The telephone is ringing off the hook

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, but it was the users of telephones who invented this remark. The hook is the cradle on which the receiver rests, and this remark refers to a telephone that is constantly ringing. " Steve won the swimming championship, and ever since his name appeared in the newspapers his telephone has been ringing off the hook.

 

 

Toy with the idea

Teddy is toying with the idea of studying to be an engineer. That, of course, will be a few years away so he may change his mind between now and then. To toy with an idea is to think of one in an easy, light and speculative manner. "I don't know. I may or may not want to be an engineer," Teddy said. "I'm just tyoing with the idea."

 

 

Run up an account

Instead of paying cash each time he shops, Mr. Long finds it more convenient to run up an account at the stores where he makes his purchases. To run up an account is to increase the money you owe. You can also run up a bill or a debt, which means the same as run up an account. Mr. Long does this (very easily, I might add!) by using credit cards.

 

 

Get up someone's nose

Hubert is unhappy. He's annoyed, too. The cause of it all is Franklin who has got up his nose. That means that Franklin is making a nuisance of himself.... and that's annoying! "Go away," Hubert shouted. "You're getting up my nose today," he growled. This is a British expression.

 

 

Go over someone's head

Poor Penelope, Mathematics has never been one of her favorite subjects. she simply isn't able to comprehend it. She often complains that most of what her teacher says goes over her head. As Penelope knows, things that are said to go over our heads are too difficult for us to understand.

 

 

Look daggers at someone

A dagger is a weapon with a short, pointed blade. In fact, daggers look exactly like those things coming from this mother bird's eyes. She is looking daggers at a cat who is threatening her young. To look daggers at someone is to glare at him or her with mean, hostile, angry eyes.

 

 

On pins and needles

When people are on pins and needles they are either very excited or very anxious. "The children are on pins and needles thinking about their trip to the zoo tomorrow." (Very excited) "Mr Singh is on pins and needles wondering if the noise he heard is from his pet cobra which escaped. (Very anxious)

 

A peeping Tom

When a little boy peeps through fences or windows he is probably just being curious. When a man does the same thing it's often because he has indecent intentions. A man who snoops like that is called a peeping Tom. "The neighbors are convinced that we have a peeping Tom in the area."

 

 

No picnic

This outing is turning out to be no picnic, "Teddy declared. To say that something - a job or an examination, for example is a picnic is to say it is enjoyeable or easy. If it is unpleasant or difficult, it is described as being no picnic. "It was a picnic getting here," Angela said, " but trying to eat with all these ants around has been no picnic!"

 

Teacher's Pet

A teacher's pet is a student who is favoured and given special attention by the teacher. "I am worried that the other kids might get jealous if they think I am teacher's pet," Teddy said. I don't think Teddy has to worry, for even though the students can see that he is teacher's pet, they know there are serious disadvantages to that. "That's because Professor Oxbridge can be pretty difficult to please!" Teddy explained.

 

 

The King's / Queen's English

The King and Queen act as though they have just met! "Actually, we are here to explain the difference between the King's English and the Queen's English, " the King said. "In reality, there is no difference," the Queen added, " because these terms describe the very best and most correct English, and whether you call it the King's English or the Queen's English depends on who is on the throne of England at that moment, " she smiled.

 

 

Meet someone halfway

When Chief Totem got news that explorers had set sail for his continent, he decided to meet them halfway. Hopping into his boat, he soon found them somewhere in the middle of the ocean. "I'd be ever so happy to show you the way to my lands if you will show me the way to yours," he smiled. There is no record of what the explorers replied, but it is well-known that to meet someone halfway is to cooperate with someone by agreeing to make compromises.

 

 

Count sheep

You won't find him counting sheep. He sleeps very well, thank you. I if this sounds odd it's because to count sheep is an old method of trying to get to sleep by counting imaginary lambs jumping over a fence in one's mind. "Poor father. I know I've disappointed him. I hope he doesn't lie in bed counting sheep thinking that I have failed him, " Sal sighed.

 

 

Blue Monday

To be blue is to be sad. Many people feel sad returning to work after a weekend of rest -- and that's the meaning behind blue Monday. "The weekend's over," Felix sighed, "and here it is, blue Monday, time to get back to the routine of work. "

 

 

Play (a) cat-and-mouse (game)

Play a cat-and-mouse (game) is to deliberately confuse someone so that he or she does not know what is happening. "Christopher played a cat-and-mouse game with the management until finally resigning to go to work for our competitors. Until then, no one knew if he would stay or leave." "That fellow was playing a cat and mouse with me!" the boss exclaimed.

 

 

Go Bust

When a store or company has no money, it goes out of business. Colloquially, it goes bust. That makes me think of the time Felix sold balloons at the fair. "One by one, my balloons broke!" he said. "In no time at all, my business went bust!" Today, Felix has a much better job working for a large company. "There is no chance of it every going bust!" he said.

 

 

Live in a fishbowl / goldfish bowl

A person described as living in a fishbowl (or in a goldfish bowl) has absolutely no privacy. His every movement can be observed and he has no place to hide... just as a fish living in a glass bowl. "I don't think I'd enjoy being a television star. It must be like living in a fish bowl."

 

 

(Like) water off a duck's back

Ducks aren't bothered by water because the oil in their feathers keeps moisture from reaching their bodies. Any water that gets on them runs right off. That has given us this expression, which we use to say that we are not annoyed by something. "School doesn't bother Mary. To her, doing homework is like water off a duck's back. " Someone criticized Teddy, but he isn't bothered. " What do I care? It's water of a duck's back to me," he said.

 

 

Top dog

A top dog is a person of authority and importance. One's boss, for instance, could be said to be the top dog in a company. Or it could be someone of importance politically. "I'm curious to know who the new top dog will be at the Office of trade," Winnie said.

 

 

A golden key opens every door

"Look what I found!" Albert cried. "Why, it's a golden key!" Officer Mutt observed. "It reminds me that a golden key opens every door," Albert smiled. "Yes, I think it will open a door for you at my nice jail, " Mutt replied. Actually, the golden key here is money for it is assumed that money will let a person do anything he wants.

 

 

An Old Salt

"Look, there's an old salt coming off that ship!" Teddy exclaimed. "That looks like a sailor," Angela answered. " An experienced sailor is often called an old salt,"Teddy explained. "Is that because the sea is salty?" Angela asked. "That's right, but we don't call people who sail boats on weekends old salts,"Teddy said. "The term is reserved for sailors who have been to sea a long time.

 

 

Save one's breath

"It's too hot to work today," Eddie said. "Why don't we ask the boss if we can have the afternoon off?" "Save your breath," his co-workers advised. Eddie asked the boss anyway, and she said the same thing. To save one's breath means to say nothing, usually because one's words have no value or will have no effect.

 

 

Stand up and be counted

Those who express their private opinions openly have concluded that it is time for them to stand up and be counted. They do this by writing, speaking, or voting on issues they consider important. " Excuse me, what's your opinion? Why don't you stand up and be counted? If you want to see some changes made, stand up and be counted!" " How many of you little fellows would like to go to market? Hurry, stand up and be counted!" Henrietta Hen called.

 

 

Back to the salt mines

In Siberia, salt is found deep underground. Many years ago, prisoners were sent there and were forced to bring the salt to the surface. From that, back to the salt mines has come to mean hard work of any kind, and this humorous expression refers to going back to work. "The weekend is over it's time to get back to the salt mines." Oliver sighed as he and his friends walked to work.

 

 

Lead by the nose

"I fully understand that people don't like being led by the nose," Timothy said. " Most mice object to that too," he noted. "How do you elephants feel about it?" I asked. The elephant he was leading didn't reply. To lead by the nose is to control someone. " And make them do what you want, " Timothy added.