Filled with the milk of human kindness

"What a truly generous little kid you are," Ryan grinned. "You are indeed filled with the milk of human kindness. " An authority on the works of Shakespeare, Ryan is praising the child with a quotation from Macbeth (Act 1, scene 5) that means to be full of generosity, sympathy, affection and goodwill towards others.

 

 

Gallows humor

It's not likely that a criminal being walked to a gallows to be hanged would find much to laugh about. That's why gallows humor refers to jokes that make fun of a very serious matter. "How can you children joke when our school's burning down? That's gallows humor," the teacher frowned.

 

 

Get on a stick

Witches are smart. When they want to get to a particular place in a hurry, they don't take a bus; they get on a stick and fly there. When we get on a stick, we act or move in a hurry. "I'll have to get on a stick or I'll be late for dinner," Teddy said.

 

 

Get one's head shrunk

Many people find that discussing their problems with a psychiatrist or a psychologist (colloquially, "a head shrinker") helps to improve their well-being. Their minds (their heads) feel better. From that, a person visiting a psychiatrist or a psychologist is getting his or her head shrunk. "I go to Dr. Vincent twice a week to get my head shrunk," Lionel said.

 

 

Go to pot

When Harry went on holiday her plants went to pot. When anything goes to pot -- and that includes people -- its condition declines, usually due to neglect. "I foolishly let my plants go to pot," Harry said. "This neighborhood is going to pot," Victor complained. "I'll go to pot if I don't stop eating so much," Cindy said.

 

 

A grass widow

A grass widow is a married woman who is either separated from her husband or -- and this is usually the way the idiom is used -- whose husband is away from home much of the time. "Poor Beth, she's a grass widow now that her husband has begun playing golf. It seems he spends most of his time at the golf club instead of at home."

 

 

Hang up one's boots

Miss Betty has worked at the same desk at the GG Company for thirty-two years. "It's time I hung up my boots," she said, and with that she marched up to the boss and turned in her resignation. To hang up one's boots is a colloquialism that means to quit doing something or, in particular, to retire.

 

 

Have a ball

Before being sent to prison Carl drove big cars and ate in expensive restaurants. No one knew where he got his money but he was certainly having a ball. When the judge sentenced him to prison he said, " I hope you have a ball, Carl. " To have a ball is to have a wonderful time.

 

 

Have a frog in one's throat

To have a frog in one's throat shouldn't cause alarm for it happens to all of us at one time or another. It happens when our ability to speak clearly is interrupted (usually temporarily) by mucus in our throats. "Excuse me," the hippo gulped. "I seem to have a frog in my throat today."

 

 

Have a memory like a sieve

A sieve is a utensil with many fine holes. A person accused of having a memory like a sieve is either unable to retain information or is very forgetful. "I'll never learn French; I have a memory like a sieve." "I have a head like a sieve today. I've forgotten where I parked my car."

 

 

Have kittens

Lucky (that's the name of my dog) is having kittens! Meow (that's the name of my cat) has gone out and has left him to take care of her children. To have kittens is to be nervous, anxious or angry. In Lucky's case he's all three of those things.

 

 

Have one's head screwed on backwards

People accused of having their heads screwed on backwards lack sense. They behave in strange ways or do silly things. "You must have your head screwed on backwards to go on a picnic today. It's raining!" "Alvin is so sensible. No one could accuse him of having his head screwed on backwards."

 

 

Have the constitution of an ox

In this expression, the word "constitution" means the whole physical and mental composition of a person. That's why people who have the constitution of an ox possess an amazing amount of strength, particularly in being able to work hard or to overcome misfortune. "Albert recovered from his illness quickly. He must have the constitution of an ox."

 

 

Have the devil's own time

Douglas is having the devil's own time getting used to his new job. It's more troublesome than he imagined. To have the devil's own time means to go through a difficult and drawn-out struggle. "I also have the devil's own time trying to get home in the evening rush-hour traffic," Douglas said.

 

 

A head shrinker

Feeling depressed, Roth visited his physician. "I think a frank talk with a head shrinker might benefit you," the doctor said. "I'll send you to a shrink I know." You can imagine how relieved Roth was when he learned a head shrinker (often shortened to a shrink) isn't a witch doctor: it's a psychiatrist or a psychologist.

 

Hold out an olive branch

Clive has been discovered having a snack in a place where he shouldn't be. Matt is angry, of course, but Clive hopes to correct that for he's holding out an olive branch. Because an olive branch is an ancient symbol of friendship, this expression means to seek peace. "I'm waving an olive branch," Clive mumbled. "Let's be friends."

 

Horsefeathers

Everyone knows that horses do not have feathers. That, I imagine, is why this interjection is used to express disbelief. " Horsefeathers 1 I don't believe a word of your excuse," the boss said. the word also expresses discontent. "Oh, horsefeathers 1 I've just missed my bus, " Richard complained.

 

 

In Dutch

Oh, oh 1 Max has miscalculated again and he's in Dutch. I'm glad I'm not Max because to be in Dutch is to be in serious trouble. "I'm in Dutch with my wife. I forgot to buy her a birthday gift." "I'm frustrated," Max said. "I'm always doing the wrong thing and getting in Dutch.

 

In mint condition

The coins in your purse or pocket are made in a place called a mint. New coins fresh from a mint are said to be in mint condition. So too, is anything else that is in new or like-new condition. "Elmer seldom uses his car. It's ten years old but it's still in mint condition."

 

 

In one's heart of hearts

"In my heart of hearts I think you're the nicest mouse in the entire world," Timothy blushed. Accepting his gift, Josephine answered: " In my heart of hearts, I think you're wonderful too." When we speak of one's heart of hearts we are referring to a person's deep, secret, innermost feelings.

 

In the bag

"If I do well on my examination, my promotion will be in the bag," Steven said. He is saying that his promotion is assured. It is a certainty. "There can be no doubt about it. Once you have been promoted, your future in the company will be in the bag," his father smiled.

 

 

In clover

Clover is a type of grass with sweet flowers enjoyed by both cattle and bees. When people are in (the) clover, they are living happily and comfortably for they are prosperous and successful. " Mr. Jardine is in clover now that he has sold his business and retired to the country."

 

 

Keep one's hair on

I'd panic if I lost my coat. Not Bob though. He's determined to keep his hair on. That is, he's going to stay relaxed and not get angry. "I'm going to remain calm and keep my hair on," Bob said. "It's pointless to get upset over the loss of a fur coat, don't you agree?"

 

 

Larger than life

When a person, an object or an event is larger than life, he, she or it is unusually remarkable or significant... often because reports of him, her or it have been greatly exaggerated. "I suspect the things Owen says about his achievements are larger than life." "I used to think the stories about there being ghosts here were larger than life!" the cat cried.

 

 

Laugh in one's beard

Long ago when most men wore beards, it was easy for a man to conceal a smile when he wanted to mock someone for being foolish, failing at something, or making a mistake. "Do you think people are laughing in their beards at me for having a mouse for a friend?" Cecil asked.

 

A leading question

A leading question is worded in such a way that the person being asked it is compelled to reply with an answer the questioner wants. "Have you stopped beating your dog?" is a leading question for the person must respond by either confessing or denying that he or she beats the dog.

 

 

Left holding the bag

Kevin went to the beach with his friends. They dug up all kinds of things in the sand, but when one of the things proved difficult to deal with, they all ran away screaming. "They left me holding the bag," Kevin said. To be left holding the bag is to be given a difficult or awkward problem to deal with. "Everyone I was with seems to have disappeared," Kevin frowned.

 

 

Like a cat on hot bricks

"Why's Terry so nervous today?" Olive asked. "He's like a cat on hot bricks." Looking at his tender toes, Terry replied: "If you had to walk on garden walls without shoes, you'd be like a cat on hot bricks too!" A person described as acting like a cat on hot bricks is tense, excited, nervous or restless.

 

 

Like a dog with two tails

When people are described as being or acting like a dog with two tails it is because they are exceedingly proud or happy -- particularly because they have done something special or achieved some kind of success. "Stuart is so proud and delighted, he's like a dog with two tails since his promotion.

 

 

Look a picture

While to look a picture indicates that something or someone looks very pretty or attractive, it is often used humorously or sarcastically. "Don't you look a picture!" Billy's mother cried. "You've got chocolate ice cream all over your face!" (Humorously/sarcastically.) "Isn't she lovely " Mariah looks a picture today." (Attractive/pretty.)