Idiom-Magic

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i found to spread ou wings as a new nation in a pece of paper our teacher gave us

Where the rubber meets the road??


no comment from the peanut gallery?
Long before we had movie theatres and long before we had television, people actually went out of their homes to be entertained. In Britain they went to what were called music halls to watch jugglers, dancers, singers and performances by comedians. The same type of variety shows in the US were staged in what were called vaudeville theatres, and just as popcorn is the favourite snack at the cinema today, eating peanuts was the snack of choice at music halls and vaudeville theatres. The refined folks had the best seats close to the stage, while the cheap seats were high up in the balcony. Crowds up there could often be loud and rowdy, and when something in the performance displeased them they threw their peanut shells onto those below. The advent of motion pictures pretty much put an end to the music hall and to vaudeville, but the term peanut gallery lingers on. It used to refer to a crowd of ordinary folks whose opinions weren’t considered important, though I note that in our electronic age it has come to mean people in a social network audience who watch but don’t participate in chat rooms, forums, etc. They are, in fact, silent watchers, which is the absolute opposite of the original meaning of the peanut gallery.

Get my drift?

what do these two idioms mean? we spread our wings as a new nation
WE SPREAD OUR WINGS AS A NEW NATION what does that mean
Judging from the number of times this question has been asked, I'm of the opinion that this remark appears on a test or in a text somewhere. Fortunately, my answer today is the same as it was before. And the answer is... >
When baby birds reach a certain stage of development, they flap their wings as they think about flying. And then, finally spreading them, they jump from the nest. Wheeeee, they have gained the confidence to set out on their own and to be independent. They have shown a willingness to try new things and assert themselves. That's what is meant by spread one's wings, and it's but a small step (to mix metaphors) to imagine what is meant when a new nation spreads its wings. If you have the exact place where this appears, and in which phrase, we'd be happy if you'd share it with us. Thanks, jbs




Poor as a mouse in church?
What you have in mind is the idiom poor as a church mouse. Unlike a mouse living in a house, a mouse living in a church isn't likely to find any food. As it is necessary to have money to have food, this mouse would very likely be a thin and hungry mouse -- and very poor. So poor as a church mouse means to be quite poor. Here's a hard-to-believe example. "He was poor as a church mouse living in a cold attic and sleeping on the floor, but the sale of his novel to Hollywood made him fabuously rich overnight."

What is wig out? thanks.
Wig out began as a slang expression within the American jazz community (circa 1940) where a wig was an eccentric or perhaps even crazy person. That gave birth to the verb to wig , meaning to become excited or to act a bit crazy. Subsequent generations – notably young people that were called Beatniks -- picked it up to describe being very impressed or excited. “Last night’s sunset wigged me out.” “This new Beatles’ record “wigs me out.” Along came the next generation, the Hippies, and they used the words to describe someone who, because of the misuse of drugs, had lost contact with reality. “”There were paramedics at the rock concert to treat any spectators who wigged out.” To simplify, this can mean to be delighted or excited -- or it can describe being removed from reality due to the influence of drugs.

If anyone can share me a meaning of treat two ways road as one way. Thank you very much.
I'm not sure of this. Can one of our readers help out?

where is this book available?
You can go to AMAZON.COM
or try this link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Smithback&x=17&y=25

to muck up
To make a mess of something, especially by doing it improperly. "The last time Tim worked on my computer he really mucked it up.

Take the micky out of?
To tease of make fun of someone. This is strictly British. Most people in the US wouldn't have any idea what it means. "My friends took the mickey out of me when I went to Jill's halloween party dressed like a cowboy."

My Aunt said she may not have a car so she'll 'have to shine her pony'
Said with humour, I'm sure. If the aunt had a car, she'd polish and wax it. Not having one...well, you can see her joke.

what is the meaning of don't (go) swimming on a dry river bed?
It sounds as though this means you must prepare yourself before doing something...such as putting water in the river before swimming in it. Like the above comment, this seems to have a bit of humour attached to it.

You are toast?? Why toast?
This is a clever (?) way of saying that you are in trouble. Someone said it once (perhaps on television) so it's now become a popular, much-used, expression.
"You take my books and you're toast!" "If I don't get work on time I'll be toast."

.


What does I have a bead on it mean?
Scroll down just a bit and you'll find the answer >>

SNAKE-OIL MERCHANT In certain cultures and at different times there has been a belief that the oil from snakes possess certain magical qualities. Those with a personal interest in making money invent numerous claims about such an oil, and they put various liquids into a bottle to sell to those willing to believe them. Such promoters are called snake-oil merchants , and what they sell may or may not actually contain the oil of a snake. Because there is no way of proving that their bottled stuff will prevent blindness, grow hair on the bald, increase one’s intelligence, restore a man’s potency – to name but a few things their snake oil is promised to do – the promoters of these products -- snake-oil merchants -- are universally thought to be quacks, phoneys, con men, frauds, and charlatans. From that, someone promoting a product or an idea or a principle that others disagree with or think of as bad, false or unattainable are referred to as snake-oil merchants. I invite you to look at this page

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Snake-oil+%22&hl=en&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=djCrTeeWH4GmsQPNsen5DA&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1276&bih=788

to see some of the crazy promotions these merchants have created.



Sorry, I forgot my e-mail: mmmvv1@hotmail.nl.
Again thanks.

Dear Sir / Madam. I'm looking for the exact meaning of the phrase "out on it!" I've seen explanations as "shame on you", but that isn't right in the context. The context is: Ebenezer was adamant. "Out on it, then!" his father cried at last. "Wed the whore a second time when our case is won, and be damned!"

Maybe in Dutch "voor de dag er mee!"; this is in English "out with it!"

Thank you in advance.
Machiel van Veen.
Amsterdam.
The Netherlands.

Hello Machiel -
From what little research I've been able to do, out on it appears to be a somewhat archaic British expression, perhaps regional, and in the context you give me I believe it's said as an indication of resignation: "Well, so be it, get on with it then!"
I'm not sure about the Dutch translation you suggest. My translator gives me "for the day." That's not the way I read the comment.
I'm going to post this answer on our internet site as I'm certain your question has piqued the curiosity of others...
Thanks. John


THAT'S RICH
That’s rich has two meanings, one old and one new. The old one was a remark used to remind someone that they were being critical of someone for something they themselves were guilty of. “Maggie complains that no one has decent manners anymore. That’s rich! Have you seen how she behaves when she goes shopping?”
The second (new) meaning is the same as saying “That’s great!,” “That’s wonderful!,” or “That’s cool!” “Sadie is going to go to the UK to study. I think that’s rich!”



What's it mean when someone who is an apple polisher?
To apple polish / An apple-polisher: A student wishing to please a teacher might present him or her with an apple that he or she has rubbed and rubbed until it has a perfect shine. Sometimes a student does that to win favour or to attract attention so he or she can receive special treatment in return.
That’s the origin of this term. “The new worker looks like an apple-polisher. Look, she’s bringing home-made cakes for the boss!” “Why don’t we do a little apple-polishing ourselves and bring the boss some chocolates?”


have you been asked 'get down to brass tacks'?

Snug as a bug?
We have Benjamin Franklin to thank for this remark. He compared being warm and comfortable to a bug living snugly in a rug. Snug means to fit closely and comfortably. I don’t think old Ben actually had bugs living in his rug, but because bug and snug rhyme, he thought the words go nicely together. “It’s cold out but I’m snug as a bug in a rug indoors by the fire.” “I’ve put the children to bed,” mother said. “They’re snug as a couple of bugs in a rug and went right to sleep,” she smiled.

Yeah, and cute as a bug's ear?
Bugs don’t have ears. That doesn’t matter, because this is a way of saying a person (usually a young one) is quite cute. “Betsy’s child is cute as a bug’s ear, don’t you agree?”

A clean slate. Why a clean one? Why slate?
Years ago children went to school carrying small slate tablets ( pieces of blackboard stone) and chalk, and on them they would write lessons, do mathematical calculations, and make notes. They also carried pieces of felt to erase their work. They began their day with a clean slate, (meaning there was nothing on their little blackboards) and at the end of their studies they would wipe their slates clean) -- meaning they would remove everything from them. Today, to begin or start with a clean slate is to begin something anew by putting previous things behind you. “I had a terrible day at the office yesterday, but today I’m going to start with a clean slate by not even thinking about it.” As you can see, the speaker has decided to wipe his slate clean by not referring to his previous problems.

I heard this on tv: you nailed it.
This is a recent expression, meaning "You have done it exactly right." Probably a takeoff from the older "Hit the nail on the head."

What does fit as a fiddle mean?
This expression goes back to the time of Shakespeare. He didn't use it in his writings, but those around him probably did. It describes being in the best possible physical condition. Why a fiddle (a violin)? Because a fiddle wouldn't sound well if it was not in the best condition. Also, the words, fit and fiddle (both beginning with the letter F ) go nicely together. That's known as 'alliteration.' (That's a good word - go look it up!) "I was ill yesterday, but today I feel fit as a fiddle.


What does "have a bead on" mean?

what does "got a bead on it" mean?
Get a bead on something. This can be said as have a bead, get a bead, or draw a bead. They all mean the same thing: to have something or someone as one's objective. A bead is a small raised spot (it might even look like a bead) at the end of a gun barrel that is used when aiming. The person aims at a target by pointing the bead at it. But this idiom is used to indicate having something in one's sight. "I have a bead on that pretty girl in my class with the lovely eyes." "He drew a bead on a future in television even as a young boy.



Photocopiers can smell your fear
This certainly isn't an idiom. It's someone's way of expressing an idea--though I have no idea what he/she was thinking to make such a comment. Perhaps a dislike of photocopiers? Who knows?

Run cirles around
If I am running in a straight line and are too, but you run so fast you can run around and around me as we go, you are doing a super job! In the same way, if you can do something very much better than someone else, you run circles around them. “I’m pretty fast with a calculator, but Jenny runs circles around me with one.” “We have a good product. I believe it will run circles around anything made by our competitors.


Off colour?

It's easier to take the mud off the shoes when it's dry.What does this mean?
Wet soil (mud) is sticky. When mud dries, it becomes hard. Therefore, hitting the shoe causes the dry substance to fall off. This is a sticky problem, though not an idiom, of course. The British wear high boots called Wellies so they don't have to clean mud from their shoes. They leave the dirty boots outside their doors. Wellies is the short form for Wellingtons, those rubber or plastic boots that go nearly up to your knees. A man maned Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, invented them, hence their name.

1812 we hit a big sang. what does it mean?
It means in 1812 we hit a problem. That's what a snag means here. It's a hang-up. In 1812 Napoleon captured Moscow. His plan to conquer Russia hit a snag, however, when the snow and the freezing cold drove him back to France. Tolstoy (War And Peace) wrote of it: "Millions of people went from west to east and slaughtered each other to no purpose, all because one man told them to." That's beginning to sound all too familiar, don't you think!


What does the nose knows mean? I'm not sure. I think it has something to do with a sense of intuition.
This is a clever way of saying that you have foreknowledge of something, and yes, it could mean someone senses it. I say clever because nose and knows rhyme.

what is the meaning for give it all you got
This means to do all in your power or to do everything you possibly can. Example: "I gave it all had but I still didn't get all my work done on time." "If you give it all you got tomorrow, you should easily finish it."
I

Where did the expression "willy nilly" come from?

willy-nilly

1608, contraction of will I, nill I, or will he, nill he, or will ye, nill ye, lit. "with or without the will of the person concerned." The nill is from O.E. nyllan, from ne "no" (see no) + *willan "will" (v.). Latin expressed a similar idea in nolens volens. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper


well...John....Ching Yee...I once again looked over your website....but I am just still confused about IDIOMS....I think I would have to see the fun and understand. I will try and read more on your site. I told you I am not up on vocabulary and reading. Just life lived...not so much education. Wish I was..but I think the learning part passed me by and only left me with arts and crafts and not so much logic. Linda

from star- spandgled story , idioms mean? "we.. spread our wings as a new nation"

idioms meaning in " we..spread our wings as a new nation"

we spread our wings as a new nation
Scroll down and you will find the answer >>

we hit the big snag
A snag is a concealed or unsuspecting object or circumstance that could hinder your forward progress. From that, to hit a snag is to have your progress stopped or delayed. "We were about to finish our school project when we hit a snag . The computers crashed." "If We don't hit a snag by running into traffic, we should be able to get to the concert on time.


What does Good Gravy mean?
This was asked sometime earlier (see down below). The question was this: good gravy! Is this an exclamation? .
And the answer:
Good gravy! certainly is an exclamation. It’s on a par with good gracious! , gee whiz!, golly Ned!, Holy Cow!, Good Gosh! or my goodness!“ Good gravy, look at the time! I’m late for work!” “When I asked Rose if she would marry me, she looked absolutely shocked. ‘Good gravy!,’ she exclaimed, ‘I thought you would never ask!'”

I should say that gravy is a polite way of saying God -- In other words, it's a euphemism -- and so are those other G exclamations indicated above.

what is the origin of hit the books?
In this idiom, hit means to start, to begin, to leave, to go. You will find it used this way in several older idioms, such as hit the trail (used by cowboys riding their horses on a trail) and hit the road. With fewer cowboys around these days, this is a contemporary way of saying the same thing. That is, to leave, to go, to begin. Probably from that, to hit the books is to start studying one’s books. “It’s time for me to turn off my computer and hit the books. I have an examination tomorrow.”

What is the meaning of idiom, spread all the cards?

When playing card games, there comes a time when you have to display your hand, meaning your cards. That's the meaning of this expression. You could also say to show your hand.

what is the meaning of "let ideas incubus"
My guess is that this should read "let ideas incubate," which would mean to let them hatch or come to fruition. Incubate, from the Latin incubare,meaning "to lie (in wait.") Incubus is from the same Latin root, but it's a noun, and it refers to a nightmare that lies inside a sleeping person. You can see from this that ideas do not incubus, they incubate.

am looking for the iodamtic expression about judging other people
A couple of proverbs might apply:
A person is judged by the company he/she keeps;
Judge not lest you be judged;
and You can’t judge a book by it’s cover.
And here are some idiomatic helpers: Get someone’s measure; to label someone; size someone up; judge someone on his/her merits.
There are surely more. Maybe someone could offer suggestions?

How come it's said "tired out" and "done in?" They both mean the same thing, but one is out and the other is in.

whats the idiom for give a try?
Let’s try these alternatives:

“You can do it, give it a shot.”
“All right, I’ll give it a whirl”
“Good, I knew you would give it a chance.”
“Yeah, I’m really going to give it a go. ”
“You’re now going to have a go?
“Yup, I’m giving it the old college try.”
“Hurray! Have at it!”
"Good, go give it a bash."

What does it mean to "get a bead on"?
The answer to this can be found three or four inches down.>>


When someone hears a funny story and says that's rich, and than laughs. Why that's rich?

where did holey smoke come from?
Setting fire to offerings to the gods is an act as old as mankind. Sometimes these offerings are in the form of prayers written on paper, sometimes they consist of paper notes (Hell Money), sometimes they are spirit objects (Ming Qi) meant to please the gods. Even the act of lighting a candle or an incense stick can be a way of letting smoke rise into the heavens. So, too, is killing a fat calf and cooking it in a religious ritual. Is all of this holy smoke? In 1627 (according to the Oxford English Dictionary) in a poem,’ The Epiphany,' Sir J. Beaumont wrote "Who lift to God for us the holy smoke of fervent prayers." He was referring to prayers that were burned, but it wasn't until Rudyard Kipling used holy smoke in his 1892 story "The Nautlahka" that the expression began being used as a common exclamation. Example: "Holy smoke! I'm late for work!" Holy smoke! How time flies!" "Holy smoke, what an interesting expression!"


looking for a Shakespeare poem containing an idiom
William Shakespeare has given the world so much that is quotable, and we have put to use so many of his expressions, that it would be difficult to list them all here. Fortunately, someone has already done so, and I refer you to his excellent site and his Shakespearean Book Of Lists >>

http://www.lomonico.com/bookch4.html

Also, you will find that we have illustrated and defined a number of Shakespeare’s idiomatic expressions in our FUN WITH IDIOMS (BOOKS 1 & 2) and our FUN WITH PROVERBS books. All are available. See our opening page to learn how to purchase them.



Play catch-up

Holy smoke //?
You will need an exclamation mark after this for that’s what this is: an exclamation! “Holy smoke, it sure is windy today!” Holy smoke!
Look how fast that car is going!

What is play hooky?

Kids taking an unauthorized day away from school are said to play hooky. It’s taken from an old slang word, hook, meaning to steal. So the kids stole a day off. Sometimes you will seen this spelled hookey. “Those naughty boys, they should be in school. Are they playing hooky?”

ON THE LAM?
Apparently lam was used in Shakespeare’s time. It meant to leave. Today it’s pretty much confined to describing a criminal who is running away or in hiding from the police or similar authorities. “The thieves escaped and are still on the lam.”

what does "got a bead on it" mean?
Get a bead on something. This can be said as have a bead, get a bead, or draw a bead. They all mean the same thing: to have something or someone as one's objective. A bead is a small raised spot (it might even look like a bead) at the end of a gun barrel that is used when aiming. The person aims at a target by pointing the bead at it. But this idiom is used to indicate having something in one's sight. "I have a bead on that pretty girl in my class with the lovely eyes." "He drew a bead on a future in television even as a young boy.

WE SPREAD OUR WINGS AS A NEW NATION what does that mean
Judging from the number of times this question has been asked, I'm of the opinion that this remark appears on a test or in a text somewhere. Fortunately, my answer today is the same as it was before. And the answer is... >
When baby birds reach a certain stage of development, they flap their wings as they think about flying. And then, finally spreading them, they jump from the nest. Wheeeee, they have gained the confidence to set out on their own and to be independent. They have shown a willingness to try new things and assert themselves. That's what is meant by spread one's wings, and it's but a small step (to mix metaphors) to imagine what is meant when a new nation spreads its wings. If you have the exact place where this appears, and in which phrase, we'd be happy if you'd share it with us. Thanks, jbs


Why is it called a blue moon?

About every three years there are two full moons in the same month, so it's a rare occasion when we have one. That's called a blue moon, and we experienced one last month. We aren't sure why it's called blue, though once upon a time the moon did appear to be blue after a volcano in Java erupted. This moon is used in an idiom, meaning ‘not very often’ or ‘rarely’. “Since Molly moved, I only see her once in a blue moon. “Once in a blue moon I have an urge to eat mango ice cream.”


How come "Done to a turn?"

What does 'test your metal' mean?
Question: When would this mean to test one's courage, one's nerve, one's stamina? Answer: When it is spelled as mettle. Perhaps someone can give me an example in a sentence??



What's The Whole Shebang about?
Mark Twain used this expression often to indicate "everything, the whole, all of something."
Shebang (or chebang) was originally an Irish slang term for a gambling house or a tavern, but somehow it came to mean "the entire thing." "Sure, you can have some apples from my tree. In fact, I don't care for apples so you can have the whole shebang." "Our tour took us to Europe where we visited France, Germany. Luxembourg, Belgium...you know, we saw the whole shebang.

What does "spread our wings as a new nation" mean

WE SPREAD OUR WINGS AS A NEW NATION what does that mean
Judging from the number of times this question has been asked, I'm of the opinion that this remark appears on a test or in a text somewhere. Fortunately, my answer today is the same as it was before. And the answer is... >
When baby birds reach a certain stage of development, they flap their wings as they think about flying. And then, finally spreading them, they jump from the nest. Wheeeee, they have gained the confidence to set out on their own and to be independent. They have shown a willingness to try new things and assert themselves. That's what is meant by spread one's wings, and it's but a small step (to mix metaphors) to imagine what is meant when a new nation spreads its wings. If you have the exact place where this appears, and in which phrase, we'd be happy if you'd share it with us.
And you might scroll down to see how many times this has been asked. Thanks, jbs



what does "sakes alive mean"?
This is an exclamation used by an older generation to express just about any emotional feeling. It's the short form of land sakes alive, which means about the same as Gee Whiz!, Golly!, You don’t say!, or I’ll be darned!” It’s also expressed as Good land of mercy!, so the word “Land” it’s probably a euphemism for “Lord.” “Land sakes, all the hotels are full! Where will we sleep tonight?” “Look how tall that young fellow is!,” Grandfather said. “Land sakes alive, he’s nearly as tall as his father!” “Good land of mercy, will this rain never stop?”

Why are they called dog days? Because of lots of dogs around?

a fat lot of good that will do you. Why fat lot?

What is the origin of the expression "bringing up the rear"?
I don't know that anyone knows the origin of this, but, as you know, it means to be the last in a series, a line or a procession. "The parade passed by, the silly old clowns bringing up the rear.


cream of de cream
This describes something that's not just the best, but the very best. To say that something is the cream (of the class, of the crop, of the colleciton, etc.) is to say it's the best. This, taken from the French expression, la creme de la creme, means the cream of the cream...or the very, very best. "Of all the great and wonderful students who have passed through this school, this year's graduating class must surely be the cream of the cream. (la creme de la creme)

a barn burner is a very low scoring and boring game like watching paint dry
No, a barn burner is something that is really exciting. "Last night's football game was such an intense amd exciting barn burner that I'm still shaking with excitement!"
You are right about boredom being the idea behind the expression like watching paint dry. "The slide show was absolutely dull, and for two hours I had to sit there trying to stay awake. It was about as interesting as sitting there watching paint dry.


What is a plugged nickel?
As long ago as the 17th century, damaged and counterfeit coins were referred to as “plugged,” meaning inferior. In the US, a nickel is a small coin valued at five cents. Perhaps because there were a
number of bad or counterfeit five-cent coins around at a particular time, this expression became popular. Ever since, anything that is not worth a plugged nickel is of no value whatsoever. “The engine in my car is so bad that when I tried to trade it in the salesman said my car’s not worth a plugged nickel.” This expression can also be used humorously. “If I don’t pass my examinations, my career won’t be worth a plugged nickel!”

paddle your own canoe?
A canoe, of course, is a light, narrow boat, and to canoe (transitive verb) is to use a flat oar (a paddle) to move it along in the water. The phrase paddle your own canoe/ paddle one’s own canoe means to do something alone, or to be independent. This was a favourite saying of Abraham Lincoln, which may be why it became popular in the 1850s. “I’ll help you with your homework this one last time, but after today you’ll have to paddle you own canoe.” “I sometimes wish my parents would stop overseeing everything I do and every now and then trust me to paddle my own canoe!”

Why is it called a Charlie horse?
There are several theories about the origin of this, but none can be proved. The one that seems most interesting goes back to the 1880s. A large and important American baseball team had a workhorse named Charley, and Charlie was lame. He walked with a limp. Forever after ( so the tale goes) when anyone had a leg problem that caused him/her to limp, they had a Charlie (or Charley) Horse.

I don't understand "drop a clinker."
In the late 1600s, or just after the time of Shakespeare, a clinker was (in the speech of the time) a cunning person. That meaning lasted for about one hundred years when, in the 1700s, it came to mean (who knows how or why?) (1) a fine, excellent person; or (2) a thing of good quality without flaws.
In some strange way, the word now seems to have reverted back to part of its original meaning for a clinker is now defined as a serious error or a mistake, though the word is hardly ever used to describe a person. The word sometimes follows dropped, laid, made. “The violinist sure dropped a clinker during today’s concert.” (Played the wrong note or played out of key or at the wrong time.) “Your test answers are perfect. I don’t find a single clinker anywhere in your paper,” the teacher smiled. "I made a clinker by forgetting to invite Marcie to my party.


fit as a fiddle?

What is the meaning of the idiom 'clever socks'?
Sorry, I don't find this as an idiom, but t is a brand of socks manufactured in the UK, and it's also the name of a music group. If you could give me the context in which you found this, I may be able to find more information."

Have you ever heard of someone's horns wearing off before they finished some task?
I haven't heard this one, but maybe one of our readers has. Can someone help us with this?

why is it called a hat trick?
This means to score three times in succession, or to accomplish something three times in a row. It comes from the game of cricket. "Michael scored a hat trick yesterday by winning all three swimming events.

hells bells? What's that mean?

What is to boot
To boot???
To boot is a way of saying "in addition to," or "also." It indicates something more is added. I have a notion it is used mostly in the U.S. Here are some examples: "For her birthday, Sally received a beautiful camera and a bicycle to boot." "I expect it to rain, and we'll probably have lightning to boot."


What's in the clink mean?

To be in the clink is to be in jail. This goes back a long, long way. To the year 1515, to be exact. It's probably due to the clinking sound made by closing the metal doors of a jail. Or maybe because of the clinking together of the jailor's keys. If you want to know what a clinking sound is like, think of several keys hitting together. Or think of the sound coming from a metal wind chime. You could described that as the clink, clink of keys, or the clink, clink of a wind chime in a breeze.

No comment from the peanut gallery

Peanut gallery???
It's not likely that you will find any of your friends referring to a peanut gallery these days, but somewhere in your reading you may see it. Or perhaps it will be mentioned in a film. The expression dates back to the mid-1800s when audiences went to large music halls and theatres to see stage productions and musical comedy events. The most expensive seats were up front and in the first rows of the balconies. The cheapest seats, like now, were far up and far back. That area was known as the gallery. In those days, shelled peanuts were the favoured snack of the peple in the gallery and occasionally – especially if those in the gallery didn’t like the play and wished to express their disapproval -- they would drop the peanut shells on the folks below. That area of cheap seats soon became known as the peanut gallery. The next time you can’t get good tickets to a concert or a play and find yourself way up in the rear, you can say you are in the peanut gallery. And please: Be careful of your peanut shells!

searching for something without any idea

searching for something without any idea



What is shop talk? Is it the same as to talk shop?
When someone talks about his job or his work, he or she is talking shop. And what they are talking is called shop talk. "Harry must love his job at the phone company. Even on holiday he's constantly talking shop." "Enough of that shop talk, Harrold! Whisper sweet nothings to me," his dear wife pleaded.

fools gold?
This is a term from the Gold Rush days in America (from 1849) when American's headed West by the thousands to hunt for gold. Some rocks have copper pyrites and iron that shines like gold, thus fooling many into thinking they had found gold and were rich. Smart prospectors weren't fooled by it, hence the term fool's gold. Today it can refer to something that deceives a person. "Those price cuts promised us are fool's gold because we're actually going to be charged more for services."

Pony up? Don't know this one.

This means to pay up. We're not sure about the origin of it, but it's probably British where in slang a small amount of money was a pony . And the origin of that is probably because a pony is a small horse. These are a lot of probables associated with this, so it's best to forget about the origins and concentrate on the definition: to pay up. "Hey, when are you going to pony up the ten dollars you borrowed from me?" "I paid the bill for our meal last week, so it's your turn to pony up today."

What is a country hick?
A person who lives in the country. A farmer. It's not bad to refer to someone this way, but it's not altogether good. Best not to, and here's an example that should show you why: "John isn't very sophisticated, is he?" "No, he isn't. He's actually something of a country hick, especially when it comes to understanding girls."

"Going up a hill in my ford, I lost my transmission." What does this say?

The Ford here is a car or truck, and the transmission (in a nutshell) is a box underneath containing the various gears that make it go. To say that it is "lost" means it is gone. This is one of those events that happens from time to time to those with cars: you are driving along and suddenly something in the car's working parts suddenly stops working. It breaks. And in everyday speech, we might say it is lost. Of course it hasn't gone anywhere, but it's ability to move the car sure has!

In the hole??
In debt. Something on the mind of a lot of banks and insurance companies these days. And in the minds of a lot of stock brokers. And companies unable to get loans. And businesses that can't get a line of credit. And especially disturbing to the average citizen, that person often referred to as "the man on the street." A whole lot of them are finding themselves in the hole these days.

barnburner?
An exciting event.

raining dogs and cats
When it rains like this, it's raining heavily. The French would say it is raining a waterfall (catadoupe), and that may be where we got this expression because cata + doupe sounds like 'cat' and 'dog'. Here are a few other ways of saying the same thing: Rain pitchforks, rain buckets, rain trams and omnibuses (strictly British!), rain cataracts, rain basins.
"We were enjoying our picnic when it began to thunder and the sky opened up and it started to rain cats and dogs."


a slip of a girl
To describe someone as a slip of a (boy/girl/person) is to say they are small and thin. Slip in this instance means just that: small and thin. It's from an Old English word, slippe. "Suzie's a cute little slip of a girl, isn't she?"

swan's song
Swans don't sing. In fact, they don't make any sound, apart from an occasional hiss. The ancient Greeks thought differently. They thought that at the moment of their deaths, swans let loose with a beautiful song. We don't know where they got that idea, but it was repeated continually for several centuries. Eventually, the final performance of someone in the theatre became known as his/her swan song. The same was said of a musician, a singer, and eventually anyone who performed a final deed before leaving the stage, stopping singing, or acting.
"This episode of Fraser is the last one. Too bad. I guess you could say it's everyone's swan song."



run into the ground?

Knee high to a grass hopper?
Someone this high is short. Usually quite short. This is an American expression used to describe children or someone quite young. "I'm a friend of your father. I met him years ago when you were still knee high to a grasshopper."

spread our wings as a new nation
Scroll down a couple of inches for the answer to this. It's a question that crops up very often, and I've discovered why. You, too, can find out about that if you scrool down to it.

what is a greenhorn?
This describes any inexperienced person. Someone just entering high school is a greenhorn. A police cadet or someone who has just entered the military service is a greenhorn. A person new to a job can be called a greenhorn. Why not try giving me some examples? I'll give you this one to get you started: "Does anyone know who that greenhorn is on our football team?

I paid throug the nose.
This is indeed a strange expression. It dates back to the 17th century when professional gamblers would "fix" a game of cards to cheat a player out of his money. They said they "bled" him. That is, they took all his money. From that, when "bleeding" a person, they would say they were "making his nose bleed." That expression eventually changed to paying through the nose. Today it means to cost a lot of money. "I paid through the nose to buy my new car." "If you want to purchase an apartment these days, you'll have to pay through the nose to get one."

Try this, green with envy.
This indicates being jealous. "Oh, what a handsome new boyfriend Charlene has! I'm green with envy."

ChingYee: Our address is: Chi Yu: Got it. Address noted. Thanks.

...doing a land office business?
In the early days of the United States, land in the far west of the country (west of the Mississippi River) was wild and unsettled. To encourage settlers, the U.S. government opened offices (called Land Offices) where folks could go to look at maps of the untamed areas and select parcels. The land was given away free, which meant that when the offices first opened there were throngs of people ready to accept the land and move west. From that, to do a land-office business came to mean to do a lot of business. “The Emporium has a sale this week and from the crowds outside they seem to be doing a land-office business.”

To boot???
To boot is a way of saying "in addition to," or "also." It indicates something more is added. I have a notion it is used mostly in the U.S. Here are some examples: "For her birthday, Sally received a beautiful camera and a bicycle to boot." "I expect it to rain, and we'll probably have lightning to boot."

A boozer (someone asked about it) is a pub or a tavern. It's British slang. In England, Canada or the US, one goes to a pub or a bar to drink alcoholic drinks, and in slang that's known as booze. In England, however, only beer and ale is called booze. At any rate, a tavern in the UK is known as a boozer . "Tom and Harry are down at the local boozer playing a game of darts."
AND...as one of our loyal readers has remarked (below) a boozer can also be a person who often drinks too much.

I saw something I don't understand. What means "Ye gads and little fishhooks?"
This is just another oath. Ye gads is a variation of you gods. The part about little fishhooks is just something said to be silly. "Ye gads and little fishhooks, I'm late getting to work again!" "When Aunt Sadie heard the news about Shirley's wedding, she cried out,"Ye gads and little fishhooks, it's about time that girl got married!"

"Can't cut the mustard" means "can't reach the expectation" or "doesn't measure up"
Right you are! Thanks

I don't know the origination of any of those, but do know the meaning. "Jimminy Christmas, sakes alive!" is an exclamation meaning "wow!". -A boozer is someone who drinks alchohol to the point of intoxication often/all the time. -"Can't cut the mustard" means you can't reach the expectation.

"...we spread our wings as a new nation..." appears in an American homework page (for my daughter it is 4th grade work). Even though I knew the meaning, it was hard to explain what it meant to her. Thank you for your clear and concise definition.

Has anyone ever heard the expression "Jiminy Christmas sakes alive"? And where the heck did it come from?

What is a boozer?

can't cut mustard? cutting the mustard?

Is "There ia a time clock on a bill" an idiom? and if it is what does it mean?
That isn't an idiom. It sounds odd. It reads as though someone purchased a time clock and found it listed on his/her bill or invoice. That's the best I can do deciphering this one!"

where did stone-face originate?
Someone with a stone face , or someone stone-faced would be a person who has an expressionless appearance. My Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary indicates that this (as an adjective) has been traced to about 1932. It’s defined there as “showing no emotion.” “The criminal sat in stone-faced silence as the jury read its verdict.” “Even when you are alone, it’s difficult to watch some of the cartoons on television with a stone face." Unfortunately, the dictionary (In my opinion, it's the best one around -- and it's especially good for anyone learning English) doesn't say where the expression originated. But it's a comparison, so it was probably used long, long before the 1930s.


good gravy! Is this an exclamation?

Good gravy! certainly is an exclamation. It’s on a par with good gracious! , gee whiz!, golly Ned!, Holy Cow!, Good Gosh! or my goodness!“Good gravy, look at the time! I’m late for work!” “When I asked Rose if she would marry me, she looked absolutely shocked. ‘Good gravy!,’ she exclaimed, ‘I thought you would never ask!’”

Square with me, and On the square.

in 1812 we hit a big snag whats the idiom
hit a (big) snag. That's the idiom. It's explained below...

WE SPREAD OUR WINGS AS A NEW NATION what does that mean
Judging from the number of times this question has been asked, I'm of the opinion that this remark appears on a test or in a text somewhere. Fortunately, my answer today is the same as it was before. And the answer is... >
When baby birds reach a certain stage of development, they flap their wings as they think about flying. And then, finally spreading them, they jump from the nest. Wheeeee, they have gained the confidence to set out on their own and to be independent. They have shown a willingness to try new things and assert themselves. That's what is meant by spread one's wings, and it's but a small step (to mix metaphors) to imagine what is meant when a new nation spreads its wings. If you have the exact place where this appears, and in which phrase, we'd be happy if you'd share it with us. Thanks, jbs

I know that "to ride the night mare" means to have a nightmare but where does it come from and did the word "nightmare" evolve from it or was nightmare already in usage when the phrase developed?
Here is what (in slang) is referred to as the straight skinny, and by that is meant "the direct and honest truth":
NIGHTMARE
c.1290, "an evil female spirit afflicting sleepers with a feeling of suffocation," compounded from night + mare = a "goblin that causes nightmares"; from Old English mare = incubus (which is defined as an evil spirit that lies on persons in their sleep); from mera, (or mære) , meaning "goblin." The meaning shifted mid-16c. from the incubus itself to the suffocating sensation it causes. Sense of "any bad dream" first recorded 1829; that of "very distressing experience" is from 1831.
Authors (and Alfred Hitchcock) have added ride to indicate (I think) having a prolonged nightmare, or one that never ends. In other words, "to ride it out."

Talk a blue streak. Why blue? What streak?

In 1812 we hit a big snag
what does the idiom " in 1812 we hit a big snag" mean

It means in 1812 we hit a problem. That's what a snag means here. It's a hang-up. In 1812 Napoleon captured Moscow. His plan to conquer Russia hit a snag, however, when the freezing cold weather drove him back to France. Tolstoy (War And Peace) wrote of it: "Millions of people went from west to east and slaughtered each other to no purpose, all because one man told them to." That's beginning to sound all too familiar, don't you think!



know what's what? How come two whats?

What does Let's Turn the Tables on them.
Suppose you are playing a game, and suppose you are losing. But suddenly you are doing better...and then you win. You have just turned the tables on your opponent. So the idiom can be defined like this: To turn the tables is to be in a position where your situation changes so that it becomes a winning one or a situation in your favour.

What's it mean: to have a lead foot?
As we know, lead is a heavy metal. There are times when a driver of a car applies his or her foot in a heavy way to the accelerator to go fast -- as though the foot was made of lead. Therefore, someone driving fast is said to have a lead foot. "I hate the way the minibus drivers speed along the highway to Sai Kung. They all seem to have a lead foot!"

old as Methuselah?
This old fellow was said to be the oldest man ever. Methuselah was the father of Noah, the guy that built the ark and loaded it up with all those animals. Apparently he neglected to count heads when he set sail because his father was left behind and died in the Great Flood. That was a shame because the Bible cites his age at the time of his death as 969 years old. From that, anyone said to be old as Methuselah is considered quite old. "Wow, is that guy still in films? I thought he had retired, he's old as Methuselah"

Where is this quote from? The time has come the walrus said to think of many thing, of shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings.
Answer: From Through The Looking Glass, the further tales of Alice (Alice In Wonderland) by Lewis Carroll. This quotation can be found in the poem The Walrus and the Carpenter in Chapter IV. It's a really funny poem. Read it and tell me what you think of it.
Here are the opening lines:

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

Go here to read the entire poem:
http://www.classicreader.com/read.php/bookid.127/sec.4/

Settle an old score. ?

An old score is a debt, so this would mean to settle that debt by eliminating it. And the way that is done is to pay it off. "I've paid off an old score by giving Arnold the twenty dollars I borrowed from him last year." In another sense, this can mean to take vengeance or to get even with someone. "Millie was terribly hurt when Maggie didn't invite her to her party, but she paid off an old score by not inviting Maggie to her Halloween costume party.

Hurt to the quick, by and large

The 'quick' referred to here is a very sensitive spot of the body, such as under a fingernail. If you injure yourself there, it really and truly hurts! From that, the idiom hurt to the quick means to be deeply hurt, but mentally hurt, not physically hurt. It's the same as saying you are painfully hurt by something. "I was hurt to the quick when Sandra didn't invite me to her wedding."

all get out, as in "fast as all get out"
Fast as all get out is a way of saying very, very fast. "Those Formula One cars are fast as all get out!. "When the police were seen, the hawkers grabbed their wares and ran away as fast as all get out."

A fat lot of good that will do you. Fat lot??

A fat lot of good = since about 1900, fat has been used in various expressions to mean little, slight, or not at all. Therefore “a fat lot of good that will do you” = little chance; slight chance; no chance at all. Sometimes a person will simply say, fat chance. “I’d like to go to the rock concert tomorrow, but I’d have a fat chance of getting a ticket.” “I think Marcie’s cool, but a fat lot of goodthat does me. She doesn’t even know I exist.”

Jumping Jummy??

Jumping Jimmy – the expression is actually Jumping Jiminy. I can’t chase down the origin of this, but I know who Jiminy is. Remember that cute cricket in the Disney film Pinocchio, the one who consoles Pinocchio by singing When You Wish Upon A Star? That’s Jiminy Cricket. When the film was released in 1940, people began to express amazement or alarm or joy by shouting, “Jiminy Cricket!” Jumping Jiminy is just another way of expressing emotion. “ Jumping Jiminy, I must hurry or I’ll be late for work!” “Oh, Jumping Jiminy, that cool girl Marcie has agreed to go to the beach with me!”

Burn the midnight oil?
Burn the midnight oil: to work or study far into the night. Once upon a time we lit our homes with lamps that burned various kinds of oil. To read, compose or to see what one was doing, those who stayed up late burned lots of it. Though oil lamps are a thing of the past, this idiom has lingered on. “Cassandra looks tired. She’s been burning the midnight oil preparing for her examinations.” “There were many times when Mozart burned the midnight oil sitting at his piano working on a composition.”

Fly off the handle?
To fly off the handle is to get angry. In fact, to get very angry. “Don’t be late. If you do, the boss might fly off the handle and dismiss you!” “I nearly forgot to clean up our picnic site at the park and a policeman there flew off the handle and threatened to give me a ticket if I didn’t clean everything up immediately."

What's a whipper snapper?

Whipper-snapper: an inexperienced, cheeky young boy – though often just a title given to a youngster by an older person. “What do today’s whipper-snappers know about suffering? We oldtimers had it rough during the depression. We knew hunger and what it was to have nothing."

betcha? ubetcha?

What does it mean to ask "Do you follow my drift?"
Do you follow my drift? = Do you understand what I am implying/saying?

Let the cat out of the bag. What cat?

No cat here, just a good old-fashioned idiom. Let the cat out of the bag. = To reveal a secret, generally accidentally and at the wrong moment.

Jack be nimble
This is a children's rhyme.
Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candlestick.
Jack jumped high,
Jack jumped low,
Jack jumped over and burned his toe.

I find no other association for this. Perhaps you saw it used to described someone who was fast and agile. Such as like this: "The way Harry ran after the ball was really something to watch. Talk about Jack be nimble!

Ring the changes??

Before the electronic age, at a time when the bells in a church tower were rung by people and not by someone putting on a recording, people pulled on long ropes to ring the bells. To them, change referred to a prescribed order or series in which the set of bells were rung. Going from one series to another (to produce particular sounds) was called ringing the changes. Wherever people ring church bells, they continue ringing changes. From that, ring the changes means to do something in a different way. “I usually drive to work, but I’ve decided to go green so I’m ringing the changes by taking the bus from now on.”

mope around?

Mope around is a verbal idiom. It refers to someone moving about in a slow and sad manner. He or she is obviously unhappy. “Everyone in school seems to be moping around like zombies after our basketball team lost the championship.”

Grease my palms and grease lightning. What are these?

The first of these, grease my palms (or palm) with silver goes back a long, long way, to the 1500s, in fact. It means to bribe someone or to give him/her a tip. The idea comes from putting grease on a wheel to make it move. Silver here refers to money. “I don’t know where your laptop is, but if you were to grease my palms with silver I might be persuaded to help you find it.”

Greased lightning describes something that is very, very fast. Of course lightning is fast anyway, but to say it is covered with grease adds emphasis to the remark.
“ I like watching Formula One racing. At the start of the races those beautiful cars are going into turn One like greased lightning!”


what does the idiom " in 1812 we hit a big snag" mean

It means in 1812 we hit a problem. That's what a snag means here. It's a hang-up. In 1812 Napoleon captured Moscow. His plan to conquer Russia hit a snag, however, when the freezing cold weather drove him back to France. Tolstoy (War And Peace) wrote of it: "Millions of people went from west to east and slaughtered each other to no purpose, all because one man told them to." That's beginning to sound all too familiar, don't you think!

What is a idiom?
The following, which has the definition of an idiom, can be found on our Fun With Idioms page.

Have you ever had one of those days when you did something on the spur of the moment, played your cards right and came up smelling like a rose? Or maybe someone you know talks a blue streak, complains of dishpan hands -- yet lives the life of Riley.

Things like this might tickle your funny bone or make you see red, for these are idioms, and the difference between knowing or not knowing them can mean the difference between understanding or not understanding English. They're the nuts and bolts of everyday conversation, the glue that binds us in our everyday speech - and there they are, at every turn! They constitute, in effect, a language within a language adding color and dimension to the way we speak and think, making our language more expressive and fun to use. Every language has idioms, but English has more, giving anyone learning the language one of their greatest challenges.

A cock and bull story, get down to brass tacks, of the first water, an old chestnut, off the cuff, no strings attached, rain cats and dogs -- you either know what these word combinations mean or you don't. And you would find yourself tied in knots, worn to a frazzle and at your wit's end trying to guess their meanings. Yet as sure as God made little green apples, each and every one of these expressions is a common idiom known and understood by almost all native speakers of English, wherever they are in the world and whatever their occupation or level of education. In a word, an idiom is a combination of words in a phrase (like the examples here) where the meaning cannot be ascertained in that phrase. The meaning has to be learned elsewhere, such as learning those meanings as one grows up and learns his native language, or, for someone new to the language, by carefully studying them. And they have to be learned one by one, which is why reading Idiom-Magic is so extremely valuable.

English idiom book with explanation for eg. Rome was not built in a day.
Rome is a great and impressive city with many fine buildings. But it did not become great overnight: it took many centuries of work and planning and construction to become so. So whenever you are doing something, be patient. By being so, you will achieve your goal.
By the way, this is considered a proverb. It first appeared sometime in the 12th Century in French, and in English in the 16th Century. The French like to say Paris n'a pas ete fait en un jour, which, of course means the same thing. The name of the city has been changed because...well, because Paris is also a truly beautiful city.

what is hitting it off fine
This means to get along well together. "From the moment they met, Ken and Barbie have been hitting it off fine together."

the meaning of cat got your tongue
see below

when someone is not saying anything, why do we say has the cat got stuck in your mouth

I think what we are looking for here is the question "Has the cat got your tongue"? It means Why are you silent? or Why don't you say something? I suppose if a cat actually had taken my tongue, I'd have trouble talking. Then you would say to me, " I asked you a question but you aren't answering me. What's the matter, has the cat got your tongue?"

if you buy him a bike you'll be paying trough the noise
This is indeed a strange expression. It dates back to the 17th century when professional gamblers would "fix" a game of cards to cheat a player out of his money. They said they "bled" him. That is, they took all his money. From that, when "bleeding" a person, they would say they were "making his nose bleed." That expression eventually changed to paying through the nose. Today it means to cost a lot of money. "I paid through the nose to buy my new car." "If you want to purchase an apartment these days, you'll have to pay through the nose to get one."

what is jump the queue
Here's the answer:
JUMP THE QUEUE
The word queue is actually a French word meaning `tail’. Perhaps that might explain why so many people are always leaping over it! When they do, they jump the queue. That is, they move to the front of a line or column of waiting people – and that’s naughty! “I think people who jump the queue are more than naughty. They are selfish and lack manners,” Toby said.

The buck stops here.?? What is a buck?

"we...spread our wings as anew nation"
This has been answered. Scroll down, down, down..."

Grass widow? Waht is that?
There are a number of ideas about the origin and meaning of this, but the most common definition today seems to be of a woman whose husband spends all his spare time playing on the grass of a golf course. She is home alone, therefore thinks of herself as being a grass widow. “Ever since my husband retired I rarely see him. I have become a grass widow.”

Green with envy
Scroll down about 5 or 6 inches and you will find that William Shakespeare may have been thinking of his cat when he first used this term.

Where did the phrase "up to snuff" come from.
Something or someone up to snuff is satisfactory or comes up to a high standard. While we can’t put an exact date on the first time this was used, it seems to go back to the late 1600s when men began taking snuff, a powdered form of tobacco that is inhaled through the nose. They’ would sniff the powder and sneeze. Apparently good snuff was satisfactory while bad snuff was not up to snuff standards. As is the case with so many phrases, this was soon used to describe things and people. “The artist’s work is good, but I don’t think it’s up to snuff. His earlier work is better.” “I’ve been ill and I don’t think my work has been up to snuff this week.

what is the meaning of the idiom, "He has cold feet"?
This means he is afraid to commit himself to do something. "I would like to learn to how to dive, but ever time I get on the diving board I get cold feet and I can't jump!" "My brother's getting married next week. If he doesn't get cold feet and change his mind, that is!"

Get a bead on something. Mai
This can be said as have a bead, get a bead, or draw a bead. They all mean the same thing: to have something or someone as one's objective. A bead is a small raised spot (it might even look like a bead) at the end of a gun barrel that is used when aiming. The person aims that bead at the target. But this idiom is used to indicate having something in one's sight. "I have a bead on that pretty girl in my class with the lovely eyes." "He drew a bead on a future in television even as a young boy.

what are the origons of green with envy ?
An interesting question, and one that encouraged me to do a little research. Here’s what I discovered: Shakespeare was the first person to attribute the colour green to feelings of envy, and he did that in The Merchant of Venice when he wrote of green-eyed jealousy. He may have been thinking of a cat, but we aren’t certain. Later, in Othello, he used the term green-eyed monster when referring to feelings of jealousy.
“Oh, beware my lord, of jealousy
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.”
Clearly, to him green symbolized jealousy, leading to our expression, green with envy. “Cora is going to Singapore to study at university! I’m green with envy.”

dead soldiers? For beer bottles.??
Jonathan Swift,the author of Gulliver's Travels, speaks of empty bottles of beer in a pub as dead men, and ever since then men have been calling the bottles they have consumed (usually at a party or with a group in a tavern) as dead men or dead soldiers.

What does it mean "all the songs on my iPod went south?"
This means to go down or to go away. "The moment after I bought shares in the GaGa Company the value of their shares went south!" This can also mean to disappear or to vanish. "No, Alex doesn't live here anymore, he's gone south, and no one knows where to find him."

what does the idiom "we... spread our wings as a new nation" mean

Scroll down about three inches, and then follow the directions there about spreading one's wings. All will then be revealed!

what does to give up the ghost mean?
This is found in the Bible. [Job 14:10] It refers to the soul or the spirit that is said to leave the body when a person dies. “Old Uncle Ben gave up the ghost on his 97th birthday.” The expression can also refer to objects and things that are broken and can no longer be used. “I liked my car, but it finally gave up the ghost and I had to get another one.


Veronica asks: What's this, "like a swarm of quiet bees?"
This would be a comparison. A swarm of bees is a large group of bees, and they would probably be actively doing something--and it is certain they would be making a lot of buzzing noise as they worked. This statement seems to compare a group (of people?) to those bees, and whatever they are doing, they are being quiet about it. So this would refer to a group (of people) doing something quietly. It's not an idiom, just someone's way of describing a scene or a situation.

Higgledy-piggledy??
It means in a confused and disorderly way. "The toys were thrown higgledy-piggledy into the toy box." "The ancient streets of the village were laid out in a higgledy-piggledy way." We aren't sure of the origins of this, but it goes back to