Not so common idioms

16,007 Views | 141 Replies | Last: 4 yr ago by bmks270
Eliminatus
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AG
I took the Wonderlic test floating around premium and did pretty well. 38. Ahem, no big deal.

But two of the questions dealt directly with what I would call American idioms. And that seemed kinda dumb to me for an intelligence test. Maybe to test how broad your culture is? I consider myself as red blooded as they come but one did escape me. "Hitch your wagon to a star". Had to google that one afterwards.

Now, I have heard some strange and obscure idioms in my time but that one was new to me. I know I missed that question.

So curious as to what some of yall would judge to be common idioms in your world that are also somehow not common globally or easily understood. Things like "Don't pet a burning dog" are not as prevalent and clear as "As the crow flies" for example.

Mine would be, "Reap what you sow". I use this all the time and it has honestly shocked me how many people are puzzled by that one. Always figured that was universally understood. Guess not. Like I am sure someone out there is perplexed that I did not know the wagon star one.

ETA: Anyone take one of these in the professional world and have idiom based questions on them? And not just one but they were compare or contrast 4 different idioms per question. Like, "Which one does not fit" kinda question.
Win At Life
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Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
$3 Sack of Groceries
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Don't get above your raising.
Seven Costanza
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I don't think I've ever heard "hitch your wagon to a star", but was able to guess its meaning pretty easily.
Drawkcab
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Win At Life said:

Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.

Hold your horses! I don't think that's very uncommon.
normaleagle05
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Just like the ol' gal said. Just fits.
Shakes the Clown
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Too long, did not read

That my idiom
Law361
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Doesn't cut the mustard
AliasMan02
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"Like socks on a rooster" is one of my favorites, though I don't use it that often.
Thomas Sowell, PhD
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"Leave the money on the dresser."
Tatem
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Bees knees

Never heard this until I started dating my hubs
Leeman
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Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Flashdiaz
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You can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.


IIIHorn
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You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him backstroke.
Aggie Infantry
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When things are getting out of hand: Katy bar the door!

When a task is difficult: Too wet to plow.
When the truth comes out, do not ask me how I knew.
Ask yourself why you did not.
Flashdiaz
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Aggie Infantry said:

Too wet to plow.
it's never too wet to plow
Hamburger Dan
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Doesn't know come here, from six 'em.

Can also insert - Doesn't know **** from shinola. Or, doesn't know whether to **** or go blind.

While I I was growing up, I heard them all.
Old RV Ag
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Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.
MD1993
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All hat, no cattle.
Scoopen Skwert
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Me love you long time.
Old RV Ag
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Keep your eyeballs peeled
91_Aggie
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Had an english teacher in high school who had never heard the idiom "He bought the farm"
Ginormus Ag
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We will burn that bridge when we get there.
Username checks out.
bmc13
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is a 12 pound robin big?
Old RV Ag
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Ginormus Ag said:

We will burn that bridge when we get there.
Isn't it cross and not burn
Milwaukees Best Light
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Quit playing with your dinghy
Ginormus Ag
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Old RV Ag said:

Ginormus Ag said:

We will burn that bridge when we get there.
Isn't it cross and not burn


You can have your sayings that apply to your life, I will have mine.
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bmc13
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he's getting too big for his britches
Ginormus Ag
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bmc13 said:

he's getting too big for his britches


Mind your own business.
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AggieChemE09
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MD1993 said:

All hat, no cattle.
I like to teach my immigrant coworkers idioms. Nothing is better than a Chinese woman saying "He is all cowboy hat and no cow". So close Shuo, so close.
MooreTrucker
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Win At Life said:

Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
That's physically impossible, you know.

Or so some Congress-idiot says.
MooreTrucker
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Hamburger Dan said:

Doesn't know come here, from sic 'em.


FIFY
Scoopen Skwert
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"You want me to put it where?"
MooreTrucker
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Ginormus Ag said:

Old RV Ag said:

Ginormus Ag said:

We will burn that bridge when we get there.
Isn't it cross and not burn


You can have your sayings that apply to your life, I will have mine.
Exactly! It's not rocket surgery, ya know.
MooreTrucker
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AggieChemE09 said:

MD1993 said:

All hat, no cattle.
I like to teach my immigrant coworkers idioms. Nothing is better than a Chinese woman saying "He is all cowboy hat and no cow". So close Shuo, so close.
Son of beach sheet
 
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