This metaphorical expression is commonplace in English language. If you want to find out about its origin as well as its meaning and usage then read below!
Meaning
The expression is used to denote the act of discerning a meaning of something which isn’t made clear. It relates to the act of figuring out something which is not made explicit in a text. It can equally be used in relation to other forms of communication such as “reading between the lines” in a speech made by someone due to the fact that it is used in a metaphorical sense.
Etymology
The expression derives from the mid 19th century in cryptology to denote the act of hiding extra meanings in between the main lines of a message. Shortly after this the expression came into usage in day-to-day and general conversation, in a far less literal sense.
The first written recorded use of the expression can be found in an 1862 edition of The New York Times which reads “Earl Russell’s dispatch does not recite the terms of the note to which it is a reply, the letter assumes a somewhat enigmatical character, and the only resource we have is, as best we may, to “read between the lines” of this puzzling, but important, communication of the British Foreign Secretary.”
Example
An example of the usage of this expression can be found in a quote by author and philosopher Shannon L. Alder. She is quoted to have said “the most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t being said. The art of reading between the lines is a lifelong quest of the wise.”
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Should I be pleased to be described as “the laughing stock?”
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Have you ever been described as "the laughing stock?" Do you want to know if this is a compliment or not? If this is the case then keep reading and th...
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The English idiom, "at the eleventh hour" is often used in conversation. It can seem rather confusing if you do not have prior knowledge of what it me...
This English expression is very commonly used, particularly in general day-to-day conversation. If you want to find out when and how to use it, read t...
This expression is commonly used, particularly in informal contexts, in spoken language. It is used as a metaphor rather than taking the words at their face value. To find out more, keep reading!
Meaning
The expression is used to denote that someone is alert and ready to act. It suggests that someone is aware of themselves, their capabilities and is in full control of these.
Etymology
It has been suggested that the origins of this expression lie in the sporting world. The first recorded use of the expression which has been discovered dates to the year 1864 in William Kingston’s Ernest Bracebridge which reads “Ellis seized the bat with a convulsive clutch… Remembering Ernest’s advice, he kept his eye on the ball, and hit it so fairly that he sent it flying away to a considerable distance.”
The figurative use of the expression came into use much more recently in the year 1989 in Selected Letters by W. C. Williams and J. Laughlin which reads “the novella by Quevedo… [is] right on the ball.”
Example
An example of this expression in usage can be found in the title of a page on the Norfolk Brewhouse website which focuses on the different names of beers. The article is entitled “are you on the ball with names?”
Ne ratez pas
Should I be pleased to be described as “the laughing stock?”
publié le 4 June
Have you ever been described as "the laughing stock?" Do you want to know if this is a compliment or not? If this is the case then keep reading and th...
What does it mean if something happens at “the eleventh hour?”
publié le 2 June
The English idiom, "at the eleventh hour" is often used in conversation. It can seem rather confusing if you do not have prior knowledge of what it me...
This English expression is very commonly used, particularly in general day-to-day conversation. If you want to find out when and how to use it, read t...
This English expression is commonly used in informal contexts. It does not relate to literal robbery and is used in a more metaphorical context. If you would like to find out more about both its meaning and origin then keep reading!
Meaning
The expression is used in order to denote that something is overpriced. It relates primarily to unfair and clear overcharging for something which is of a far lower value than the price.
Etymology
The first printing of the expression can be traced back to the year 1916 in a play by Harold Brighouse called Hobson’s Choice. This use of the phrase does not, however, relate to overpricing and it is not until the year 1949 when the first use of the phrase in this context can be found. This is in Daniel Marcus Davin’s novel Roads from Home which reads “I can never afford it, said his sister. It’s daylight robbery.”
Whilst both these instances only date back around 100 years, it is suggested that the phrase in fact was first used in the 1690s during the reign of the monarch William III in Great Britain. There is no concrete evidence of this at the moment but it is argued that it was used in relation to the hotly debated Window Tax which was introduced at the time.
Example
An example of this expression in use can be found in the title of an article in The Guardian newspaper from 2005 which reads “plumbers get away with daylight robbery, says Which?”
Ne ratez pas
Should I be pleased to be described as “the laughing stock?”
publié le 4 June
Have you ever been described as "the laughing stock?" Do you want to know if this is a compliment or not? If this is the case then keep reading and th...
What does it mean if something happens at “the eleventh hour?”
publié le 2 June
The English idiom, "at the eleventh hour" is often used in conversation. It can seem rather confusing if you do not have prior knowledge of what it me...
This English expression is very commonly used, particularly in general day-to-day conversation. If you want to find out when and how to use it, read t...
This is an extremely idiomatic English expression which is very difficult to understand without prior knowledge and understanding. It does not, as one may imagine, refer specifically to nature, birds or bushes.
Meaning
The expression is used to mean that it is better to have an advantage which is certain than to have a larger advantage which is uncertain and therefore may end in nothing. The proverb attests to the idea that a person should be happy with what they have rather than always aspiring to have more and more which can ultimately end in disaster.
Etymology
The proverb dates back to Medieval times and relates to the fact that at the time a bird in the hand (aka the falcon) was extremely valuable and therefore was worth more than two in the bush (aka the prey).
The first recorded use of this proverb can be dated to 1670 in John Ray’s A Hand-book of Proverbs which reads “A [also ‘one’] bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”
Prior to this use there had been similar expressions which were used to have the same meaning such as “a living dog is better than a dead lion,” and “a byrd in hand – is worth ten flye at large.” However, nowadays these are never used and have been replaced by “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”
Example
An example of this proverb in use can be found in a quote by the American writer, George Ade who stated “a bird in the hand may be worth two in the bush, but remember also that a bird in the hand is a positive embarrassment to one not in the poultry business.”
Ne ratez pas
Should I be pleased to be described as “the laughing stock?”
publié le 4 June
Have you ever been described as "the laughing stock?" Do you want to know if this is a compliment or not? If this is the case then keep reading and th...
What does it mean if something happens at “the eleventh hour?”
publié le 2 June
The English idiom, "at the eleventh hour" is often used in conversation. It can seem rather confusing if you do not have prior knowledge of what it me...
This English expression is very commonly used, particularly in general day-to-day conversation. If you want to find out when and how to use it, read t...
