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Errores y mal desempeño

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to make a pig's ear of something
2-
the buck stop here
3-
to play into one's hands
4-
to bring a knife to a gunfight
5-
more holes than Swiss cheese
6-
Himalayan blunder
7-
to overshoot the mark
8-
false move
9-
slip of the tongue
10-
like turkeys voting for Christmas
11-
to bring something to a grinding halt
to [make] a pig's ear of {sth}
to make a pig's ear of something
Frase
uk flag
/mˌeɪk ɐ pˈɪɡz ˈɪɹ ʌv ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ/
N/A

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Disapproving
Idiom
Informal

to perform a task or activity very poorly, resulting in a negative outcome

example
Ejemplo
Click on words
Gary offered to paint the kitchen but he made a pig's ear of it.
He has made a pig's ear of his reelection campaign.
What is the origin of the idiom "make a pig's ear of something" and when to use it?

The idiom "make a pig's ear of something" is believed to have originated in the UK, where a pig's ear is a cheap and unappetizing cut of meat. The phrase is often used in a humorous or lighthearted way to describe situations where someone has made a mistake or failed to do something properly.

the buck [stop] (here|there)
the buck stop here
Oración
uk flag
/ðə bˈʌk stˈɑːp hˈɪɹ ðˈɛɹ/
N/A

N/A

Idiom
Informal

used to say that someone has accepted the responsibility or blame for something and will not pass it to someone else

What is the origin of the idiom "the buck stops here" and when to use it?

The idiom "the buck stops here" can be traced back to the game of poker, where a "buck" was a marker that indicated which player was the dealer. The phrase is often used in business and political contexts to indicate that a leader or manager is willing to take responsibility for the outcomes of their decisions and actions.

to [play] (into|in) {one's} hands
to play into one's hands
Frase
uk flag
/plˈeɪ ˌɪntʊ ɔːɹ ɪn wˈʌnz hˈændz/
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Idiom
Informal

to unintentionally give an advantage to one's enemy or rival

What is the origin of the idiom "play into someone's hands" and when to use it?

The idiom "play into someone's hands" is believed to have originated in the game of chess, where a player might make a move that appears advantageous, but actually helps their opponent win the game. The phrase is often used to express frustration or disappointment when someone realizes that their actions have inadvertently helped someone else.

to [bring] a knife to a gunfight
to bring a knife to a gunfight
Frase
uk flag
/bɹˈɪŋ ɐ nˈaɪf tʊ ɐ ɡˈʌnfaɪt/
N/A

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Humorous
Idiom
Informal

to be inadequately prepared for a conflict or challenging situation

What is the origin of the idiom "bring a knife to a gunfight" and when to use it?

The idiom "bring a knife to a gunfight" originated in the American West during the late 19th century, a time when gunfights were a common occurrence. It was a time when people carried guns for protection and disputes were often settled with a duel. Today, the idiom is used in a more figurative sense to describe any situation where someone is ill-equipped or unprepared to deal with a difficult challenge or task.

more holes than Swiss cheese
more holes than Swiss cheese
Frase
uk flag
/mˈoːɹ hˈoʊlz ðɐn swˈɪs tʃˈiːz/
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Idiom
Informal

used to say that something or someone has many flaws, problems, or gaps that make it incomplete or unreliable

What is the origin of the idiom "more holes than Swiss cheese" and when to use it?

The idiom "more holes than Swiss cheese" originated from the fact that Swiss cheese is a type of cheese with distinctive holes or "eyes". The cheese is made by introducing bacteria into the milk, which produces gas as it consumes the lactose. This gas forms pockets within the cheese, which eventually become the holes. This phrase is used to describe something that is full of flaws, inconsistencies, or errors.

Himalayan blunder
Himalayan blunder
Sustantivo
uk flag
/hˌɪməlˈeɪən blˈʌndɚ/
(metida de pata himalaya)

(metida de pata himalaya)

error himalayo

Disapproving
Idiom

a major mistake or error, often made by someone in power, that leads to catastrophic consequences

What is the origin of the idiom "Himalayan blunder" and when to use it?

The idiom "Himalayan blunder" originated from a military and political incident in 1962, when the Indian Army suffered a humiliating defeat against the Chinese People's Liberation Army in a border conflict in the Himalayas. This phrase is used to describe a colossal mistake or a disastrous error in judgment, often with far-reaching consequences.

Información Gramatical:

Sustantivo Compuesto
to [overshoot] the mark
to overshoot the mark
Frase
uk flag
/ˌoʊvɚʃˈuːt ðə mˈɑːɹk/
N/A

N/A

Idiom

to make a mistake, particularly in judging the amount of something

What is the origin of the idiom "overshoot the mark" and when to use it?

The idiom "overshoot the mark" originated from archery, where the "mark" refers to the target that the archer aims for. When an archer shoots an arrow and it goes beyond the mark, they have overshot the mark. It can be used to describe a range of scenarios where someone has overreached, overestimated, or over-committed themselves, resulting in a negative outcome or consequence.

false [move]
false move
Sustantivo
uk flag
/fˈɑːls mˈuːv/
paso en falso

paso en falso

a reckless action that may result in serious consequences or failure

What is the origin of the idiom "false move" and when to use it?

The idiom "false move" originated from the game of chess, where a "false move" refers to a move that puts a player's pieces in danger or fails to advance their position. It can be used to describe a wide range of situations, such as in business, sports, or personal life, where a single misstep or miscalculation can have negative consequences.

Información Gramatical:

Sustantivo Compuesto
[slip] of the tongue
slip of the tongue
Frase
uk flag
/slˈɪp ʌvðə tˈʌŋ/
N/A

N/A

an accidental and minor mistake made while speaking

What is the origin of the idiom "slip of the tongue" and when to use it?

The idiom "slip of the tongue" originated from the idea that speech is a deliberate act that requires conscious control, and that sometimes this control can be momentarily lost or "slip" due to various reasons. The phrase is commonly used to describe situations where someone says something embarrassing, inappropriate, or offensive by accident.

like turkeys voting for Christmas
like turkeys voting for Christmas
Frase
uk flag
/lˈaɪk tˈɜːkɪz vˈoʊɾɪŋ fɔːɹ kɹˈɪsməs/
N/A

N/A

Disapproving
Idiom
Informal

used to refer to a situation where individuals or groups unknowingly support or participate in something that will ultimately bring harm or negative consequences to themselves

What is the origin of the idiom "like turkeys voting for Christmas" and when to use it?

The idiom "like turkeys voting for Christmas" originated from the tradition of eating turkey as a Christmas meal, where turkeys are essentially voting for their own demise. The idiom is often used in a political context to describe situations where a group of people support a policy or politician that will ultimately harm them, such as when low-income voters support tax cuts for the wealthy or when workers support policies that lead to job losses.

to [bring] {sth} to a grinding halt
to bring something to a grinding halt
Frase
uk flag
/bɹˈɪŋ ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ tʊ ɐ ɡɹˈaɪndɪŋ hˈɑːlt/
N/A

N/A

Idiom

to cause something to suddenly and completely stop, often in a dramatic or unexpected manner

What is the origin of the idiom "bring to a grinding halt" and when to use it?

The idiom "bring to a grinding halt" originated from the world of machinery, where "grinding" refers to the process of removing material by rubbing it against a hard surface. It can be used to describe a range of scenarios, such as when a business or economy suffers a major downturn, when a project or plan fails, or when a person's life takes an unexpected turn for the worse.

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Aprendiste 11 palabras de Mistakes & Poor Performance. Para mejorar el aprendizaje y revisar el vocabulario, ¡comienza a practicar!

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