Today's first lesson is how to use the phrase: "Sleep on it"

I was watching on of my favorite American TV shows and one friend said to another, "sleep on it". It's used uite often in spo!en "nglish. I was watching the show with a non native spea!er and they as!ed me what it meant. I figured may a lot of people are in the same situation so I wanted to e#plain it.

It means "thin! seriously a$out it $efore you ma!e a decision". The idea is that if you have an important decision to ma!e, sometimes it's $est to wait until your emotions settle down and ma!e the decision the ne#t day. If you go to sleep and ma!e your final decision tomorrow, it means that you "slept on it".

%ne person might say in real life:

"I'm not sure which university I want to go to. There are a lot of good options and it's a huge decision for me. I thin! I'm going to sleep on it for a$out a wee! $efore I decide". &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 'ord("#pression: "'hatever floats your $oat." )uic! translation: whatever pleases you "#ample: "I'd prefer to go on Sunday." *esponse: "%+, whatever floats your $oat." &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

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0ec! of the woods : If someone tal!s a$out their "nec! of the woods", they are tal!ing a$out where they are from. If someone said, "I met a man the other day that was from my nec! of the woods." It means they met someone that was from the same place that they are from. *aining cats and dogs : 'hen it is raining very hard, a person may say that "it's raining cats and dogs" outside.

Sic! as a dog : If someone is "sic! as a dog", it means that they are violently ill; most li!ely it means they are vomiting profusely. 6ommonly 9sed Idioms in American 6ulture An "#planation to %dd 8hrases <ou =ay 0ot 9nderstand >ennifer 'agner >ennifer 'agner, <ahoo1 6ontri$utor 0etwor! >an ?, @AAB "Share your voice on <ahoo1 we$sites. Start .ere."

=ore: Idioms %ld 'ive's Tales "nglish 8eas

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Clag Ad6hoices An Idiom is a phrase that does not mean what it literally implies. Although we, as Americans, may clearly understand what the writer using an idiom is trying to convey, a reader from another culture most li!ely would have no idea what is $eing said. The following is a list of commonly used idioms in American culture, and the meaning $ehind each phrase.

A penny for your thoughts : This phrase is 4ust a way of someone as!ing you what you are thin!ing a$out.

A penny saved is a penny earned : This is one idiom that actually ma!es sense1 It means, if you don't spend your money, you'll have more money in your poc!et.

A watched pot never $oils : 'hen you constantly chec! on something, it seems it 4ust ta!es longer. Thus, this phrase means to $e patient, and !eep yourself occupied while you wait for something. "SuDie !ept chec!ing her emails for her 4o$ acceptance, $ut you !now a watched pot never $oils."

/rea! A ,eg : If someone tells you to $rea! a leg, they aren't wishing in4ury on you. They are simply wishing you good luc!. "/rea! a leg at your 4o$ interview today."

/ite your tongue : This phrase can $e used in two different ways. It can mean to stop yourself $efore you say something you regret. Cor instance, "I wanted to tell my $oss she was wrong, $ut I had to $ite my tongue." %*, it can $e said to someone that has made a statement that is displeasing. Cor e#ample, if someone said, "I hope the airplane doesn't e#plode", you may respond, "/IT" <%9* T%0-9"1"

6hew the fat : 'hen you are chatting with someone a$out nothing in particular, you could say you are "chewing the fat." %r, if you plan on visiting a friend, you could say you are going over to "chew the fat."

6old Tur!ey : 'hen someone says they are going cold tur!ey, it means that they are stopping something a$ruptly. This phrase is often used when a person is trying to uit smo!ing. "I'm giving up cigarettes cold tur!ey."

7on't $ite the hand that feeds you : This phrase means to not ta!e advantage of, or hurt, someone that has helped you. <ou wouldn't want to steal from your $oss, $ecause you would $e "$iting the hand that feeds you."

7on't $urn your $ridges : If you "$urn a $ridge", you would $e ruining a relationship or opportunity. Thus, if you were uitting a 4o$, one may say, ">ust don't $urn your $ridges." 'hich would mean, do it in a way that doesn't ruin the relationship.

7on't count your chic!ens $efore their hatched : This phrase has nothing to do with chic!ens. It simply means, don't $e confident in anything until it happens. "<ou may thin! you have that 4o$, $ut don't count your chic!ens $efore their hatched."

The early $ird gets the worm : The person that acts first usually has the $est chance for success, thus, "the early $ird gets the worm." As in, "*oger always gets the $est deals at yard sales. The early $ird gets the worm1"

Cish out of water : 'hen someone says that they feel li!e a "fish out of water", it means that they feel uncomforta$le. It pro$a$ly means that they are in a situation that they are very unfamiliar with, or one that is very new.

Cull of piss and vinegar : This phrase is used often when referring to children. Cor instance, on a day that my son is acting wildly, I may say that he is "full of piss and vinegar." It means to act craDily or out of sorts.

-ot off on the wrong foot : If you've have 4ust $egun something, and it went $adly, you

have "got off on the wrong foot." This can apply to a pro4ect, meeting someone new, or anything that you have 4ust started.

.igh on the hog : 'hat this phrase means is that a person is living e#travagantly. If someone 4ust $ought a large home, or is ma!ing a lot of money, you may say that person is living "high on the hog".

.it the nail on the head : 'hen someone says you've "hit the nail on the head", it means that you are e#actly right.

.op, s!ip, and a 4ump : If something is only a "hop, s!ip, and a 4ump" away, it means that it is very close $y.

.ow do you li!e those applesE : %!ay, this is one of those idioms that always ma!es me giggle. It is used sarcastically to say, "how do you li!e thatE" It can $e used in a $oastful manner, or to e#press shoc! or surprise. Cor e#ample, If I as!ed someone to 4ump, and instead they did a flip in the air followed $y a 4ump, I may say, ".ow do you li!e those applesE" 'hen you use this e#pression $oastfully, you could say, "I told you my foot$all team would win1 .ow do you li!e those applesE"

,eave no stone unturned : ,et's say you are loo!ing for your lost dog. If you've loo!ed everywhere, and e#hausted all your efforts in finding it, you have "left no stone unturned." It means you've done everything you can.

,ight on your feet : If someone tells you that you are "light on your feet", it's a compliment1 It means that you are uic! and agile; you move around easily.

,i!e two peas in a pod : If two things are "li!e two peas in a pod", it means that they are very similar.

,uc! of the draw : If you are selected randomly as a winner of a competition, you were selected $y the "luc! of the draw." It means that it has happened $y chance, and not $y s!ill.

=ind your p's and 's : If someone tells you to "mind your p's and 's", they are telling you to $ehave properly. Cor e#ample, if you were 4ust hired on to a new 4o$, you may want to "mind your p's and 's" until your pro$ationary period is over.

=on!ey see, mon!ey do : This phrase is usually used when referring to children. It means, that children 3or people5 have a tendency to mimic $ad $ehavior. If you are a smo!er, and your son started wal!ing around with your old cigarette $utt, one may say, "mon!ey see, mon!ey do."

=ore than one way to s!in a cat : 0o one in America actually s!ins cats, so I'm not sure why this phrase is used in our country. .owever, what it means is that there is more than one way to get something accomplished.

0ec! of the woods : If someone tal!s a$out their "nec! of the woods", they are tal!ing a$out where they are from. If someone said, "I met a man the other day that was from my nec! of the woods." It means they met someone that was from the same place that they are from.

0o hair off my chest : There are several variations to this saying. <ou may hear it as "no s!in of my nec!", or possi$ly, "no s!in off my nose." They all mean the same thing. If someone says any of those phrases, it 4ust means that a situation doesn't $other them at all. Cor e#ample, "7onnie said he couldn't meet me for lunch, $ut it's no hair off my chest."

%ld wive's tale : There are certain pieces of advice that usually don't $ring any real luc! or results, these are called "old wive's tales." Cor e#ample, there are =A0< old wive's tales a$out pregnancy and child$irth. "If you place a !nife under your pillow during child$irth, it will help cut down the contractions." This is a piece of advice that doesn't wor!, $ut is rumored that it will.

%ne man's trash is another man's treasure : 'hat may $e worthless to one person, may $e valua$le to another. Cor e#ample, you may not need that old fan in the attic, $ut to someone without one, it would $e something desira$le.

%pening up a can of worms : If you open up a can of worms, you are pro$a$ly starting trou$le that should $e avoided. Cor instance, "'hen >eff's e#:girlfriend called the house, it was li!e opening up a can of worms."

The pot calling the !ettle $lac! : If someone uses the phrase "the pot calling the !ettle $lac!", it means you are accusing them of hypocrisy. Cor e#ample, if a person is holding a $eer in their hand, $ut spea!s $adly of someone else that is drin!ing, you could say, "'ell, tal! a$out the pot calling the !ettle $lac!."

*aining cats and dogs : 'hen it is raining very hard, a person may say that "it's raining cats and dogs" outside.

*ings a $ell : This phrase means that something sounds familiar. If someone as!s you if you heard the latest news, and it sounds familiar, you may say that it "rings a $ell."

*oll with the punches : 'hen someone tells you to "roll with the punches", it simply means to ta!e things as they come. It can also mean when times are tough, try not to ma!e trou$le out of it. "'hen things get rough, you 4ust have to roll with the punches."

See eye to eye : 'hen two people agree on something, it is said that they "see eye to eye."

Sic! as a dog : If someone is "sic! as a dog", it means that they are violently ill; most li!ely it means they are vomiting profusely.

Si# feet under : This is a very crude way of saying that someone is dead. <ou would never use this term directly to a family mem$er of someone that has died. It could $e used as a warning, "9nless you want to $e si# feet under, you $etter slow down your speed."

Sow your wild oats : I didn't understand this idiom until I was older. It is usually directed

to a young man, and it refers to a time in his life when he was active se#ually, did a lot of drin!ing, and other things that a married man couldn't do. "Sow your wild oats while you can, $ecause you wont $e a$le to do it when you get married."

Stri!e while the iron is hot : 'hen you hear this phrase, it means to act while the opportunity is there. If you hear of a 4o$ opening, you will want to "stri!e while the iron is hot". 'hich means, get to it $efore someone else does.

Three sheets to the wind : If you've heard this phrase, most li!ely you are around someone that is drin!ing. That is $ecause it means that someone is very drun!. ">ohn has $een drin!ing all night, and now he's three sheets to the wind."

Tied the !not : 'hen a couple gets married, people say that they have "tied the !not."

Till your $lue in the face : If you've done something "till your $lue in the face", it means you've done it repeatedly and have gotten no results. Cor instance, when you tell your teenager to stop tal!ing on the phone "till your $lue in the face", it means you've said it over and over, $ut your teen does it anyway. 'al!ing on thin ice : 'hen you are "wal!ing on thin ice", you are putting yourself in a delicate situation. It is sometimes said as, "s!ating on thin ice." /oth have the same meaning. "'hen I sent a threatening letter to my landlord, I !new I was wal!ing 3s!ating5 on this ice." 'o!e up on the wrong side of the $ed : If a person is in a $ad mood, you may say that they "wo!e up on the wrong side of the $ed." ,ight on your feet : If someone tells you that you are "light on your feet", it's a compliment1 It means that you are uic! and agile; you move around easily. 6hew the fat : 'hen you are chatting with someone a$out nothing in particular, you could say you are "chewing the fat." %r, if you plan on visiting a friend, you could say you are going over to "chew the fat." /rea! A ,eg : If someone tells you to $rea! a leg, they aren't wishing in4ury on you. They are simply wishing you good luc!. "/rea! a leg at your 4o$ interview today." A penny for your thoughts : This phrase is 4ust a way of someone as!ing you what you are thin!ing a$out.