The phrase "cover for somebody" originated in the 19th century and referred to the act of taking over someone else's duties or responsibilities temporarily. It is often used in work or professional contexts, where someone may need to cover for a colleague who is on vacation, sick, or otherwise unavailable.

What is the origin of the idiom "cover for somebody" and when to use it?

to [cover] for {sb}

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The phrase "iron in the fire" originated in the 16th century and referred to the practice of blacksmiths heating multiple pieces of iron in a forge at the same time. The term "iron" is used metaphorically to represent a project or plan, and the "fire" symbolizes the energy and effort devoted to it. It is used to describe a situation where someone is working on multiple projects or plans simultaneously.

What is the origin of the idiom "iron in the fire" and when to use it?

[iron] in the fire

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The exact origin of the phrase "put somebody to work" is unknown, but it likely comes from the literal meaning of the words, which simply means to assign someone to a task or job. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from a boss giving an employee a task to a parent asking a child to help with household chores.

What is the origin of the idiom "put somebody to work" and when to use it?

to [put|set] {sb} to work

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The phrase "wear many hats" originated in the early 20th century and referred to the practice of wearing different hats to represent different roles or occupations. The term "hat" is used metaphorically to represent different responsibilities or tasks. It is often used in work or professional contexts, where someone may need to perform different tasks or take on different roles in order to achieve their goals.

What is the origin of the idiom "wear many hats" and when to use it?

to [wear] (many|several) (different|) hats

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The phrase "have big shoes to fill" originated in the early 20th century and referred to the idea of taking over a position or role from someone who was successful or highly regarded. This idiom is often used in work or professional contexts, where someone may be expected to maintain or exceed the level of performance set by their predecessor.

What is the origin of the idiom "have big shoes to fill" and when to use it?

to [have] big (shoes|boots) to fill

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The phrase "play hooky" originated in the 19th century and referred to the act of skipping school or work without permission. The term "hooky" is believed to come from the Dutch word "hoekje," which means "a nook" or "a hiding place. It is used to describe the act of skipping school or work without permission.

What is the origin of the idiom "play hooky" and when to use it?

to [play] (hooky|hookey)

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The origin of the idiom "on the clock" can be traced back to the early 20th century and is related to the practice of tracking time worked by employees. In industrial settings, employees would often punch a timecard or clock in and out to record their hours of work.  It is commonly used in workplaces to refer to employees who are in their designated working hours and expected to perform their job duties.

What is the origin of the idiom "on the clock" and when to use it?

on the clock

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The phrase "step into one's shoes" originated in the 16th century and referred to the act of taking over someone else's job or position. The term "shoes" is used metaphorically to represent the role or responsibilities of the person being replaced. It is often used in work or professional contexts, where someone may need to replace a colleague who is leaving or retiring.

What is the origin of the idiom "step into one's shoes" and when to use it?

to [step] into {one's} shoes

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The idiom "pick up the baton" comes from relay races, where runners pass a baton to their teammate to continue the race. It is used to describe a situation where someone takes over a task or responsibility that was previously handled by someone else.

What is the origin of the idiom "pick up the baton" and when to use it?

to [pick up] the baton

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The idiom "hand over the baton to someone" also comes from relay races, where runners pass a baton to their teammate to continue the race. This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone passes on a responsibility or authority to another person.

What is the origin of the idiom "hand over the baton to someone" and when to use it?

to [hand] over the baton to {sb}

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The origin of the idiom "have something on one's hands" is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 16th century. It is used to describe a situation where someone has a problem or responsibility that they need to deal with.

What is the origin of the idiom "have something on one's hands" and when to use it?

to [have] {sth} on {one's} hands

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The idiom "hold the fort" comes from military terminology and has been in use since at least the 19th century. This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is asked to maintain a situation or position in the absence of others.

What is the origin of the idiom "hold the fort" and when to use it?

to [hold] the fort

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The idiom "fill one's shoes" originates from the idea of stepping into someone's shoes, which means to take over someone's role or position. It has been in use since at least the early 20th century and used to describe a situation where someone takes over a role or position that was previously held by someone else.

What is the origin of the idiom "fill one's shoes" and when to use it?

to [fill] {one's} shoes

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The idiom "step into the breach" comes from military terminology, where a "breach" referred to a gap in a defensive position. It has been in use since at least the 16th century. Today, it is used to describe a situation where someone takes over a difficult task or responsibility in a crisis or emergency situation.

What is the origin of the idiom "step into the breach" and when to use it?

to [step] into the breach

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The idiom "work to rule" comes from labor union tactics, where workers follow the exact rules and procedures outlined in their contract, often resulting in a slowdown in productivity or a work stoppage. It has been in use since at least the 20th century. It is used to describe a specific type of labor protest or tactic, where workers deliberately slow down their work by adhering strictly to the rules and procedures outlined in their contract.

What is the origin of the idiom "work to rule" and when to use it?

work to rule

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The idiom "work to rule" comes from labor union tactics, where workers follow the exact rules and procedures outlined in their contract, often resulting in a slowdown in productivity or a work stoppage. It has been in use since at least the 20th century. This phrase is used to describe a situation where workers follow only the exact rules and procedures outlined in their contract, rather than going above and beyond or using discretion.

to [work] to rule

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Master English idioms regarding job responsibilities and tasks, like "iron in the fire" and "on the clock".

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