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Here is this week's #photo #idiom. Can you guess the expression?

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OFF THE BAT

Idiomatic Meaning: Immediately, without delay, or at the very beginning. It implies that something happens right away, as soon as the opportunity arises or a situation begins.

Literal Meaning: A “bat” can be either a flying mammal that looks like a mouse, or it can be  a longish, flat or rounded wooden stick used in the game of baseball or cricket to hit a pitched ball. It can also be a verb.

Usage: Informal, spoken general American and English. The phrase is used emphasize the immediacy of an action or reaction.

Origin: Late 19th- early 20th Century – This expression is firmly rooted in the game of baseball. Think about what happens when a batter makes contact with the ball. The ball comes "off the bat" and is immediately in play. There's no pause or preparation involved in that initial flight of the ball. The phrase began appearing in sports writing and general publications around the turn of the 20th century.

Why is this funny?  In the photo, we see two spelunkers, or cave explorers, surrounded by flying bats whom they have disturbed in their cave. One guy is in serious agony, telling the other that he was bitten by one of the bats as soon as he entered the cave. His pain came from off the bat and right “off the bat”.

Sample sentence: “Off the bat” he knew he had made a mistake when he saw her reaction.

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Here is this week's #photo #idiom. Can you guess the expression?

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BUM RAP

Idiomatic Meaning: A false accusation or conviction; being blamed or punished unfairly for something one did not do.

Literal Meaning: “Rap” has many meanings and can be both a noun and a verb. In musical genres, it is similar to hip-hop, using rhythm and rhyme. A “bum” is old slang for what today might refer to someone who has no job, or money, or home. They can be disheveled and might have mental issues. If a bum also has a sense of rhythm and rhyme, it could be a bum rap.

Usage: Informal, spoken general American and English. The phrase implies a sense of injustice and undeserved negative consequences. Using the expression adds a strong emotional element, emphasizing the unfairness of the situation. You'll often hear it used when someone feels unjustly accused or when discussing cases of wrongful conviction.

Origin: Early 20th Century – The origin of this expression is somewhat debated, but the most likely explanation connects it to the slang term "bum" and the legal term "rap." "Bum"- In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, "bum" was a derogatory term for a vagrant, or a person considered worthless or lazy. This association suggests something negative and undesirable. "Rap"- In legal slang, "rap" has long referred to a criminal charge or accusation. Putting these together, "bum rap" likely emerged as a way to describe a bad or worthless accusation – one that is without merit and unfairly placed upon someone.

Why is this funny?  In the photo, we see a disheveled, middle-aged man using a megaphone to address the passengers of a subway they are all riding. Basically, he is asking for money, but he does it in rhyme, much as a hip-hop or rap artist would use. Two passengers at the far end of the car recognize him as a former rap/hip-hop producer, once charged with plagiarism but not convicted and who now looks like a bum. He is a bum rapper who got a “bum rap!”

Sample sentence: The critics gave the play a “bum rap”, but I thought it was brilliant.

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Here is this week's #photo #idiom. Can you guess the expression?

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MY TWO CENTS

Idiomatic Meaning: A modest or unimportant opinion. When someone says they're going to give their "two cents," they're usually prefacing a potentially unsolicited or differing viewpoint, often with a touch of self-deprecation.

Literal Meaning: Refers to owning two pennies of U.S. currency.

Usage: Formal and informal, spoken and written general American and English. Can be used to introduce an opinion, offer a contrasting viewpoint, or acknowledge the insignificance of the comment. It is often introduced by the preposition “for”. It is a useful phrase for softening the delivery of an opinion.

Origin: Late 19th, Early 20th Centuries – This expression is somewhat unclear in origin but it is widely believed to be an Americanization of the older British idiom, "my two pennies." This likely evolved sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, reflecting the shift in currency. The idea behind the phrase likely stems from the notion of offering a small contribution or payment. It started appearing in American literature and newspapers around the early 20th century. One early example often cited is from a 1904 edition of the Washington Post: "For my two cents I would put a stop to paying pensions to the healthy and hearty who are able to earn their own living."

Why is this funny?  In the photo, we see an award ceremony in a theater or auditorium, honoring the “Skunk of the Year”. The audience consists entirely of skunks, as one might expect. The skunk MC announces that the next award will be for the “best smelling skunk”, and we see the candidates for the award standing on either side of the MC. However at least one audience member is annoyed that she was not considered a candidate. This skunk tells her neighbor that in her opinion, she should have been selected because of her possessing two unique smells or scents. “Her two cents” was that her two scents should have been considered!

Sample sentence: I realize that Trump won the election, nevertheless “for my two cents” he belongs in jail.”

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Here is this week's #photo #idiom. Can you guess the expression?

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TRY YOUR HAND

Idiomatic Meaning: Attempt or undertake something for the first time, or to try doing something that one has not done before. It implies a tentative approach, often without any guarantee of success, and suggests a willingness to experiment or see if one has a natural aptitude for it.

Literal Meaning: The most obvious literal meaning is an admonition to someone to use their hand to do something. However, “try”, can also be the verb referring to a trial as in a lawyer will “try a case”. In this instance it is an actual human hand which is on trial.

Usage: Formal and informal, spoken and written general American and British English. The idiom is common and versatile. It is used in a wide range of contexts, from hobbies and crafts to more serious endeavors.

Origin: 16th Century – This expression is ancient in concept, but the earliest recorded instance of the idiom "try one's hand at" in print is generally attributed to Geoffrey Chaucer in his epic poem, "Troilus and Criseyde," written around 1385. He referred to “playen his hond", which carries a similar connotation of demonstrating or testing one's skill. The modern phrasing became more common in the 16th century. John Lyly wrote "Gentlemen maye trye their handes at shootinge."

Why is this funny?  In the photo, we see a courtroom trial where the defendant is an actual human hand that has gone rogue. The prosecution asks a witness wearing an eyepatch, to describe what happened to him. The witness explains that he was curious to know if the unattached hand had a mind of its own. When he attempted to, or tried his hand at examining the hand, it poked out one of his eyes. As a result, the hand is now on trial for assault. They are “trying the hand”.

Sample sentence: After surviving a mass shooting, he decided to “try his hand at politics” to try to get gun reform laws passed.

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Here is this week's #photo #idiom. Can you guess the expression?

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DODGE A BULLET

Idiomatic Meaning: Narrowly avoid a dangerous, unpleasant, or disastrous situation. It implies escaping something that could have had very serious negative consequences.

Literal Meaning: Avoid being hit and therefore, seriously injured or killed, by a lead projectile, as in a bullet. Superman could do it. The rest of us might have trouble with it.

Usage: Informal, spoken and written general American and British English. The phrase is used figuratively in a wide range of contexts where someone narrowly escapes a negative outcome. It doesn't necessarily involve physical danger. It implies both a sense of seriousness and relief.

Origin: Late 19th Century – This expression’s origin is quite literal and relates to the act of physically avoiding a projectile fired from a firearm. While the concept of avoiding danger is ancient, the specific phrasing ties it directly to the advent and common use of firearms. By this time period, firearms were relatively common, making the literal image of dodging a bullet more readily understandable and relatable. “Dodge” by itself as a verb, goes back to the 16th Century.

Why is this funny?  In the photo, we see a Dodge Ram Truck pulled over to the side of a railroad track. On the same track, a bullet train is about to speed by. The passengers in the Dodge truck realized they got off the track just in time to avoid being smashed to pieces by the train. Their Dodge “dodged a bullet” (train).

Sample sentence: Carlos “dodged a bullet” when ICE agents did not find him hiding under the bed when they came to deport him.

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Here is this week's #photo #idiom. Can you guess the expression?

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STICK TO YOUR GUNS

Idiomatic Meaning: Remain steadfast in one's beliefs, decisions, or actions, even in the face of opposition or challenges. It carries a sense of determination and staying true to one's convictions.

Literal Meaning: “Stick” as a verb, refers to some kind of adhesion, therefore, sticking to your guns means they are stuck to you because of some kind of sticky substance, such as Gorilla Glue, perhaps.

Usage: Formal and informal, spoken and written general American and British English.

Origin: 18th Century – The expression is rooted in military contexts and likely originated from naval or artillery warfare. In such settings, "sticking to one's guns" literally referred to soldiers staying at their posts and continuing to fire their weapons during combat, regardless of danger. Over time, the phrase transitioned from a literal military term to a metaphorical expression. The earliest recorded use of the phrase in a figurative sense is attributed to the 18th century. An often-cited example is from the 1776 work The History of Emily Montague by Frances Brooke: "There is a great deal of firmness in sticking to one’s own opinion, but there is sometimes an obstinacy which savours more of ill humour than of resolution."

Why is this funny?  In the photo, we see two gunfighters in the old American west about to have a duel. The challenger yells at the other man to start the duel, but he can’t because his hand is stuck to his gun. He explains that someone put glue in his holster and now is hand is stuck there. Nevertheless, he intends to continue to fight his opponent, somehow. Even though he is sticking to his guns he is “sticking to his guns.”                                                             

Sample sentence: It's tough to “stick to your guns” when you're under pressure to stop or change, but sometimes it's the right thing to do.

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Here is this week's #photo #idiom. Can you guess the expression?

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SMOKE AND MIRRORS

Idiomatic Meaning: Deceptive or misleading actions or explanations designed to obscure the truth; appearances are manipulated to create an illusion, hiding what’s really happening.

Literal Meaning: Smoke and mirrors, literally, i.e., miniscule carbon particles in the air as a bi-product of fire, and reflective surfaces.

Usage: Formal and informal, spoken and written general American and British English. Often used metaphorically in discussions of politics, business, media, or any domain where tactics of concealment or misdirection are employed.

Origin: Mid-20th Century – The expression appeared in relation to political commentary and journalism, where it was used to describe tactics of obfuscation and misdirection, referencing techniques used by stage magicians. Some credit American journalist Jimmy Breslin for popularizing the phrase in the 1970s, though its exact first print appearance remains debated.

Why is this funny?  In the photo, we see a couple, a man and a woman standing in a large bedroom which has walls covered by mirrors or windows. There is also a large full-size mirror that the man is looking into. The mirror reflects flames and smoke which appear to be surrounding the room as seen in the other mirrors/windows. The man asks his wife if they are in Hell, which is reputed to be full of fire and burning smokey brimstone. His wife replies that what they are seeing is an illusion, a trick to make them think they are in Hell, but they are not. The smoke and mirrors and just “smoke and mirrors”!

Sample sentence: During his campaign, Trump said he “never heard of Project 25” but it was all “smoke and mirrors” because he began implementing it as soon as he was elected.

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Here is this week's #photo #idiom. Can you guess the expression?

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RAISE THE STAKES

Idiomatic Meaning: Increase the level of risk, intensity, or commitment in a situation, often with the potential for greater rewards or consequences.

Literal Meaning: If you only hear this phrase, and don’t read it, without context you can’t know whether the speaker is talking about steaks (meat) or stakes (wagers) pointy pieces of wood used to secure a tent in the ground. The two words are homophones. “Raise” as a verb means to increase something in height.

Usage: Formal and informal, spoken and written general American and British English. Commonly used in contexts like negotiations, competitions, or decision-making to signify heightened involvement or higher stakes.

Origin: 16th Century – The phrase originates from gambling, where "stakes" refer to the money or valuables wagered in a game. The word “stake” can be both a noun and a verb referring to the amount of money in a wager. The idiom's roots in gambling suggest it has been in use for centuries, evolving alongside the popularity of card games and betting. Over time, this expression found its way into everyday language, symbolizing any situation where the risks or rewards are amplified.

Why is this funny?  In the photo, we see a butcher who has elevated a few steaks, most likely to show them to his customer. The latter indicates that he is willing to bet the butcher $100 that he can identify the state where all the butcher’s steaks came from. The butcher, who “raised the steaks” is willing not only to take the bet but he wants to “raise the stakes”, or increase the amount of the bet to $200!

Sample sentence: The election of Donald Trump to the US presidency has “raised the stakes” for the preservation of democracy throughout the world.

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Here is this week's #photo #idiom. Can you guess the expression?