We say the phrase, break a leg, in order to wish people luck in a performance or audition in the theater or music. Technically, it is a command (an imperative)—but we do not want people to actually break their legs! It is a tradition and means “I wish you a successful performance.” Nobody knows for […]
Don’t Poke the Bear: Meaning and Usage
The English idiom, don’t poke the bear, means “don’t annoy a person who has the ability to hurt you.” Bears are known as dangerous creatures (although also beautiful and gentle creatures when not provoked). We also know that bears normally sleep through the winter, so we can imagine finding a bear asleep in the forest. […]
Restless vs Restive: Here’s the Difference in Meaning and Usage
The adjectives, restless and restive, have similar but distinct meanings. Restless, the more common word, means “not resting” or “not able to rest.” Restless implies anxious, nervous, agitated, disturbed, or hyperactive—i.e. “unable to fully relax.” It is impossible to sleep with a restless mind. Restive can have the same meaning as restless, but it also connotes rebellion; instead […]
Turbid vs Turgid: Here’s the Difference in Meaning with Sentence Examples
These two adjectives have different meanings. Turbid means unclear, foggy, cloudy, murky, or, in other words, like dirty water, or smoky air. Turgid means swollen, over-full, and metaphorically—pompous. Turbid can describe cloudy air or water or be used metaphorically: We couldn’t see any fish in the turbid lake. It was difficult to understand his turbid […]
Achilles Heel – What Does it Mean?
An Achilles heel is a weakness in a person or organization that is otherwise very strong: Tony is usually very healthy but sugar is his Achilles’ heel. This phrase is a reference to the story of the ancient Greek hero Achilles, who is most famous for his role in the Trojan War. When Achilles was born, […]
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