Is writing in a foreign language a brilliant way to shoot oneself in the foot?
Asked by: John Pon
What type of figurative language is shoot myself in the foot?
Foolishly harm one’s own cause, as in He really shot himself in the foot, telling the interviewer all about the others who were applying for the job he wanted . This colloquial term alludes to an accidental shooting as opposed to a deliberate one done so as to avoid military service.
Where did shoot yourself in the foot come from?
The phrase “to shoot oneself in the foot” derives from the Great War (WW1), where a soldier would deliberately shoot himself in the foot to avoid having to go “over the top” to certain death. It is, therefore, cowardly act that involves self-harm and pain as an alternative to something much worse.
What does it mean to shoot oneself on the foot?
Foolishly harm one’s own cause
Foolishly harm one’s own cause, as in He really shot himself in the foot, telling the interviewer all about the others who were applying for the job he wanted. This colloquial term alludes to an accidental shooting as opposed to a deliberate one done so as to avoid military service.
What does putting your foot in your mouth mean?
Say something foolish, embarrassing, or tactless. For example, Jane put her foot in her mouth when she called him by her first husband’s name. This notion is sometimes put as having foot-in-mouth disease, as in He has a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease, always making some tactless remark.
What does shoot your shot mean urban dictionary?
According to the website Urban Dictionary, “Shoot your shot” means to let go of your pride and pursue someone you are interested in. Another notable definition is to take a chance no matter if you fail or not.
What is the past tense of shoot?
Shoot verb forms
| Infinitive | Present Participle | Past Tense |
|---|---|---|
| shoot | shooting | shot |
What does it mean to have cold feet?
Definition of cold feet
: apprehension or doubt strong enough to prevent a planned course of action.
What is the meaning of to talk one’s head off?
to talk to someone for a long time, usually loudly: She talked my head off. Talking too much.
What is the meaning of missed the boat?
Fail to take advantage of an opportunity, as in Jean missed the boat on that club membership. This expression, which alludes to not being in time to catch a boat, has been applied more widely since the 1920s. 2. Fail to understand something, as in I’m afraid our legislator missed the boat on that amendment to the bill.
What does spilling the beans mean?
Disclose a secret
Disclose a secret or reveal something prematurely, as in You can count on little Carol to spill the beans about the surprise. In this colloquial expression, first recorded in 1919, spill means “divulge,” a usage dating from the 1500s.
What is the meaning of zip your lip?
to stop talking immediately
Definition of zip one’s lip
: to stop talking immediately Tell your sister to zip her lip!
What is the meaning of it cost an arm and a leg?
to be too expensive
Definition of cost an arm and a leg
informal. : to be too expensive I want a new car that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
What does egg on your face mean?
appearing foolish
Definition of with egg on one’s face
: appearing foolish usually because something one said would happen has not happened The unexpected election result left a lot of journalists with egg on their faces.
What does a barking up the wrong tree mean?
Waste one’s efforts by pursuing the wrong thing or path, as in If you think I can come up with more money, you’re barking up the wrong tree. This term comes from the nocturnal pursuit of raccoon-hunting with the aid of dogs.
What is the meaning of the idiom couch potato?
a lazy and inactive person
Definition of couch potato
: a lazy and inactive person especially : one who spends a great deal of time watching television.
What is the meaning of the phrase dark horse?
A dark horse is a previously less known person or thing that emerges to prominence in a situation, especially in a competition involving multiple rivals, or a contestant that on paper should be unlikely to succeed but yet still might.
What does lead by the nose mean?
to completely control a person
informal. : to completely control a person I’m amazed that he lets them lead him around by the nose like that.