The Idiom Corner

This will replace Today's Idioms from previous forums, but it might be a day or two before new posts will be available. Please check back at your convenience.

1. Zero hour
The time when something important is to begin is zero hour.
2. Zero tolerance
If the police have a zero tolerance policy, they will not overlook any crime, no matter how small or trivial.
3. Zigged before you zagged
If you did things in the wrong order, you zigged before you zagged. Sometimes this idiom is expressed as "zigged when he should have zagged". This can also mean that you did the wrong thing instead of the right thing.

Examples:


1. Zero hour
Adele: I have my last final at noon today.
Abel: Well, it's 10 minutes to zero-hour. You better get to class.
2. Zero tolerance
Little child: Mommy, I want to read a comic book when I am eating dinner.
Mommy: I told you the rule was no reading while eating, and I have zero tolerance on that rule. (which just means...no, you can't rad while eating )
3. Zigged before you zagged
Alvin: I tried a short cut to get home today, and I was two hours late getting home.
Arthur: It sounds like you zigged when you should have zagged.

1. Zip it
This is used to tell someone to be quiet.
2. Zip your lip
If someone tells you to zip your lip, they want to to shut up or keep quiet about something. ('Zip it' is also used.)

Note: These two idioms have similar meanings, and should be used cautiously - among friends, but never with strangers, as it will be considered impolite.

Examples:

1. Zip it
June: I am hungry. I want to go at dinner. I have an exam at 2 o'clock.
John: Zip it! I'm busy!

2. Zip your lip
Barbara: I want to go to a movie. I want popcorn. I want a candy bar. I want ice cream.
Irene: Zip your lip. I am thinking about it.

1. Yank my chain
If some one says this to another person (i.e. stop yanking my chain) it means for the other person to leave the person who said it alone and to stop bothering them.

2. Yellow press (or yellow journalism)
The yellow press is a term for the popular and sensationalist newspapers.

3. Yellow streak
If someone has a yellow streak, they are cowardly about something.

Examples:
1. Yank my chain
Bob: You look silly in that shirt.
Al: You know it looks good, so stop yanking my chain.

2. Yellow press
Robbie: The Daily Yell has a lot of sensational stories.
Rich: Many of them are not true. It is Yellow Press, yellow journalism.

3. Yellow streak
Roger: There is a war with the neighboring country, but Johnny says he won't join the army. I don't know why.
Sam: Maybe he has a yellow streak.

1. Yes-man
Someone who always agrees with people in authority is a yes-man.
2. Yesterday's man or Yesterday's woman
Someone, especially a politician or celebrity, whose career is over or on the decline is yesterday's man or woman.
3. You are what you eat
This is used to emphasize the importance of a good diet as a key to good health.


Examples:
1. Yes-man
Barry: Yes, boss. Yes, boss. Yes, boss.
Barry's Boss: Barry, stop being a "Yes-man".

2. Yesterday's man or Yesterday's woman
Randolph: I heard that Taxi Smith is running for Prime Minister again. Do you think he can win?
Willie: No, because I think he is yesterday's man.

3. You are what you eat
Rorie: I love to eat pork.
Louise: hat is fine, but remember, you are what you eat!! Ha ha ha

1. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
This means that it is easier to persuade people if you use polite arguments and flattery than if you are confrontational.
2. You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family
Some things you can choose, but others you cannot, so you have to try to make the best of what you have where you have no choice.
3. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink
This idiom means you can offer something to someone, like good advice, but you cannot make them take it.

Examples:
1. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
Rolf: I yelled and screamed at that student, but she just won't cooperate.
Ruthie: Try being nice. You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.

2. You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family
Betty: I wanted the pink pencil, but the teacher would only give me the blue one.
Bruce: You can choose your friends, but you cannot choose your family.

3. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink
Charlie: I loaned that poor man 500 baht and got him a job, but he refused to work and will not repay the loan.
Jake: You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.