I don’t understand these idioms.?
1> I don’t agree with you, but your ideas certainly give me food for thought.
What does ” food for thought” mean?
2> I think I understand the nuts and bolts of the operation.
What does ” nuts and bolts” mean?
3> Look, I will pay you back. Would you please call the dogs off?
What does ” call the dogs off” mean?
4> Ever since he married Jane, he’s had a new lease on life.
What does ” a new lease on life” mean?
5> If you need him, he can turn on a dime and help you immediately.
What does” turn on a dime” mean?
Thanks so much for your help!!!!
Favorite Answer
1. “food for thought” used in that sentence, it means that the person will take into consideration the other persons’ ideas. Those ideas won’t necessarily bring about a change in opinion, but they will be given the appropriate rumination.
2. “nuts and bolts” refers to understanding the problem/operation down to its smallest details. It refers to actually understanding all of the “little” things that are present in the operation.
3. “call the dogs off” is another way of saying, “get off of my back”, which is a way of saying that the person will comply with the request.
4. “new lease on life” means that the person has a new appreciation of life. It is used especially if someone has had a recent tragedy, and survives, or if they have just been presented with an opportunity to discover a higher happiness.
5. “turn on a dime” means that the person will quickly respond to your request, no hesistation.
Nuts and bolts are the practical considerations, broken down into the most elementary parts
Call the dogs off means to stop pursuing a matter, especially in a harassing manner
New lease on life is a new beginning, a fresh start, akin to changing apartments
Turn on a dime means to change direction in a very short space or in a very short amount of time, turning on a dime shows agility
Nuts and bolts – the barest part of the operation. The framework. Think of the inside of a tall building. Under the paint and wall paper, behind the plaster and false ceilings is what makes the building stand up: the frame attached with nuts and bolts.
Call the dogs off – think of attack dogs. Calling them off means having them stop attacking.
Lease on life – it means he has a renewed interest in life, especially with a change in attitude.
Turn on a dime – think of something huge, like a ship or a train. How much of a turn radius does something like that have? An aircraft carrier needs two miles to turn around. If something can be easily reversed, it can turn in the diameter of a dime.
Nuts and bolts – The details of a project or system. Literal nuts and bolts are the things that hold screws in place. Since they’re small and easy to ignore in the “big picture”, but they’re still crucial.
Call the dogs off – Quit harassing someone to do something. It’s metaphorical of guard dogs attacking someone – the dogs’ owner can “call them off” — call to the dogs and tell them to stop chasing.
New lease on life – new enthusiasm, energy or happiness. If you’ve just paid for a renewed lease (renting) of something, you enjoy it more.
Turn on a dime – literally or metaphorically reverse direction suddenly. The idea is that a dime is very small; a car that can turn suddenly can complete the turn within the space of a dime. (Impossible, but it’s hyperbole.)
2.The basic way the operation runs
3. Stop putting pressure on me
4.Had a new outlook… been a happier person
5.Stop what he is doing and come immediately to your aid.
