The List amounts to idioms we come across from anywhere and everywhere. Mostly they'll be in English, but we'll definitely be collecting phrases from all corners of the globe, and thus open to all languages.
The fundamental goal is the maintain a record of those turns of phrase intended to communicate directly or otherwise what's on one's mind.
Elsewhere in the blog we'll explore selected idioms, consider different aspects of this particular, unique use of language, and look for insight and maybe a little humor along the way.
One other thing. If you have an idiom you'd like to submit to be included in The List, by all means, post it via the comment section. After a quick editorial review, we'll add it to the record.
So, let's start at the beginning, shall we? A good beginning would be a working definition. Let's see...
i-di-om: n. 1. the dialect of a people, region, etc. 2. the usual way in which words of a language are joined together to express thought. 3. an accepted phrase or expression having a meaning different from the literal. (Source: Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language, 1982.)
With that, we're on our way!
*** THE LIST ***
"The grass is greener where you water it."
"Free cheese is only found in a mouse trap."
"Ich glaub mich laust der affe." [I feel like a monkey is grooming me.]
"That's the pot calling the kettle black."
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."
"He's more useless than balls on the pope."
"I'm busier than a one-armed paperhanger."
"He's a little high on the hog."
"Just call a spade a spade."
"Hornier than a three-balled goat."
"Three sheets to the wind."
