Showing 11-26 of 26
Mix and match
To mix and match means to combine different things in many possible ways. People use the phrase when items can be chosen and put together freely instead of having to use a fixed set.This phrase became common in advertising and everyday language in the 1900s, especially when describing clothing or household items that could be combined in different styles or colors.
You can mix and match these pieces easily.
On the home stretch
To be on the home stretch means being close to finishing something after a long effort.The phrase comes from horse racing. The home stretch is the final straight section of the track leading to the finish line.
After months of work on the renovation, they were finally on the home stretch.
Open door policy
An open door policy means that people are welcome to come and talk freely with someone in charge. It means that a person, usually a leader or manager, is willing to listen to questions or concerns.The expression comes from the idea of leaving an office door open so that others feel comfortable walking in to speak. Over time it became a metaphor for openness and easy communication.
The principal has an open door policy, so students can come in and discuss problems anytime.
Out of sight, out of mind
The idiom out of sight, out of mind means that people tend to forget about things that they no longer see or think about regularly. When something disappears from view, it often disappears from attention as well.The saying has been used in English for several centuries and reflects a common human habit of forgetting things that are not easily visible.
Once the old toys were packed away in the attic, they were out of sight, out of mind.
People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
The idiom people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones means that someone should not criticize others for faults that they also have.The saying comes from the image of living in a fragile house made of glass. If someone inside throws stones at others, their own house could easily be broken.
He complains about other people being late, but he is often late himself, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Put your feet up
To put your feet up means to sit down and relax, usually after working or being busy.The phrase comes from the simple act of lifting your feet onto a chair or stool while sitting, which is a way people often sit when they want to relax.
After finishing the yard work, she sat on the couch and put her feet up for a while.
Reap what you sow
To reap what you sow means that your actions bring their own results. Good actions tend to lead to good outcomes, and harmful actions often lead to trouble later.The phrase comes from farming. A farmer harvests the same crop that was planted in the field months earlier. The saying uses that image to explain how choices lead to consequences.
After ignoring the warning signs for months, he finally had to reap what he had sown.
Roll out the red carpet
To roll out the red carpet means to give someone a very warm and special welcome. It is used when people go out of their way to treat a guest with great respect or attention.The expression comes from the practice of laying a red carpet for important visitors such as royalty or heads of state. The bright carpet marked a special path and showed that the guest was being honored.
The town rolled out the red carpet when the championship team came home.
Rug pulled out from under you
To have the rug pulled out from under you means to suddenly lose something you were relying on. When it is unexpectedly taken away, it leaves you surprised or struggling to recover.The phrase comes from the image of someone standing on a rug that is suddenly yanked away, causing them to fall. It began appearing in English in the late 1800s and is used as a metaphor for sudden, destabilizing change.
Just when she thought the promotion was certain, the company restructured and had the rug pulled out from under her.
Skeleton in the closet
A skeleton in the closet means a secret from someone's past that they try to hide because it would embarrass them or cause trouble if others found out.This idiom comes from the image of a hidden skeleton locked away in a closet. It suggests a dark or shameful secret that someone does not want anyone else to discover.
Every family seems to have a skeleton in the closet they prefer not to talk about.