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Up the river
English Expression: (Sent) up the river Believe you me, you do not want to be sent up the river. Why? Because if you are, it means you are going to prison to become a jailbird. Being sent up the river means being sent to prison. This term was initially used when judges sent convicted criminals…
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Up the ying-yang
Phrase: Up the Ying-yang If you have a lot of something or an excess of something, then you have it up the ying-yang. My quest to discover the origin of this phrase was unsuccessful. I know it may appear to be Chinese and similar to the concept of yin and yang or dualism in Chinese…
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Sure thing
Word of the Day: Sure thing If something is a sure thing, then it is guaranteed to be successful. You must be careful when you hear someone tell you something is guaranteed to happen. There are no guarantees in life. Have you ever heard of Murphy’s Law? Murphy’s Law states that anything that can go…
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Downward spiral
Word of the Day: Downward spiral If something is in a downward spiral, then it is either getting cheaper and cheaper or worse and worse. Think about an airplane that has stalled and is now falling out of the sky. It’s going around and around in ever-tighter circles as it gets closer and closer to…
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In the weeds
Idiom: In the weeds The idiom in the weeds can have two meanings. In the first case, it can mean a person has too many problems or difficulties to cope with. In the second sense, being in the weeds can mean paying so much attention to the intricate details and complexities of something that you…
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Lethargic
Word of the Day: Lethargic I don’t know about you guys and gals, but this heat makes me feel lethargic. When you feel lethargic, you have no energy, no drive and feel lazy. You feel lethargic when you can’t find a reason to do anything at all. The nights are hot, and the days are…
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A moment on the lips, forever on the hips
Saying: A moment on the lips, forever on the hips I’m very sorry to be the one to say this to you. Before you eat that cake, chocolate, pastry or any other sweet dessert, it is imperative for you to take a second and repeat the following: a moment on the lips, forever on the…
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Potty mouth
Word of the Day: Potty mouth If someone has a potty mouth, they use vulgar language or profanity. The language they use cannot be repeated or printed in a family-friendly publication. You probably know what I am talking about. I cannot print what they say here because ladies and gentlemen read my blog, and…
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Like pulling teeth
English Expression: Like pulling teeth If something is described as like pulling teeth, then it is tough to do. It is not only tough as it is physically demanding but also tough as it is mentally challenging or makes you feel squeamish. How do you like the picture today? Did it give you the heebie-jeebies?…
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Stifling
Word of the Day: Stifling If you’ve lived or even visited the Kansai region of Japan in summer, you already know what stifling means. I only have to give you an example. Imagine Osaka in August. Can you feel the oppressive heat and humidity? It’s very hot and unpleasant, right? Well, that is what stifling…
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