Mycrazyworld: Idioms about fruits and vegetables

quarta-feira, 15 de fevereiro de 2012

Apple of someone's eye – the object of a person's affection or regard; a greatly cherished person or thing
Apple polisher – a person who attempts to gain favor through flattery (more formal than "ass-kisser" or "kiss-up")
Bad apple – a troublesome or despicable person; a negative or corrupting influence on others
Big Apple – New York City
To compare apples to oranges - used as the type of two things that are inherently different or incompatible, usually in contexts implying that a given comparison is invalid
How do you like them apples? – a jeer or taunt, implying that the thing referred to will be unwelcome
The apple never falls far from the tree. – a person inevitably shares traits with or resembles his or her parents or family
To upset the apple cart – to ruin a plan or event by surprise or accident
To go bananas – go crazy, mad, or wild with excitement, anger, frustration, or another strong emotion
To drive bananas – to cause to go crazy, mad, or wild with excitement, anger, frustration, or another strong emotion
Life is just a bowl of cherries. – proverb meaning that life is easy and uncomplicated
Sour grapes – when a person is heard to disparage something which it is suspected he would be glad to possess if he could; expressing complaints or accusations because someone is jealous
A peach- a sweet, pleasant and nice person (adj: peachy: very nice thing)
A lemon- a useless, worthless thing.

The following English idioms use vegetables figuratively to describe both good and bad actions and things.

To not know beans – to not to know something; to be not well informed
To spill the beans – to reveal a secret or talk about something private
Carrot and stick – an enticement, a promised or expected reward
Cool as a cucumber – relaxed and non-emotional, not anxious
Olive branch – something offered in peace or goodwill
Like two peas in a pod – two things that are very similar; extremely similar; indistinguishable
In a pickle – a tight spot or difficult situation
Couch potato – a very lazy person; someone who does not engage in a lot of physical activity
Hot potato – a very sensitive and controversial subject; something that is difficult to deal with

The figurative use of baked goods like cookies, cakes, and pies often result in humorous sayings as in these English idioms.

To have a bun in the oven – to be pregnant
To butter one's bread on both sides – to be wasteful or luxurious
To butter someone up – to flatter someone, especially if you want to obtain something
Nutty as fruitcake – crazy
A piece of cake – something easy or pleasant
To sell like hot cakes – to sell quickly or in large quantities
To take the cake – to carry off the honors, rank first; often used ironically or as an expression of surprise
You can't have your cake and eat it, too. – proverb meaning you can't have it both ways
One sharp cookie – someone who is not easily fooled or deceived
One tough cookie – someone who is self-confident and ambitious and will do what is necessary to achieve what they want
That's the way the cookie crumbles. – that is how the position resolves itself; that is the way it is
To eat humble pie – to be humbled, to admit one's errors
Finger in the pie – to participate in something that is happening
As easy as pie – something that is very easy
Icing on the cake – an extra benefit that makes a good situation even better
To have pudding in the oven – to be pregnant
The proof is in the pudding. – a phrase that means that the quality of something can only be shown by putting it to its intended use
Not worth a pudding – of little or no worth
Tough nut (to crack): inflexible person, hard to convince or persuade.