Tag: slang

Patch something up 

To mend, repair, or service something to the point of being functional or whole again

Examples 

His plan is failing to improve the lives of the people and he’s scrambling to patch it up. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are trying to patch things up. 

Mad as a sack of ferrets or a bag of ferrets; Like ferrets in a sack or in a bag; a sack of ferrets

Very mad; In a turbulent and tumultuous manner; a disorderly crowd

Examples 

…mad as a sack of ferrets 

This Sack of ferrets will never go early…

…was deeply repressed and she was as mad as a bag of ferrets.
      

Will you separate those two? They’ve been arguing like ferrets in a bag this whole time!

Bad moon rising 

An impending disaster 

Example

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s hit song “Bad Moon Rising” has stood the test of time as a beloved rock anthem. 

A sorry state of affairs

A particularly unfortunate, unpleasant, or upsetting situation or set of circumstances

Examples 

Their company has been in a sorry state ever since Jonathan took over.

What a sorry state of affairs 

It’s a sorry state of affairs when you can no longer be sure how you’ll feed your children each night.

What planet is someone on?

or what planet does someone come from?

What are you thinking? That is an absurd or stupid thing to think or do. (Implies that someone would only do or think that if they were an alien from another planet.)

Examples 

“She thinks she can start a business without a plan? Seriously, what planet is she on?”

“Strong and independent” what planet is he on?

Drunk on/with

So excited by a feeling that you behave in a strange way

Examples 

drunk with happiness

drunk with freedom 

The man is deluded…honestly he is drunk with power

One’s downfall

Something that causes a downfall (as of a person)

Gambling was his downfall

But others fear the new building will be the downfall of the largest art museum in the West. 

Bad decision-making was their downfall.

Liquor was his downfall.

Bald-faced liar

One who tells blatantly obvious or impudent untruths easily and with little or no attempt to disguise the lie

Examples 

Everyone knows he is just a bald-faced liar. It’s a wonder anyone believes a thing he says anymore.

A bald faced liar!

Parallel universe or alternative universe

A realm of existence and experience that is fundamentally different from the one that most humans share; a separate reality

Examples 

I don’t understand him—I think he lives in a parallel universe.

Barry lives in an alternative parallel universe?

Ring fence

To put (an amount of money) aside for a specific purpose

Examples 

The money was ring-fenced for education programs.

Just ring fence what you have and buckle down