Thursday, November 27, 2014

Tied to someone's apron strings

photo credit: http://www.onepiecetravel.com/

What it means -------------------------------------------
      - if someone, usually a man, is tied to their mother's apron strings, they still need their mother and cannot think or act independently Ref:

      - to make or be dependent on or dominated by someone Ref:

      - always following a stronger person Ref:

Examples ------------------------------------------------
      "He's 30 but he's still tied to his mother's apron strings.Ref:

      "He has never married because he's tied to his mother's apron strings." Ref:

      "Basil never does anything unless his mother says it's okay. He's tied to her apron strings.Ref:


      

A stuffed shirt

photo credit: http://static.fashionbeans.com/


What it means -------------------------------------------
      - someone, especially a man, who behaves in a formal, old-fashioned way and thinks they are very important Ref:

      - person who is perceived as useless, stupid, or given more credit than he/she deserves -- usually a person in higher income or social prominence. See also, blowhard Ref:

Entymology/usage --------------------------------------
     - To call someone a "stuffed shirt" is of course, derogatory. The shirt is given more credit than the person wearing (or stuffing) it by the person wielding this insult. It is used widely in describing politicians or a loud-mouthed employer. Ref:

Examples ------------------------------------------------
      "Higgins is such a stuffed shirt. He always wears a tie, and he even eats chicken with a knife and fork." Ref:

      "I knew he was a banker and expensively educated so I was expecting him to be a stuffed shirt." Ref:

      "Everything was running fine in the office before the stuffed shirts from the consulting firm made useless changes that did nothing but create more work." Ref:

Thursday, November 6, 2014

On a shoestring


photo credit: https://www.rocketlawyer.com


What it means:
      - with very little money

Example:
      "Alice started a business although she didn't have very much money.  She's running it on a shoestring."

Reference:

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Lose one's shirt


photo credits: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/

What it means:
      - to lose a lot of money

Example:
      "Bob invested a lot of money in stocks and lost his shirt. "

Reference:

Friday, October 24, 2014

Keep one's shirt on

photo credit: http://hd.wallpaperswide.com/


What it means:
      - not to get angry; to be patient

Example:
      "I'll finish using the computer in a minute.  Just keep your shirt on and you'll get your turn.  "

Reference: