The Whole Nine Yards

Hi, everyone.  I have a fascinating idiom for you today,  The Whole Nine Yards.  The Phrase Finder website states that of all the English idioms that are examined for their origins and meanings there, this phrase is asked about the most often.  Everyone agrees about what it means:

All of something; the full measure or extent of something. To fully encompass or perform something

I was mugged. They took my wallet, my keys, my shoes, – the whole nine yards!

Four bedroom home, located in Country Club Estates. Running distance from Golf Course. Completed and ready to move in. This home has "the whole nine yards" in convenience 

He give' the executive board  the whole nine yards"  and read an item-by-item report on the project that took over two hours

 

Yet, it is about the origin of the phrase that people have widely different opinions.

Here's a list of the many and various suggested origins sent in by readers of that website. This piece is quite long, so here's a summary:

• The earliest known citation of the phrase in print is from 1964, which argues strongly against any of the supposed mediaeval, Victorian or even World War II origins.
• The weight of circumstantial evidence, based on the number of early citations, is that the phrase originated in the American military, although the context of the coinage is uncertain.

It is very possible that the phrase was coined by servicemen in Vietnam. In this case, the probable  source for this would be the Montagnard hill tribes (pronounced "Mon-tan-yard),of which there were nine tribes  who lived in the northern highlands of Vietnam. They  were referred to by  a slang  name that the US forces had given them: 'the Yards'. Thus, The Whole Nine Yards.  Judging on the basis of the first time that this phrase actually appears in print, this is the strongest candidate for the origins of the idiom. Other strong possibilities are:

• • The length of RAF Spitfire's machine gun bullet belts. (9 yards/27 feet).
  • The length of ammunition belts in ground based anti-aircraft turrets, etc. No evidence to show that any of these measured nine yards has been forthcoming.
    
    
• Tailors use nine yards of material for top quality suits. Related to 'dressed to the nines'?
  
  
• The derivation has even been suggested as being naval and that the yards are shipyards rather than measures of area or volume. Another naval version is that the yards are the spars of sailing ships. The name for the spar that hold the sails is a yard. Large sailing ships had three masts, often with three yards on each. The theory goes that ships in battle can continue changing direction as new sails are unfurled. Only when the last sail, on the ninth yard, is used do the enemy know which direction the ship is finally headed.
  
  
• A mediaeval test requiring the victim to walk nine paces over hot coals.

The origins put forward are astonishingly various and, by definition, as there can be but one actual origin of the phrase, almost all are entirely wrong. So no one really knows the origins of this idiom, but this are the most popular choices for its origins.

Here are the current percentage scores.

Catch on

For some strange reason, some ideas just don't catch on

Today's phrasal verb is  Catch On.  It has two  meanings. The first one is:
To finally understand or perceive what is going on.

Everyone else realised what was happening, but it took Henry ages to catch on

Notes: Intransitive
Synonyms: Get the hang of, pick up, figure out

The second meaning is:
To become popular

Many  music critics were shocked when techno caught on  in the clubs.
It wasn't long before the internet caught on.  Virtually everyone and their grandmother was "online". 

Notes:  Intransitive
Synonym: Succeed

Jockey For Position

Those horses and their jockeys are working hard to "jockey for position".  Three of them will end up in the Winner's Circle.

Today's idiom is Jockey For Position, which means:

1. Literally,. to work one's horse into a desired position in a horse race.  

 

The racehorse,Magical Wine, was behind, but jockeying for position. 

 

2. Figuratively,  to work oneself into a desired position.  If a number of people want the same opportunity and are struggling to emerge as the most likely candidate, they are jockeying for position.

 

The political candidates were jockeying for position, trying to get the best television exposure.  

I was jockeying for position with the other guys to see who could date Monica, but I didn't have enough  money.

The basketball players jockeyed for position under the backboard for the rebound

Play Someone Off Against (someone else) and Play Both Ends Against The Middle

My guess is he knows a lot about how to play his enemies off against each other.

Today's phrasal verb is Play Someone Off Against (someone else), which means:
To  scheme in a manner that sets opposing parties or interests against one another so as to advance one's own goal: to have more control or power over a situation.  

Ichiro wanted to beat me up and so did Kazu. I did some fast talking and played them off against each other. They ended up fighting and I was able to get away!. 
The president played the House off against the Senate and ended up getting his own way.
He played the two salesmen off against each other to get the best deal. 

Notes: Separable [obligatory]
Synonym: outwit, double-cross

Both of these characters from "Lost" were very good at playing both sides against the middle, especially one the one the right, Ben.  John showed he could play people off against each other, too, as time went on in the series.

Today's idiom, Play Both Ends Against The Middle, is actually a synonym, in idiom form, of today's phrasal verb, Play Off Against, and therefore requires no further definition.

My stepson is a master of playing both ends against the middle between his father and I.

Narrow Down and In The Offing.

He's narrowed down his options of what to next to just playing!

Today's verbal phrase is Narrow Down, which means:

To reduce a list of possibilities from many to a selected few.  

We can narrow the choice down to green or red.
I am not sure which university to apply to, but I have narrowed my list down to three.
I cannot narrow down the rules for this game.  It is complex and you will simply just have to play it and lose a few times before you understand its finer points.

Synonyms:pin down, nail down, narrow, peg down, specify, determine

Today's idiom is In The Offing.  It means:

An event that is imminent or likely to occur soon in the near or immediate future

With exams finished and graduation in the offing, the students enthusiastically celebrated.

Plans for a new highway through this are are in the offing.

Jack: I thought that we were going to get a new copier?  Jill: It's in the offing. It will probably arrive sometime next month.

 

Origin

 

This another one of the many phrases of nautical origin. It is quite simple to understand once you know that 'the offing' is the part of the sea that can be seen from land, excluding those parts that are near the shore.  Someone who was watching out for a ship to arrive would first see it approaching when it was 'in the offing' and expected to dock before the next tide. Something that is 'in the offing' isn't happening now or even in a minute or two, but will inevitably happen before long. The phrase has migrated from its naval origin into general use in the language and is now used to describe any event that is imminent. 'The offing', although more usually used in the context of ships arriving, derives from the adjective 'off',

Chalk Up and Chalk Up To

The world's oldest equine twins, Bill and Ben, have chalked up another milestone; reaching 25 at their seaside retreat in Wales, where they continue to keep staff on their toes. I have two related phrasal verbs Today.  The first is Chalk Up, which means: To score or achieve something, or record a score or victory The company has chalked up its highest ever profits. I chalked up another five kilometers of jogging today.  That makes 20 that I completed this week. I make it a point to chalk up all of my daily expenditures every day so I know how much money I am spending.  Notes: Separable [optional] transitive verb : score, mark up, rack up, gain, win, obtain, get, collect, accumulate  You can chalk up this wonderful piece of art to some very wonderful children The second phrasal verb is Chalk Up To. It means: To explain the reason for a situation, often a problem They chalked the poor sales up to the lower numbers of tourists visiting this year. You will just have to chalk up losing your girlfriend because of your bad temper to experience.  Notes: - Separable [obligatory]

To Be In (The) Good Graces Of

This game winning shot put him back in the good graces of the fans, making up for his previous bad performance the night before

Today's idiom is To Be In The Good Graces Of.  It means,

To be in favor with.

 

I'm finally in the good graces of my girlfriend again.  She accepted my gift and apology.

I'm back in the good graces of my boss.  I  have been working as hard as I can for weeks to  make him forget my last mistake.

Sharon is in the good graces of her landlord. Because she a perfect tenant, he just installed a new refrigerator in her  apartment. 

I like to get in the good graces of my professors.  I find that it really helps my final semester grade. 

The origin of this idiom is difficult to say.  It has to do at least  a couple of the meanings of the word "grace" : generosity of spirit: a capacity to tolerate, accommodate, or forgive people and the  gift of God to humankind: in Christianity, the infinite love, mercy, favor, and goodwill shown to humankind by God

 

Synonym:  To be in good standing with 

Antonym: In the bad graces of, out of good grace with

Pick/Take Up The Slack and Cut/Give Some Slack

Australian Centerfold:  Some other kangaroo is going to have to pick up the slack for this one.

I have two idioms for you today.  The first one is Pick Up or Take Up The Slack. It means:
To do the work which someone else has stopped doing, but which still needs to be done  

When Sue starts going out to work each day, Bob and the kids will have to take up the slack and help more at home. 
With our best player injured, other players picked up the slack.  
Who will take up the slack when our grant money runs out?

Whew! What have I been worrying about?  Wait!  Do I have to wait a hundred years before I cut myself some?

The next idiom is to Cut Some(one) Slack.  It means:
To allow someone to do something that is not usually allowed, or to treat someone less severely than is usual or to give someone additional freedom.

Officials have asked the Environmental Protection Agency to cut Utah some slack in enforcing the Clean Air Act.  
 I'm going to cut you some slack because it's the last day of classes. We don't have to talk anything serious today.  
If you and your kids don't agree about their futures, cut them some slack - explain your views, but don't try to force them to agree.   

Origins: Both have  a nautical origin, that is, they come from the language of British sailors. So many idioms do. Slack means the opposite of tight or taut. Picking up the slack means for (another) pair of hands to pick up a portion of a rope that is hangings loosely and to pull on it.  Cut some slack  means to stop pulling on a rope and allow another sailor a chance to fix whatever is tangling it or otherwise wrong. It's often used in a broader sense than that, roughly equivalent to "Give me a break."

A Cut Above and Gear Up

This huge Great Dane at age 15 mos. is a cut above the others in the dog show.

Today's idiom is  Cut Above.  It means:
A person or thing that is better in some way.

She is a cut above her colleagues. She will be chosen to represent the company.
This business suit is a cut above the last one I purchased.
This Chinese restaurant is a cut above it's competitors in this town.

The origins of this idiom are not clear, but in my opinion it derives from a better "cut" of beef.  That is, some parts of a cow are better to eat than others.  Although I am not an expert, it is my understanding that the higher regions  on the body of a cow provide better meat.   Thus, we speak about various "cuts of beef". This can also be used to refer to the better "cuts" of pork, venison, or mutton, etc.

Gearing up for the first day of swimming lessons!

Today's phrasal verb is Gear Up.  It means:
To prepare somebody or something to do something; to take action in preparation for something,

We're all geared up for the next round of talks
Our company geared up for these new challenges

A group of investors were gearing up for the takeover fight.

The town is gearing up for the carnival this weekend.
Most banks have geared themselves up for an electronic future.
The tobacco companies are gearing up to fight the new tax.
The shops are gearing up for the New Year sales.

Notes: transitive and intransitive verb.   This expression derives from the idea of shifting to a larger transmission gear on  a vehicle engine, but it could also derive from the idea of putting on special equipment or "gear",  which is worn on the body. 

 Synonyms: get ready, prepare yourself, prepare, mobilize, ready yourself, psych yourself up

Down In The Dumps

Today's idiom is Down In The Dumps, which means:
 A gloomy, melancholy state of mind; depression.

Poor Charlie has been down in the dumps since he learned that he's lost his job.
Mary has been very down in the dumps this week, and nobody can cheer her up.
I’m sorry I’ve been so down in the dumps lately. I’m just upset because my girlfriend left me.
Anna is down in the dumps because her father just died.

Synonyms: miserable, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, dismal, dispirited, downcast, downhearted, fed up*, gloomy, glum, low, melancholy, moody, unhappy, woebegone
 

Note: Someone Down In The Dumps may momentarily feel ready to be hauled off to the garbage dump, but the 'dumps' in the expression derives from the Dutch 'domp,' 'mental haze or dullness,' or from the German 'dumpf,' 'close, heavy, oppressive, gloomy. During the Elizabethan period a 'dump' was also any kind of a slow, mournful song or dance. Even in Shakespeare's time, 'in the dumps' meant 'out of spirits.

Snowball (effect) and Out Of Hand

I have two idioms for today.  The first one is Snowball (often referred to as the "snowball effect"), which means:
A process that starts from an initial state of small significance and builds upon itself, becoming larger (graver, more serious), and perhaps potentially dangerous or disastrous, though it might be beneficial instead . The common analogy is with the rolling of a small ball of snow down a snow-covered hillside. As it rolls the ball will pick up more snow, gaining more mass and surface area, and picking up even more snow and momentum as it rolls along. This idiom is frequently a verb: snow·balled, snow·ball·ing, snow·balls

The problems facing us snowballed by the hour . First, we couldn't find the car keys, then we got stuck in traffic, then we got a flat tire. In the end, we were over three hours late.
The 2008 recession in the United States is a classic example of the "snowball effect": The government responded by borrowing money until investors became anxious, thus dropping government bonds, which drove prices lower and rates higher. Unfortunately, that caused the government to decrease spending and prioritize paying back investors, which made the economy worse, creating more unemployment, debts and thus increasing the national deficit.
His success just snowballed.  First he opened one restaurant and before you knew it he had several.

Synonyms: domino effect, a vicious circle, a spiral of decline, (a virtuous circle in circumstances where the "snowball effect" is a positive one). escalation, upsurge, enlargement, developmental increase.

Today's second idiom is Out of Hand, which has four meanings:

1. Out of control

Employee absenteeism has gotten out of hand.

The situation in the classroom is getting out of hand. The students will not be quiet.

The riots got out of hand and several protesters were injured.

2. Without delay or deliberation. Without consideration or explanation

My suggestions were dismissed out of hand by my employer

The committee rejected the plan out of hand without even considering its possibilities.

 Moving to London is certainly a possibility - I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand.

 3. Uncalled for or improper; indiscreet. 

That statement is out of hand.  I demand that you retract it immediately!
That demand is out of hand.  It simply won't be considered.

4. out of somebody's hands: unable to be influenced by somebody

 The is situation is out of our hands.  Only God can decide. 

Brendan Monroe, 2005 "When Things Get Out  Of Hand"

Play Along and Bite The Hand That Feeds You

Today's phrasal is Play Along, which means:
To pretend to agree with somebody or something in order to gain an advantage, avoid conflict, or to get more information. 

I disagreed with the idea but I had to play along because everyone else liked it.
He knew that if he didn't play along with the reporters, they would write unpleasant stories about him. 
I don't really like their idea that much but for now, it is probably a good idea simply to play along.

It also has the literal meaning to play a musical instrument with someone or a group.  

The trombonist sat down and began to play along with the other musicians. 
(This is also called "sitting in"). 

Okay, so I couldn't find a photo for "play along", but "don't bite the hand that feeds you", my dear readers...

Today's idiom is Bite The Hand That Feeds You, which means:
Turn on someone that has supported you. to treat someone badly who has helped you in some way, often someone who has provided you with money
 
It is unwise to bite the hand that feeds you, but TV journalists need to tell the truth about the news business.
Leaving the company after they've spent three years training you  - it's a bit like biting the hand that feeds you.

Rack Up and Things That Go Bump In The Night

This is best way to avoid racking up credit debt

Today's phrasal verb  is Rack Up, which has three meanings:
1-. to place something onto or into its rack.  

You had better rack the billiard balls up when you finish this game.
  
2-  to accumulate something; to collect or acquire something.

He's racked up a number of convictions for speeding.
We racked up a lot of miles on our last vacation. 
Laura is starting to rack the money up now.
Even though Miller racked up 28 points, the team still lost.
 The company racked up sales of $8 million in its first year of trading.
 
3-To damage something

They racked the car up  in an accident.
He racked up his arm in the football game.

Notes: Separable [optional] transitive verb
Synonyms: chalk up, score, accumulate, make, achieve, collect, notch

"It's just the shadow of the tree branch, it's just the shadow of...aghhhh!"

Today's idiom is Things That Go Bump In The Night, which means:

Frightening but imagined supernatural events.

The earliest known example of the phrase in print is in the 1918 in the  Bulletin of the School Oriental and African Studies:

"To a people ... who ... believe in genii, ghosts, goblins, and those terrific things that 'go bump in the night', protective charms are eagerly sought for."

That usage suggests that the author expected his readers to be familiar with the phrase. Around the same time the phrase was incorporated into a prayer:

From goulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties

And things that go bump in the night

Good Lord, deliver us!

This was recorded in The Cornish and West Country Litany, 1926, but it  is quite likely to be much earlier.

Nail and Tall Task/Tall Order

Today's slang is Nail.  Nail, as a verb, has some unusual uses that I would like to bring to your attention.  It has 8 meanings.  The first is the most standard and ordinary use of the word as a verb:
1. To attach something with nails: to fasten, attach, or secure something using nails

I nailed the broken fence post back into place.  It's not hanging loosely anymore.

2. To catch somebody who is guilty of an offense, prove the person's guilt, or have the person convicted (slang )

It took them five years to nail him for insider trading.

3.To prove that something is not true or valid and so stop others from believing it ( slang )

I finally nailed him about the "trickle down theory" of Reaganomics.  He's finally come to realize that tax breaks for the wealthy never "trickled down". 


4. To hit a target with projectile ( slang )

He nailed the 3 pointer with less than a second remaining on the clock to win the basketball game

5. To stop somebody and speak to him or her ( slang )

He nailed me in the corridor and demanded an explanation

6.  To do something precisely or skillfully: to catch, hit, seize, or execute something with skill.   (slang )

He nailed the high dive and won the medal
I nailed the test!  I got the only Perfect score!  

7 To identify somebody or establish something precisely ( slang )

I nailed him as a fraud as soon as he started talking about his wealthy background.

8. To  keep something fixed or focused on something

His gaze was nailed to the astonishing scene.
Surprise nailed him to the spot. 


Synonyms: pin, spike, tack, peg

This taxidermist was definitely given a tall order.

Today's idiom is Tall Task/Tall Order, both of which have the identical meaning: 
A formidable task, order or requirement

Finishing in time was a tall order, but we did it.
I had the tall task of having to buy her a Christmas present. She is so hard to shop for.  
Taking care of my friend's dog while he was on vacation was a tall order:  he barked night and day. 

Play Up To

Today's phrasal verb is Play Up To, which means:
To attempt to please somebody by flattery  or an overly nice manner  because you want them to like you or to do something for you

 I'm playing up to my boss at the moment because I want the promotion.
 He took great pains to play up to Joan’s mother

Note: transitive verb 
Synonyms: flatter, win the favor of, butter up, toady, ingratiate yourself with, creep, crawl, suck up to


 

Force One's Hand

"This bet will force his hand, hehehe..."

Today's idiom is Force Someone's Hand, which means:
To force someone to act or speak prematurely or unwillingly. To bring about a situation which necessitates a person to act, often causing that person's plan to be revealed earlier than intended. To leave a person no other option but to act with whatever resources they have available to confront the challenge.

He didn't want to decide just then, but the board forced his hand.   
The daily oppression and injustice forced the people's hand.  They had no choice but to revolt.
That bet force's my hand.  I fold.  
If you don't tell me which one of you boy's broke the vase, you're going to force my hand: I'll have to punish you both.

 Synonyms: browbeat, hold a gun to one's head, impel

This expression alludes to the hand (the cards) held in a game such as whist or poker, in which a player is compelled to play some card from his hand or to reveal his hand.  This is done by increasing the bet,  "I see your hundred and raise you 200".  That player who is being raised has no choice but to match the bet or fold his cards (quit that hand, and thus lose immediately).

Play Down/Play Up and Spin Doctor

"Play down how fattening it is and play up its taste"  (One P.R. man to another)

There are two phrasal verbs today: Play Up and Play Down.  They are antonyms, meaning they have opposite meanings. Play Down is probably the more common of the two, so I will begin with it.  It means:
To try to make something seem less important or significant than it is. 


The Government has tried to play down the importance of the minister's resignation.
The spin doctors are playing down the significance of the charge.
 He is a very humble guy.  Although he is extremely talented at a number of things, he always plays down his accomplishments. 


Play Up means:
To emphasize or exaggerate something in order t o make someone or something seem to be more important. To be a booster of something.  or to make something more easily noticed. Often something is played up in order to gain an advantage.
 
The director tried to play Ann up, but she was not really a star.
Try to play up the good qualities of our product.  
The press played the scandal up so much that everyone became bored with it.  
The report plays up the benefits of the plan, but doesn't say much about the costs.  
Instead of being defeated by her cancer treatment, she played it up, even showing off her bald head at work.
She played up her commercial know-how for all she was worth.
He plays up his ability to play guitar every chance he gets because he thinks people will be impressed.

Notes: Both are transitive  and separable [optional]
Synonyms for Play Down: minimize,make light of, underplay, underestimate, make little of
Synonyms for Play Up: exaggerate,(over)emphasize, embellish, highlight, draw attention to, stress,overstate,overstress,embroider,inflate, lay on(thick), amplify

I have a piece of slang for you today; Spin  Doctor (noun), which means:

A person who publicizes favorable interpretations of the words and actions of a public figure, especially a politician. A person who provides a favourable slant to an item of news, potentially unpopular policy, etc., esp on behalf of a political personality or party. A public relations person who tries to forestall negative publicity by publicizing a favorable interpretation of the words or actions of a company or political party or famous person.   Spin Doctors try to play down or play up a situation, person, policy, etc., whichever is to their best advantage. 

 

His title is Director of Communications but he is just a spin doctor"

Whenever there is an industrial accident you can expect the company spin doctors to arrive to deliver the best possible appearance for the company

 

Synonyms: spinmeister, media flak, public relations person - publicist, propagandist, PRO, PR man, public relations officer, press agent,

This is of American origin and came about during the 1980s, when the need for 'sound bites' became pressing enough to require a new class of publicist to provide them. The earliest printed references are from that period, For example, this from The New York Times, October 1984:

"A dozen men in good suits and women in silk dresses will circulate smoothly among the reporters, spouting confident opinions. They won't be just press agents trying to impart a favorable spin to a routine release. They'll be the Spin Doctors, senior advisers to the candidates."

So, why 'spin'? For the derivation of that we need to go back to yarn. We know that sailors and other storytellers have a reputation for "spinning yarns". A "yarn" is a fictional story or tale. Given a phrase in the language like 'spin a yarn', we might expect to assume that a yarn was a "tall tale" (very hard to believe) and that the tellers spun it out.  From there it is a small step for the people employed in public relations to weave reports of factual events into palatable stories to be called 'spin doctors'. It is also possible that it means the spin given to a ball in various sports to make it go in the desired direction.    I actually personally prefer this last possibility for its origin.  Spin Doctors are good at putting the "right spin on things" so that it goes their way.

Take In and Bone To Pick

What a view to take in!

Today's phrasal verb is Take In, which has eight meanings:
1.To understand and remember something

Children can't be expected to take in so much new information in one lesson.
The lecture was rather boring and I didn't take in much of what the lecturer said.
 The news was such a shock that we still haven't taken it in.

2. To include something within the scope of something such as a list or plan

The study takes in the whole postwar period.

3.  To deceive somebody by presenting a false appearance

We were all taken in by her plausible manner.
I was taken in by her story until someone told me the truth.

4. To give somebody shelter in your home

We've taken in our brother's best friend, who's currently unemployed.  He'll stay in the room downstairs near the kitchen and will pay for food and rent as best he can until he gets his life in order again
The family took in the three homeless kittens.

5. To go and see some kind of entertainment, scenery or sport

Let's take in a movie this weekend
Hey, you want to take in the Giant's game tonight?  I've got company tickets. 
I took in the view of the Grand Canyon at sunset.    

6.  To do paid work on something at home

She takes in ironing twice a week from the wealthy family on the hill.
She takes in the neighbor's children for babysitting 5 days a week.

7. To alter a garment to make it narrower.

The jacket was far too big around the shoulders, so I had it taken in so that I could wear it
Mom, can you take these pants in? They're too big around the waist.

8. To bring somebody as a prisoner or witness to a police station

The burglar has been taken in to custody

Notes:  Transitive/ Separable [optional]
Synonyms:1. absorb, understand, comprehend, grasp, assimilate, learn, discern, realize, accept, take on board, remember 2.  include, contain, comprise, embrace, encompass, cover, enclose 3.  deceive, dupe, fool, mislead, trick, swindle, defraud, cheat, con, hoodwink, take for a ride, lead down the garden path 4. let in, receive, admit, accommodate, welcome 7. reduce, alter, shrink, shorten, draw in, narrow, gather.

You got a bone to pick with me?

Today's idiom is Bone To Pick, which means:
A dispute that needs to be settled (with some one), an issue to be discussed and resolved between individuals. If you have a bone to pick with someone, you are annoyed about something they have done and want to tell them how you feel.

I have a bone to pick with you. I heard that you are dating my sister and I want to know why.
 I have a bone to pick with the mailman.  He's constantly late and often doesn't even put the letters in the box correctly. 

Bone to pick," dates back to the 16th century, simply refers to a dog chewing endlessly on, and "picking clean," a large bone. A "bone to pick" is thus a subject or issue that is expected to require considerable discussion or argument. A similar phrase, "bone of contention," meaning an issue over which two people argue, also dates back to the 1500s and refers, appropriately, to two dogs fighting over an especially choice bone.

Hand Down and Get One's Ducks In A Row

This fishing boat has been handed down from father to son for 4 generations

Today's phrasal verb is Hand Down, which has three meanings:
1-To pass on to the next generation

>My mother handed this wedding ring  down to me. It has been in my family for five generations.
The land had been handed down from generation to generation in that family.
There is a legend that has been handed down by the people of this region that this area is haunted.
 
2-To make an official decision, especially the verdict of a court. 

The jury wasted no time in handing down a verdict of innocence.
The corporate office  handed down its new policy yesterday.
   
3- To pass clothes on from an older to a younger child. (Often called hand-me-downs, which is an idiom)

His mother handed down the clothes to him that his older brother had worn
I always have to wear my sister's old hand-me-downs.  I never get any new clothes, but she does. 

Notes: Transitive/Separable [optional]
 Synonyms: leave, bequeath, pass down, transmit, will, hand on, pass on

"That's how you get your ducks in a row"

Today's idiom is a cute one: Get One's Ducks In A Row.
If you get your ducks in a row, you organise yourself and your life.

Jane is organized. She really gets all her ducks in a row right away.  
You can't hope to go into a company and sell something until you get your ducks in a row 
The government talks about tax changes but they won't fix a date or an amount - they just can't get their ducks in a row. 

The origin of this phrase is uncertain, but there are several theories.  Here they are.
It refers to the lead weights used by early ship builder draftsmen. They would create the curve lines of the ship with some sort of flexible material and hold it down with the lead weights which they called ducks. This enabled them to draw the curved lines.
It derives from "duck pins," a type of lawn bowling popular in Europe and America in the 1700s.

It refers to baby ducklings following their mother

It refers to the line of metal ducks at a mechanical shooting arcade

URL: http://able2know.org/topic/4102-1

Rig Out and A Closed Mouth Catches No Flies

Rigged out for all contingencies

 Today's phrasal verb is Rig Out, which has two meanings:
1-To put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive (transitive/separable).

She likes to get rigged up in the home team jersey and paint her face with grease paint in team colors when she goes to the games.
The young girls were all rigged out for the costume party as a pirate, a cowgirl, and a clown.
 He rigged himself out in a tuxedo for the gala opening of  the opera season

 2- To provide equipment for somebody or something: to fit a person, place, or object with proper or necessary equipment  (transitive/separable)

They rigged themselves out for a long mountain biking trip   He spent a lot of money rigging out the interior of his automobile. Okay, the living room is rigged out for the party.  All we need now is guests! Synonyms: equip, provide, prepare, furnish, arrange, fit out Synonyms: dress up, clothe, get up, kit out, attire, deck out Mother says, "A Closed Mouth Catches No Flies". Today's idiom, A Closed Mouth Catches No Flies, is a proverb, actually, and it means: You cannot say an unkind or appropriate word if you don't speak at all Jack: What do you think of her dress?  Jill:  A closed mouth catches no flies The origin of this saying comes from an Italian proverb, but it is most famous for being quoted by Sancho Panza in Miguel De Cervantes' Don Quixote.

Hold Out and Bread and Butter

Today's verbal phrase is Hold Out, which has four meanings:
1. To extend something: to stretch out or extend a part of the body, or offer something to somebody by doing this (transitive verb/separable).

She held out her hand.
The rescuers held a rope out to the swimmer.

2. To last: to keep up or continue to be in supply (intransitive verb/inseparable).

Is the food holding out?
 
3. To endure: to continue to resist and not give in to something (intransitive verb/inseparable).

The miners held out for two days without food or water
When the government forces attacked their strong hold, the rebels held out for six weeks.

4.  resist: to refuse to settle something or accept something until all demands or conditions are met (intransitive verb/inseparble)

The bus drivers are holding out for a 6 percent raise  

Synonyms: offer, give, present, extend, proffer, stretch out
stand firm, stand your ground, persist, endure, withstand, persevere, stand fast, last, resist


Antonym: withdraw

My good old bread and butter

Today's idiom is Bread and Butter and means,
someone's basic income; someone's livelihood—the source of one's food.

I can't miss another day of work.  That's my bread and butter. 
I worked as a bartender for a year, and it was the tips that were my bread and butter.  
Teaching at the local college is his bread and butter.    
Our customers are our bread and butter, so treat them with respect.
This a bread and butter issue, one that will affect people directly and in a very important way.
His curveball was his bread and butter pitch