Image by Nathan Siemers on Flickr.com.
Nowadays, most Americans don’t live on farms. Even though most Americans don’t live or work on farms anymore, farm life and idioms about this life are still part of our everyday vocabulary in English. So, today I am going to present a number of metaphors, idioms, and expression that have to do with life on the farm. While learning these new phrases I hope you also remember to give thanks to all those farmers out there who are still living and working on farms in order to provide all of us with the food we eat. Thank you farmers!
a funny farm – a hospital for people who are mentally ill
Example: My grandmother had to send my uncle to the funny farm when she couldn’t take care of him at home anymore.
Note: This is a humorous or funny expression, but could be considered rude by some people.
to buy the farm – to die
Example: My dog bought the farm last night. We are going to bury him in the back yard today.
Note: This is a very casual expression. It can be used when talking about people dying, but only with those you are very familiar with.
you can bet the farm (on someone or something) – you can be certain of someone or something
Example: I’ll have my final project done on time this semester, you can bet the farm on it.
(I am) so hungry (I) could eat a horse – to be extremely hungry
Example: After Dale finished running the marathon he told me that he was so hungry he could eat a horse!
Note: This is an emphatic expression.
until the cows come home – for a very long time
Example: We could talk about this problem until the cows come home, but it wouldn’t solve anything, instead of talking we need to take some action.
the last straw – the last of a series of events/annoyances/disappointments that lead a person to losing his or her patience/temper/hope
Example: After the sink broke and the air-conditioning stopped working, my landlord told me he was going to raise the rent. That was the last straw; I started to look for a new apartment right away.
spring chicken – a young person
Example: My grandmother likes to tell me that she is not a spring chicken anymore whenever I ask her to come for a walk with me.
to make hay while the sun shines – to take the opportunity to do something when the time and conditions are right
Example: We decided to make hay while the sun shines and move when our lease came up.
don’t put all your eggs in one basket – don’t make everything dependent on one thing; this expression comes from the idea that if all your eggs are in one basket and the basket is dropped, all the eggs are lost
Example: My advise to you is to diversify your investments and not to put all your eggs in one basket, just in case the market crashes again.
to reap what you sow – every action has a consequence; what you do comes back to you one way or another
Example: Sally has always been so mean to the new employees, when she starts her new job I hope she reaps what she sowed.
Note: This expression is usually used negatively. It is not usually used to talk about positive actions creating good results.
to take the bull by the horns – to be brave and confront difficult situations
Example: The CEO took the bull by the horns and fired all the old senior management and replaced them with new talented people.
to have a cow – to become angry, excited, or agitated
Example: “Don’t have a cow, it really is not a big deal!”
Note: This is a casual expression, usually used among friends.
