To chastise loudly, or to issue a severe warning. In England, unruly crowds that did not disperse after the Riot Act was read to them became subject to the force…
Refers to someone with a strong dedication to a particular set of beliefs. The term "diehard" originally had a series of much more literal meanings. In its earliest incarnation in…
To describe a display of superficial or false sorrow. The saying actually derives from a medieval belief that crocodiles shed tears of sadness while they killed and consumed their prey.
To threaten someone, but not take action or follow through with threats. Or someone who makes a lot of noise but is harmless. Or be all show, posture or bluster.…
To act quickly when opportunities arise before we miss our chance. Reference to blacksmithing. Where you need to hit a hot piece of metal with a mallet before it cools…
When visiting a foreign land, follow the customs of those who live in it. It can also mean that when you are in an unfamiliar situation, you should follow the…
This adage is used to describe how people of similar attitudes, interests and beliefs often congregate together. This can sometimes to be used to point out negative characteristics of people.
This adage was first used by English poet Alexander Pope in his poem, “An Essay on Criticism” in 1711, which is also the origin of the adage "To err is…
A way of asking a third person to leave because you want to be alone with someone. Often implies that you want to be alone with the person because you…
A hunting reference that points out that when you’ve already caught one bird, it may not be worth risking in order to capture the other birds that are still hiding…
Also "Too many cooks in the kitchen" If multiple cooks are "tweaking" a recipe, the dish is going to suffer because there are too many competing tastes and visions. This…
You act badly towards the person who is helping or has helped you. When you bite the hand that feeds you, you are being unthankful, ungrateful, unappreciative.
The beginning of this saying (Jack of all trades) is often used as a complement for someone who is good at many things. But by adding "master of none," the…
A reference to the way that rocks are overgrown by moss and lichen when they stay in one spot. On one hand this adage suggests that a person who never…