It's especially hard to get American English idioms. We seem to love using them even when their use obscures rather than clarifies. When stocks go 'through the roof', what does that mean? Why not just say stock prices went up a lot? What's more than 'through the roof? Through the clouds? Through the ionosphere? Through the Van Allen Radiation belt?
When writing news stories a little color goes a long way. Tell me what, when, why, where, who. Season to taste. Lightly, please.
The subject of idioms got me thinking and I decided to commemorate the event by jotting down a few house and home related examples. Enjoy, share your own favorites and remember to give ESL speakers a break. It's always hard to get used to a second home.
This
Old Idiom House
I
was floored,
My
blood pressure was through the ceiling
Right
through the roof.
I
was up against the wall.
My
plan went out the window.
Even
if it did blow the doors off the competition.
It
crossed the threshold.
My
team was in the cellar.
They
were in the toilet.
Down
the drain.
Took
a bath.
But
they're in a hot stove league.
So
I back-burnered it.
The
window of opportunity closed.
I
kicked it upstairs.
Then
I was called on the carpet.
So
I cut a rug.
With
my kitchen cabinet.
Toys
in my attic bought in the bargain basement.
Played
with my garage band named House Brand.
Great
foundation.
House
rules.
Home
rule.
Packed
to the rafters.
I'll
couch it in these terms: I chaired the meeting after getting up on
the wrong side of the bed so we tabled the proposition.
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