Today, we use the idiom for any moment of irreversible action. You resign from a stable job to start your own business. You press “send” on an email that might change everything. You sign the contract, make the announcement, book the one-way ticket, say "I do". The die is cast.
Idiomatic use is everywhere, even in the lyrics of famous rock groups, especially Queen and the like. Many of the lyrics cite idioms, also noted is another one bites the dust. Blog discusses idiom usage.
An illustration of the correct usage of the idiom Champing at the bit. It provides history and commentary.
The phrase features in academic papers, policy memos and newspapers from the 1990s onward — usually as shorthand for a surveillance-first approach to community supervision. Probation and parole officers used it (sometimes ironically, sometimes proudly) to describe a mindset: monitor closely (“tail”), document non-compliance (“nail”), and respond with incarceration (“jail”)
Looking at the pic, you see yourself (okay, I speak for myself – baby boomers) deliriously swamped by magazines and print media and happy as a pig in sh-t. This…
In the past week, I have attended two events that were ‘damper’ than a damp squib. Really! I could not be less impressed with my experience of these. The first…
Both clichés and idioms reflect the human desire for expression that is concise yet evocative. They help us communicate complex ideas quickly and paint mental images without lengthy explanations. They also connect us to generations past, carrying the wisdom, humour, and creativity of countless speakers before us.
The other day I bumped into someone I knew at high school. I remembered her comment that a certain crowd of our peers did not want to break bread with…
Let’s face it: no one wants to be told to scale down. Whether it’s ambitions, appetites, or accessories, we tend to dream in technicolour. But the age-old idiom “cut your…
