Blog

Short someone or something

To give less than someone or something is entitled to receive

Example

So many have doubted Musk in the past that were considered “geniuses”. Bill Gates has shorted Tesla for example. Musk has been very successful nonetheless. 

Talk the talk

To speak confidently or boastfully about something 

Examples 

Arthur talks the talk about how he will start helping out more with the house chores, but so far he has yet to walk the walk.

They are just talking the talk.

Milk a bull

To do something pointless or futile

Examples 

He doesn’t know who he is or where he comes from. Mum let him milk a bull and now thinks this makes him a farmer.

I don’t know why you bother arguing with him. You’re just milking the bull if you think you’re going to change his mind.

Cock and bull

A tale or explanation that is unbelievable, fabricated, or exaggerated

Example

What a load of penny cock and bull.

Make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear

Be unable to turn something ugly or inferior into something attractive or of value

Examples

No matter how expensive his clothes, he still looks sloppy-you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

He can re-shuffle as often as a Las Vegas card sharp but the truth is you can’t make silk purses out of sow’s ears.

Off a dingy

Off a dung 

Example 

He himself looks like he’s just off a dingy. 

Lock horns over

Engage in a heated argument or dispute about 

Example 

A pair of MPs have locked horns over migrant housing in a bitter online row.

One’s goose is cooked

Someone has been totally defeated or in deep trouble or his downfall is imminent.

Examples

Kenny’s goose is cooked now since the teacher has found out that he cheated on the exam.

He knows his goose is cooked.