are Very Beautiful To Look At Daily

2

There Is Something Good In Every Bad Situation

3

It Will Always Rain When Clouds Are Grey

4

Clouds In The Sky Can Look Like Metal

This Optimistic Phrase Encourages People To Find The Positive Side Or Advantage That Can Be Found Even In Difficult Times.

1

To Join A Local Theater Group For Fun

2

To Organize Your Life And Start Performing Well

3

To Pack Your Bags For A Long Journey

4

To Memorize Lines For A New Stage Play

When Someone Tells You To Get Your Act Together They Mean You Should Organize Yourself And Improve Your Overall Performance.

1

To Suspend An Object From A High Hook

2

To Wait For A Phone Call To Finish

3

To Go Outside And Play On The Swings

4

Do Not Give Up Despite Facing Many Difficulties

This Phrase Is Used To Encourage Someone To Remain Patient And Determined During A Period Of Hardship Or Great Stress.

1

To Help Someone Take Off A Heavy Coat

2

To Not Hold Someone Responsible For Their Actions

3

To Hang Up A Telephone Call Very Quickly

4

To Remove A Fish From A Sharp Metal Point

When You Let Someone Off The Hook You Allow Them To Avoid Punishment Or Responsibility For A Mistake They Made.

1

To Talk Very Fast While Telling A Secret

2

To Cut Pages Out Of A Library Book

3

To Write A Book That Is Very Small

4

To Briefly Summarize What Happened Without All Details

This Common Phrase Is Used Before Someone Summarizes A Complex Tale Into Just A Few Necessary Words To Save Time.

1

To Forget Your Ticket For A Summer Cruise

2

To Be Too Late To Benefit From Something

3

To Arrive At The Harbor After Ship Left

4

To Fail A Swimming Test In The Ocean

Missing The Boat Means That You Were Too Slow To Take Action And Have Lost An Opportunity That Was Available.

1

To Be Very Efficient And Understand Situations Quickly

2

To Be Participating In A Major Tennis Match

3

To Stand On A Large Rubber Sports Ball

4

To Be Moving Very Quickly Down A Hill

A Person Who Is On The Ball Is Alert And Ready To React Correct To Whatever Happens In Their Life.

1

To Regain Your Calm And Your Self Control

2

To Hug Someone Else Who Is Feeling Sad

3

To Wear Clothes That Match Each Other Well

4

To Pick Up All Your Items From Floor

This Phrase Is Often Used To Tell Someone To Stop Being Emotional And Start Acting Rationally In A Stressful Situation.

1

To Be Afraid Of Someone Who Is Mean

2

To Hear A Sound From Behind A Closed Door

3

The Person You Just Discussed Has Just Arrived

4

To Talk About Scary Stories Near A Fire

This Expression Is Used When Someone You Were Just Talking About Suddenly Appears Or Makes Themselves Known To The Group.

1

The Final Problem That Makes A Situation Unbearable

2

The Very Last Piece Of Hay In Barn

3

A Small Item Used For Counting Things Out

4

A Small Tube Used To Drink Water Fast

This Saying Refers To A Small Final Addition To A Burden That Makes The Entire Situation Finally Collapse Or Fail.

1

To Travel Through Different Types Of Deep Mud

2

To Stay Together Through Both Good And Bad Times

3

To Lose Weight After Being Very Heavy Before

4

To Walk Through A Forest Of Many Trees

This Expression Describes Loyalty And Commitment To A Person Or Cause Regardless Of What Kind Of Challenges Are Faced Together.

1

To Hide Underneath A Very Large Metal Dish

2

To Fly A Plane Below A Tracking Screen

3

To Do Something Without Being Noticed Or Detected

4

To Be Extremely Quiet In A Very Loud Room

Doing Something Under The Radar Means Avoiding Public Attention By Staying Very Low Key Or Subtle To Remain Hidden.

1

To Wear A Scarf During The Cold Winter

2

To Think Only About One Specific Subject Daily

3

To Finally Understand A Complex Or Difficult Concept

4

To Put A Bandage Around Your Forehead Area

This Phrase Describes The Mental Effort Required To Grasp And Fully Understand A Very Complicated Piece Of New Information.

1

I Have No Idea What The Answer Is Either

2

You Are Very Good At Playing Guessing Games

3

We Both Have The Same Favorite Number Choice

4

I Think You Are Completely Wrong About This

This Saying Is Used To Indicate That You Are Just As Uninformed About A Particular Fact As The Other Person.

1

You Are Giving Someone A Small Copper Coin

2

You Are Trying To Sell An Idea Cheaply

3

You Are Counting Your Money Very Carefully Now

4

You Are Asking What Someone Else Is Thinking

This Gentle Saying Is Used To Ask Someone Who Has Been Quiet For A While What Is On Their Mind.

1

To Measure The Distance To A Person Nearby

2

To Hold Someone Back From Entering A Door

3

To Stretch Your Arms Out Toward Someone Else

4

To Avoid Becoming Too Friendly Or Close With Someone

Keeping Someone At Arm's Length Means Maintaining A Social Distance To Avoid Allowing A Relationship To Become Very Personal.

1

A Person Wearing A Costume At A Party

2

Something That Seems Bad At First But Is Good

3

Finding Money Inside An Old Pair Of Shoes

4

A Rainy Day That Ruins All Your Plans

This Idiom Refers To An Unfortunate Event That Eventually Results In A Positive Outcome That Was Not Originally Expected.

1

To Build A New Road To Another City

2

To Destroy Relationships Or Paths To Returning Somewhere

3

To Paint A Wooden Bridge A Bright Red

4

To Set Fire To A Structure Over Water

Burning Bridges Means Taking Actions That Make It Impossible For You To Return To A Previous Situation Or Personal Relationship.

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How well do you remember the wise words and funny expressions your mother used to say? Test your knowledge with this fun quiz about classic old-fashioned sayings that have been passed down through generations of families everywhere!

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