Showing 151-170 of 189
Reinvent the wheel
You reinvent the wheel when you invest a lot of time, money or effort into doing something that has already been done. This idiom is often used when a solution to something already exists and you could just use that instead.Let's not reinvent the wheel, and just use an existing service.
Rinse and repeat
The phrase to rinse and repeat means to do something repetitive, predictable way. It comes from the instructions on a shampoo bottle.You look up the code, put it in the right place, and then rinse and repeat for the rest of the papers.
Rome wasn't built in a day
Rome wasn't built in a day means that large projects take a lot of time, effort, and patience to achieve and you shouldn't expect quick results.This idiom relates to how the city of Rome gradually developed over centuries.
Don't worry that this is taking so long, Rome wasn't built in a day.
Rule of thumb
The phrase a rule of thumb means a simple guideline based on experience. It originates from when tradesmen used to roughly estimate measurements using the size of their thumb rather than any more accurate means.As a rule of thumb, save some money each month.
Saved by the bell
You are saved by the bell if you are saved from a difficult situation at the last minute.There are a few theories how the idiom came about. One is that it refers to a school bell or a competition bell that signals the end of class or the current competition.
The more interesting, but possibly less accurate theory is that it came from people's fear of being buried alive in a cemetery, and people were buried with a string tied to their finger and then to a bell above ground, and ringing the bell meant people would come save you.
She forgot to prepare for the presentation, but a fire drill was called and she was saved by the bell
Spill the beans
The idiom spill the beans means to reveal a secret. Once the information is shared, it cannot be taken back, in the way that it is hard to put beans back into a container after they have been spilled all over the floor.He spilled the beans about the birthday party.
Steal your thunder
Someone steals your thunder if they take attention or praise away from you, usually by doing what you were about to do first. It could mean taking someone's idea as your own, by doing something big at another event like proposing at someone else's wedding, or by announcing big news just before someone else announces theirs.I was going to announce my pregnancy at Thanksgiving, but my sister announced hers first and stole my thunder!
Stick out like a sore thumb
Something sticks out like a sore thumb if it is very obviously different from the things around it. This idiom came from how you would hold out an injured thumb so you don't hurt it even more.She wore a bright shirt to work, and stuck out like a sore thumb in the office.
Sweep it under the rug
You sweep something under the rug if you are ignoring a problem or mistake and hope nobody will notice. This idiom draws from the image of sweeping the dirt on your floor under a rug instead of picking it up and dealing with it properly.Instead of recalling the broken product, they swept the problem under the rug and left it on the shelves.
Sweep you off your feet
The idiom he swept me off my feet describes a romance where you it all happens very fast, and you are overwhelmed emotionally, but in a good way.When my husband and I first met, he swept me off my feet!