Sometimes columns aren’t ‘Always As They Seem’

The “Kipling News” has been a part of the Kemper County Messenger since the early 1900s. Contributing columnists have been Mrs. R. L. Nicholson, Mamie McWilliams, Ruby McCoy, Nona Quarles, and my- self (for about 30 years). I am so pleased with our new editor/owner and the new for- mat for the paper. 

I recently fell and broke my hip and have asked for volunteers to write my column for a few weeks. I appreciate all of the prayers, cards, and concerns ex- pressed by my friends. This week’s column is written by Grace Gibson. 

CREATIVITY WITH IDIOMS 

Do you know what “idioms” are? Each day we communicate with words and phrases which have been learned from our 

family, through educa- tion, and native folk- lore. Our English language is spiced with expressions called id- ioms. An idiom is a phrase where the mean- ing isn’t obvious from looking at the individual words. 

der. (Ignore some- one.) 

— Leave no stone unturned. (Look everywhere.) 

— To pull some- one’s leg. (To joke with someone.) 

— Let sleeping dogs lie. (Stop dis- cussing an issue.) 

pone a plan.)
— It’s raining cats and dogs. 

(It’s raining hard.)
— On cloud nine. ( Very 

happy.)
— Shape up or ship out. 

(Work better or leave.)
— Pot calling the kettle black. 

(Someone criticizing someone that is just as bad.) 

— He’s sitting on the fence. (Can’t make up his mind.) 

— Haste makes waste. (You will make mistakes if you rush.) 

— Burn your bridges. (De- stroy your relationship.) 

— Cut the mustard. (Do a good job.) 

— A stitch in time saves nine. ( Fix the problem now because it will get worse.) 

— That’s the last straw. (My patience has run out.) 

— Hit the nail on the head. (Get something exactly right.) 

— The elephant the room. (The problem that people are 

avoiding.) —Weseeeyetoeye. (We 

agree.)
—Nopain,nogain, (Youhave 

to work for what you want.)
— Jump on the bandwagon. (Do what everyone else is 

doing.)
— Don’t count your chickens 

before they hatch. (Don’t count on something good happening until it has happened.) 

— Kill two birds with one stone. (Get two things done with a single action.) 

— You can’t judge a book by its cover. (A thing or person may look bad but is good in- side.) 

As I end this column, be sure to “Hang in there” (Don’t give up) and be “Fit as a fiddle.” (in good health). 

Last week someone
said to me, “It’s just beating a dead horse.” This meant giving time or energy to something that is already ended. This made me think of common idioms we hear each day. Following are 25 idioms and their meanings, given by individuals or through my research: 

— Don’t cry over spilled milk. (There is no reason to complain about something that cannot be 

fixed.)
— Give someone a cold shoul- 

— That ship has sailed. (It’s too late.) 

— It’s a piece of cake. (It’s easy.) 

— Let the cat out of the bag. (Give away a secret.) 

— Rain on someone’s parade. (To spoil something for some- 

one.)
— Live and learn. (I made a 

mistake.)
— The ball is in your court. 

(It’s your decision.)
— Take a rain check. (Postpone a pla