Idioms, what do they mean?

[xoxoxoBruce]

If you are going to use idioms, especially in writing, be sure you know what they mean, or you might end up with egg on your face.

Look them up at The Idiom Dictionary.

(with) bated breath

agog with excitement, worry, etc. to the point that one’s breath has stopped (abated)
Example- He stood there behind the curtain with bated breath, too frightened to move an inch.

[casimendocina]

not pull one’s punches

Meaning
not restrain or rein back one’s criticisms

[Scriveyn]

What irks me most is when people get the wording wrong, like writing "baited breath" - double helping of egg

[Tulip]

It's exactly what I need. Thanks! I once said to my friend that my mom will get a cow if she sees what I'm doing.

[glatt]

I still don't understand (can't remember) what a red herring is. Is it something that leads you away from the correct path, or is it something that keeps you on track?

[Trilby]

a red herring is a false clue - it leads you AWAY from the correct path. I don't know the origin though.

What's the origin/meaning of Leading someone down the Primrose Path?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Marriage.

[Razzmatazz13]

Originally Posted by Scriveyn

What irks me most is when people get the wording wrong, like writing "baited breath" - double helping of egg

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me I'm goin' out to eat worms!

[Scriveyn]

Originally Posted by Brianna

a red herring is a false clue - it leads you AWAY from the correct path. I don't know the origin though.
...

A smoked herring, in fox hunt, drawn across the track will detract the dogs from the real thing.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by Brianna

What's the origin/meaning of Leading someone down the Primrose Path?

Without looking, I think it comes from The Pilgrim's Progress.
I'm sure at some point the Pilgrims are tempted by two paths and the easier of the two is strewn with primroses, ie it looks appealing, but it deviates from The Way.

On the other hand I might be remembering it from Enid Blyton's The Land of Far Beyond which was a children's version of the above. In which case she might have described the path in that way because of the existing idiom.

ETA - I'd be happy to give any 8+ child the above book.
No I don't believe in God, but the values it espouses are quite lovely. And it's a great adventure story. And if you ignore Jebus at the end (which children without religion will) it's still a triumph of strength and goodwill. But more than that, it introduces children to allegory, and to The Pilgrim's Progress which is referenced in quite a few classic children's stories.

I doubt it's in print now.
But it's really worth a look if you're bringing up your children Christian
And a good read even if you're not.

[Lamplighter]

Google leads us down the path to Shakespeare's Hamlet.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by Scriveyn

What irks me most is when people get the wording wrong, like writing "baited breath" - double helping of egg

Productive of a good quip though: ...waiting with worms in our mouths!


Edwin Newman's Strictly Speaking, while dated, is still a pretty good primer on avoiding malapropisms, the occasional mondegreen, and stylistic infelicity.

There are numerous people who could really use a better grasp of when to say principle or principal.

A good many errors of that kind seem to arrive through the ear, rather than from the page.

[HungLikeJesus]

I still have trouble with affect and effect; also, capital and capitol.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

I had those sorted years and years ago; Capitol -ol should be capitalized anyway -- it's either the hill or the building, not the city. That might help a bit.

Now William F. Buckleyisms like "heuristic" and "anfractuosity" often want a consult with the dictionary, at least if I want to use such ammunition-wagon words.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

... Capitol -ol should be capitalized anyway. That might help a bit.
...

I was hoping someone would notice that.