Why We Teach Idioms…
Many of our clients at Accent Pros have advanced degrees and have excellent command of the English language. Even so, they sometimes don’t understand the slang language or idioms used by native American speakers. Based on popular demand, here are some additional common idioms to consider this week. Misunderstanding or misusing idioms is a caused by a dialect difference and is common for both foreign and regional speakers of American English.
Can’t Hold a Candle To
Definition: to be a poor imitation of someone or something.
Example: Stouffer’s ravioli may claim to be the best tasting frozen entree, but it can’t hold a candle to Maggiano’s ravioli.
Origin: Apprentices were expected to hold candles aloft so that their superiors could carry out their work duties. Those who were unable to hold candles were subjected to scorn and ridicule. The phrase was first used in William Norris’ 1883 work No New Thing, “Edith is pretty, very pretty; but she can’t hold a candle to Nellie.”
Chew the Fat
Definition: To talk excessively about irrelevant things.
Example: “Every time I see Jason online he wants to chew the fat about his car issues.”
Origin: The phrase first appeared in an 1885 publication from India entitled The Life in the Ranks of the British Army, used to describe how senior officers would commiserate with their subordinates about general army difficulties, eventually picking up enough credibility to be included in the 1891 British reference text Slang and Its Analogues by John Farmer and William Henley.
In the 20th century it’s use began to spread in the United States, still retaining its military origins, before further proliferation caused its current meaning. A variation of this phrase, chew the rag, appeared in the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, circa 1876, “Gents, I could chew the rag hours on end, just spilling out the words and never know no more than a billy-goat what I’d been saying.” Later British versions of the phrase still referenced military banter; therefore, “chewing the fat” is likely an American creation.
Close but No Cigar
Definition: When one comes close to achieving a set goal but ultimately fails despite giving a good effort.
Example: “I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve told Kyle he’s never going to beat my high score in Pac-Man if he doesn’t learn to use the warp tunnels. He came up about 50,00 points short in this latest effort. Close but no cigar.”
Origin: In the 1940’s and 50’s fair booths offered cigars as prizes to entice passersby into playing a myriad of games, including the now well known test of strength challenge where players swing a sledge hammer in an effort to propel a weight high enough to ring a bell at the top of the structure. If players came up just short in their efforts, booth owners would utter “Close, but no cigar”
Want More Idioms?
Accent Pros has a continuing series on common English phrases and American Idioms. Be sure to check out other blog posts to find your favorites and learn how to pronounce them with standard American English. Ready for an accent reduction tutorial or for a complimentary accent evaluation? Check out the available personable on-line courses for accent reduction for students all over the world.
