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Spill the tea
If you hear someone use this phrase, you’ll probably think that they are complaining about being clumsy and pushing their cup of tea over accidentally. It couldn’t be farther from the truth. “Spill the tea” is basically sharing a succulent piece of gossip or a secret with another person. It originated in 1994 within the LGBTQ community, where the initial words were “spill the T”, with “T” standing for “truth”. “T” and “tea” sound identical, which is how this idiom was born.
Rocket science
This saying is believed to have emerged during or after WW2, and it is really easy to remember its meaning. As you know, rocket science is incredibly complex, and that’s exactly what the phrase itself denotes. A notable thing is that it is usually used in a negative context — for example, “How could you not understand it, it’s not rocket science!”
To be shook
“To be shook” means experiencing intense emotions, usually of surprised or shocking nature. Whether you are furious with something or elated, you can describe such a state with this phrase.
Go Dutch
Real origins of this American English phrase are vague, but it is believed to have appeared back in the 17th century due to frequent conflicts between English- and German-speaking countries. In short, it means that if two parties meet to do some common activity together, they’ll pay independently for it. As an example, while on a date, two people “go Dutch” if they pay for their meals separately.
Take a rain check
Another old sport-based saying was born in the 1800s. If the rain destroyed people’s chances to watch a basketball match despite them buying a ticket, they got vouchers that allowed them to visit the game again later. These vouchers were also called a rain check. So, if you can’t meet an interlocutor when they ask, you can offer to take a rain check.
All Gucci
For many people, Gucci means quality. That’s why Americans started saying “all Gucci” to show that everything is fine. “All right” is its close synonym.
Monday-morning quarterback
Introduced by a sportsman in 1931, this American English phrase describes a person who rebukes others for how they handled a problem and offers their own solution despite the fact that this situation is already in the past (which makes their solution useless).
Working the graveyard shift
Contrary to people’s belief, actual graveyards have little to do with an idea underlying it. In 1895, one of old newspapers published a story about people working with coal mines late at night. Their workplace was as empty as it usually is at a graveyard, so since those times, “working the graveyard shift” stands for working at night, usually from midnight to early morning.
Karen
This is a slang term that’s used by many young people in their daily life. It refers to a middle-aged white woman with a stereotypical, racist, and entitled mindset who shows hostility as well as shallowness to everyone and everything she doesn’t understand. As for origins, it seems to have originated from black Twitter community, but related versions differ.
Cut to the chase
This strange American expression has emerged in old studios producing silent movies. It’s related to a way information is presented: “cut to the chase” stands for getting to a point and presenting crucial facts.
Ballpark figure
It denotes an approximate number or costs of something.
Green thumb
“green thumb” is related to someone’s talent and experience in growing plants.
Periodt
This is a part of modern slang that has emerged in a Black community years ago. It’s an emphasis put at the end of a sentence with an aim to make a point clearer and draw more attention to it. For example, you could say, “I’ll punish you when you get home, periodt!” To better understand it, replace it mentally with such words as “and that’s final!”
Bummer
It is related to “bum,” describing an unpleasant or disheartening situation.
Get Your Ducks in a Row
To get one’s ducks in a row means to organize everything properly, bit by bit, setting them all in order.