Idioms — Set 45

Set 45 of Idioms covers 5 idioms: be in hot water, keep a stiff upper lip, draw a blank, stick out like a sore thumb, take the wind out of someone's sails. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. be in hot water · idiom/ɪn hɑt ˈwɔɾɚ/

   to be in trouble or a difficult situation

   He’s in hot water with his boss after missing another deadline.

   Origin: From the 1500s — possibly from the medieval practice of pouring hot water down on invading enemies as punishment.

2. keep a stiff upper lip · idiom/stɪf ˈʌpɚ lɪp/

   to remain strong and not show emotion in tough situations

   Even in difficult times, he kept a stiff upper lip and never complained.

   Origin: British 19th-century expression — a trembling upper lip betrays emotion, so keeping it stiff hides feelings.

3. draw a blank · idiom/drɔ ə blæŋk/

   to fail to remember or come up with an answer

   I tried to remember his name, but I completely drew a blank.

   Origin: From 16th-century English lotteries — drawing a blank ticket meant getting absolutely nothing in return.

4. stick out like a sore thumb · idiom/stɪk aʊt laɪk ə sɔr θʌm/

   to be noticeably different from others in an unpleasant way

   Wearing bright pink in a room full of black suits made her stick out like a sore thumb.

   Origin: From medieval times — a swollen, bandaged sore thumb naturally drew everyone's eyes wherever you went.

5. take the wind out of someone's sails · idiom/teɪk ðə wɪnd aʊt əv ˈsʌmwʌnz seɪlz/

   to weaken someone’s confidence or enthusiasm

   Losing the first round really took the wind out of his sails.

   Origin: From sailing — sailing close enough to another ship can steal its wind, instantly stopping its progress.