Meaning of “A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted” The phrase or an idiom means that a fool cannot keep his money safe. He will be on the spending spree as soon as he gets anything. In other words,…
Category: Phrase Analysis
A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step
Meaning of “A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step” This Chinese proverb means that a person must begin his or her journey to reach their goal or destination. It is a motivational proverb that expresses deep…
A Change is as Good as A Rest
Meaning of “A Change is as Good as a Rest” ‘A change is as good as a rest’ is an old English proverb means that changing your job or profession is also as beneficial as taking a break. It also…
A Diamond Is Forever
Meanings of “A Diamond is Forever” The phrase “a diamond is forever” means the strength and resilience of a diamond that lasts forever. A diamond is the hardest crystal on the planet, and it is known for its strength and…
A Diamond in the Rough
Meanings of “A Diamond in the Rough” The phrase “a diamond in the rough” means that form in which diamonds are mined. Before polished and designed, diamonds appear like coal, and they are rough. Hence, they do not look like…
A Bun in The Oven
Meaning of “A Bun In The Oven” The phrase “a bun in the oven” means to be pregnant or expecting a baby. It is mostly used as an idiom which refers to the same. Here, a bun means ‘a baby’…
A Bird in the Hand
Meanings of “A Bird in the Hand” This phrase ‘a bird in the hand’ means the person has received or already has something valuable. It also means to have something little than the promised. In other words, if you have…
A Bad Penny Always Turns Up
‘A Bad Penny Always Turns Up’ Meaning ‘A bad penny always turns up’ means someone might visit you uninvited at the last minute. It is an old English proverb and a complete sentence. This proverb is often used when an…
A Bed of Roses
‘A Bed of Roses’ Meaning “A bed of roses” means an easy and comfortable situation in which a person likes to live. In modern language, it is a metaphor for one’s “comfort zone” from which he does not want to…
You Are What You Eat
Origin of “You are What You Eat” The exact source of this phrase is unknown but it is said that Anthelme Brillat-Savarin used this phrase in his book, “Physiologie du Gout, ou Meditations de Gastronomie Transcendante” published in 1826 and…
Raining Cats and Dogs
Origin Although the definite origin of this phrase in unknown, it seems a likely derivation from some natural phenomenon. There are, however, some fanciful and proposed derivations. It was Jonathan Swift, who first used it in his satirical poem, A…
Push the Envelope
Origin of Push the Envelope This phrase first became popular in literary writings following the publication of the book, The Right Stuff, by Tom Wolfe in 1979. The book is about space program. He uses this phrase in the first…
Curiosity Killed the Cat
Origin of Curiosity Killed the Cat The origin of this phrase is traced back as far as 1598, to Ben Johnson, who used it in his comedy, Every Man in His Humor. Later, various other authors modified the phrase, and…
To Justify the Ways of God to Men
Origin of To Justify the Ways of God to Men This phrase is taken from first book of John Milton’s long epic poem, Paradise Lost. In the opening stanza of this work, Milton writes, “I may assert eternal providence, /…
Something is Rotten in the State of Denmark
Origin This phrase is taken from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. The speaker is Marcellus, a guard, who talks to his philosophical comrade, Horatio, saying, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark …“ (Act-I, Scene-IV). The reason of saying this…
Every Cloud has a Silver Lining
Origin John Milton coined this phrase for the first time in his masque “Comus.” It reads as, “Turn forth her silver lining on the night, And casts a gleam over this tufted grove.” Following Milton, it again appeared in The…
Silence is Golden
Origin Like many other phrases, the origin of this phrase also lies in the mist of time. It is reported that it has links with some other versions of the proverb, dating back to Egyptian history. However, its first example…
Ignorance is Strength
Origin This phrase appears in George Orwell’s novel, 1984. The author has used it as the slogan of the Party in the very first part of the novel, where it reads, “War is Peace / Freedom is Slavery / Ignorance is Strength”…
Carpe Diem
Origin The origin of this phrase is traced to a Latin poem from the book of Horace, Odes Book-I. Later, many writers used it as a quote in their works. For instance, Lord Byron included it in his work Letters. Horace uses…
Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree
Origin This phrase appears in Part-I, Chapter-VII of George Orwell’s novel 1984. In fact, Orwell has taken this passage from Glen Miller’s nursery rhyme “The Chestnut Tree.” He uses this song as, “Under the spreading chestnut tree/I sold you and…
