20240817生成俗语440~449

440. Fork over/shell out money

These idioms originate from informal speech patterns.

“Fork over” can be traced back to the 19th-century slang used by cowboys, where it meant to hand over something.

“Shell out” likely derives from the act of taking something out from a protective shell, metaphorically implying the act of dishing out money.

I had to fork over a lot of money to fix my car.

You’ll need to shell out some cash for this top-of-the-line laptop.

The kids persuaded their parents to fork over the money for a new game console.

441. Fortune favors the bold

This phrase originates from ancient Roman times and was introduced by the tragic playwright Plautus.

In his work “Phormio,” he used a similar expression to convey that fortune tends to favor those who are bold and decisive, encouraging people to undertake bold actions when faced with challenges.

He took a risk by starting his own business, but fortune favors the bold. 

She decided to move to a new city without a job lined up, believing that fortune favors the bold. 

In order to succeed in life, sometimes you have to remember that fortune favors the bold.

442. Forty winks

This phrase dates back to the 19th century.

“Winks” originally referred to brief eye blinks, and since naps involve short periods of closing one’s eyes, the term “forty winks” was coined to describe a nap or a short sleep.

It implies a quick rest rather than a long sleep.

He took forty winks during his lunch break.

She felt much better after catching forty winks

After a busy morning, I need forty winks to recharge.

443. Freak out

This phrase originated from the American hippie culture of the 1960s, meaning to lose composure or control due to some extreme emotion.

Initially, it was used to describe the reaction of people under the influence of drugs, but it has since expanded to encompass any situation where someone is losing their cool or panicking.

She started to freak out when she realized she had lost her wallet.

Don’t freak out, we will figure this out together. 

The kids freaked out when they saw the spider in the room.

444. From day one

The origin of this phrase can be traced back to its literal meaning, “from the first day.”

From a temporal perspective, it refers to the starting point of something or some process.

In everyday conversations, this phrase is often used to emphasize that someone has been involved from the very beginning or that something has had a particular quality since it started.

He has been dedicated to the project from day one.

From day one, she knew this was where she wanted to be. 

The team has had great chemistry from day one.

445. From rags to riches

This phrase vividly describes the journey of someone who goes from having nothing to achieving success and wealth.

It originates from 19th century America, a time filled with stories of achieving the American Dream through hard work.

Many literary works and real-life stories applaud such a transformation, making it a widely used idiom.

He went from rags to riches in just a few years thanks to his brilliant startup.

Her story of going from rags to riches is truly inspiring. 

The movie is based on his rags to riches life story.

446. From the get-go

This phrase originates from American slang, particularly popular within the African-American community.

It originally referred to the start of a race (with “get” meaning to obtain and “go” meaning to start or move), but it evolved to mean the initial point of any activity.

In contemporary usage, “get-go” denotes the very beginning or the initial stage of something.

I’ve known she was the right person for the job from the get-go. 

The project was doomed from the get-go due to poor planning.

They have been good friends from the get-go. 

447. From the word go

This idiom originates from horse racing or other competitive sports, where the start signal marks the beginning with the phrase “ready, go!”

In everyday conversation, it is used to indicate from the very start or beginning moment of a situation.

She knew it was a bad idea from the word go.

The plan had issues from the word go. 

448. From time to time

This phrase originated from Old English and has been retained in modern English.

It is used to describe something that happens irregularly or occasionally, rather than frequently.

We like to go hiking from time to time. 

From time to time, I think about moving to a new city. 

You should take breaks from time to time while working.

449. Fuddy-duddy

The origin of the phrase is not very clear, but it is generally used to describe people who are stubbornly conservative and unwilling to accept new things.

The term became popular in the early 20th century to describe those who like doing things the old way and are out of touch with modern society.

Stop being such a fuddy-duddy. Try something new for once! 

My grandfather is a bit of a fuddy-duddy, still using a typewriter.

Don’t be a fuddy-duddy. Embrace the change!