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Sayings you never understand

#27
TomA1234 said:
I don't understand the use of "all but (insert adjective here)" in the context of "The house is all but flooded" when you mean it is flooded. If taken literally that phrase implies everything BUT what you are implying. It annoys me.
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'Nearly' I would imagine in that instance, almost completely flooded, but everything is lost never the less.

But for - apart from.

All but - everything apart from.
 
#29
The phrase that I've never understood is "You can't have your cake and eat it" when clearly you can.

I know that the phrase really means that you can't spend or consume something without it being used up, and therefore no longer available to you, but surely if the phrase in common usage had been turned around to be something like "you can't eat your cake and have it" it would have been much more understandable.
 
#32
FBS1996 said:
"Bobs your uncle". Who's Bob? :hmm:
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I believe that's a reference to a British fellow who had a powerful politician Uncle named Bob, and so the British fellow got away with whatever he wanted (or something like that. there may have been backroom business dealings as well)because of his Uncle Bob. Henceforth, it's used to imply "do what you want" or "it's all good, there won't be negative consequences" cuz if Bob's yer uncle, he'll fix it for you.

If I'm wrong, you may have me killed if you like.:D

I never understood "and how!" as a statement of agreement.
 
#34
Radical Edward said:
Yeah, I don't get this one, either.

I don't get the whole "Let's not 'beat around the bush' ". What is it that you're beating around this bush? While I get that it means to not avoid the topic at hand, I don't get the connection. You wouldn't beat a bush, either.. right? :eyebrow:
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Game scarer's, to frighten animals out of the bush for sport and into the open for whatever. 'Let's not beat around the bush, let's have it out in the open'. Confess up, let's talk this out etc. Subliminally - I know that you know so let's stop pretending.
 
#35
sneha1965 said:
Three sheets to the wind. It means being drunk but where did three sheets to the wind come from? Never got that one.
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It's a sailing term. If you have your sails aligned in correctly they flap like sheets drying in the wind. The boat is will just kind of lose its momentum and bob and float listlessly. Also it's kind of the sign of a novice captain, or one that drunk
 
#36
Yes, Sir. I looked it up after seeing this thread but, I'd never known the origin until today. Funny that sheets are ropes or chains. Can't say I've ever been three sheets to the wind but maybe two. :)

Another I've always wondered about is the whole nine yards. Apparently there is some discrepancy to the origin of this one. Some say it's from WWII. Gunner's would shoot a whole belt of bullets that are nine yards long. However, ammunition is rarely measured in belts but rather in rounds.
 

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