In this article, we explore the English language by taking a look at a few peculiar phrases that you may have heard during chats. These may not make any sense to people whose first language is not English. The reason behind this is that these phrases have evolved over the years to imply something else. This sort of expression is known as an idiom – a phrase with a non-literal implying that contrasts from its literal meaning.
Let’s take a look at some peculiar English phrases with food theme, what they mean and also divulge their origins
- Flavour of the month
An ice cream brand from American utilized this slogan in 40’s with an endeavor to entice people to purchase an alternate kind of ice cream every month as opposed to adhering to their usual preference. Ever since then, this catchphrase has been utilized to portray any ephemeral trend, fad or individual that is swiftly dropped subsequent to being popular.
Usage: “Robb has suddenly become the flavour of the month.”
- Apple of one’s eye
This expression depicts something or somebody exceedingly treasured. It is believed that the phrase came into existence as the pupil of the eye is called an “apple”. Since the eyesight is so valuable, any individual who is called this is absolutely valuable.
The phrase has also been used in the Bible several times.
Usage: “Her new baby is the apple of her eye.”
- The big enchilada
This expression is utilized to depict the boss, the top woman or man, the leader. It was made popular by a presidential assistant, John Erlichman in the year 1973, wherein he used this phrase to refer to that time’s USA Attorney General, John Mitchell which turned into infamous tapes of Watergate. This expression is a modernized rendition of the previous phrase that means exactly same– An individual with the maximum power or influence.
Usage: “The Earth is the big enchilada for us.”
- Couch potato
This began off as American slang from the late 1980s, portraying somebody who relaxes on the couch all the time staring at the TV, drinking, and eating, never doing any work. The phrase is presently utilized as a part of most English-talking activities to allude to somebody who is normally sluggish at home. It is considered that the potato is included in the representation because of it being the “tuber” of the potato plant, in this manner punning with “the tube” – the TV.
Usage: “You have been watching TV sitting on the sofa all day long; You are such a couch potato.”
- Cut the mustard
An expression that means to accomplish something admirably and productively – or it “doesn’t cut the mustard” if it is performed poorly. It most likely gets from mustard as slang for “the best”, a sentence from O. Henry’s novel, Cabbages and Kings: “I’m not headlined in the bills, but I’m the mustard in the salad just the same.”
Usage: “I need a new employee; the previous one isn’t just cutting the mustard.”
- As easy as pie
Making a pie is difficult, so this articulation must be relevant to the eating of it. It started in the nineteenth century in the USA, where sweet pie was a typical dish and “pie” was related with simple joys. A simple talk can likewise be depicted as “a piece of cake “, which is additionally simple to get and eat, rather than preparing it.
Usage: “For Bailey, getting the first prize was easy as pie – she has a natural talent for it.”