Tag: softskills

'At the drop of a hat' means immediately or without hesitation, suggesting something can happen instantly. It originates from the idea of dropping a hat as a signal to start a race or fight. A small quantity would be 'a drop in the ocean'. The other options don't match the idiom's meaning.

A baker's dozen is 13, not 12. This tradition originated from medieval bakers giving an extra loaf to avoid penalties for short-changing customers under strict laws. The standard dozen is 12, but bakers added one more for safety and goodwill.

'Bite your tongue' means to stop yourself from speaking or to remain quiet, especially to avoid saying something offensive or regrettable. It doesn't mean getting injured, being alert, or eating more. It's about self-restraint in speech.

A 'chip on one's shoulder' refers to holding a grudge or feeling resentful about a perceived wrong, often leading to a defensive or confrontational attitude. It's about worry and carrying emotional baggage, not shouting, enjoying, or hiding. The phrase suggests being ready to fight over past grievances.

'Cry wolf' means to make a fake complaint or raise a false alarm, from Aesop's fable about the shepherd boy who repeatedly falsely claimed a wolf was attacking his flock. It doesn't mean deep grief, being lonely, or being brave. The idiom warns against losing credibility through lying.

A dead ringer refers to someone or something that looks exactly like another - an exact duplicate or look-alike. The term comes from horse racing, where a ringer was a horse substituted for another to deceive, and dead meant absolutely or completely.

A dry run means a rehearsal, practice session, or trial of something without the actual consequences. The term suggests doing something without the usual elements - like running without actually moving anywhere, it's about testing procedures before the real event.

To eighty-six something means to cancel, remove, or get rid of it. The phrase originated in restaurants and bars, where item 86 on a menu was out of stock or unavailable. It now means to eliminate, reject, or indicate something is no longer available.

Getting your walking papers is an idiomatic expression meaning being fired or dismissed from a job. It refers to being given notice to leave - metaphorically, papers that let you know your time is up and you should walk away from your position.

Down to the wire means continuing until the last possible moment or finishing something at the very deadline. The phrase comes from horse racing, where the wire at the finish line determined the winner in close races - it describes situations with little time to spare.