Chip off the old block means a man who behaves like his father or who resembles his father. As I discussed in the previous article, ‘chip’ in this phrase is a small piece of wood sliced off a larger wooden block. …

To think on your feet means — to think very quickly in a stressful situation; to read a situation and react fast; to adjust and respond rapidly to changing circumstances. This phrase comes from the field of public speaking.

To drive someone up the wall means to make a person very angry or bored; to annoy or frustrate him. The image here is of a person locked in a prison cell. …

To scrape the barrel means — to use the least desirable parts of something; to use things or people of low quality because all the good ones have already been taken. This expression has been derived from the historical practice in the early United States of storing food in barrels…

To fly off the handle means to lose self-control or to suddenly become extremely angry. This phrase is said to have taken its meaning from the poorly made ax in olden times. …

‘Dutch uncle’ means — a kind but authoritative person; someone who gives good advice in frank and direct words; a straightforward critic or advisor. This phrase dates from the early nineteenth century. Presumably, Dutch people were considered stern and free-spoken, who didn’t hold back when criticizing someone, who didn’t pull…

To blow off steam means to relieve stress by shouting or ranting; to release frustration or anger by engaging in any vigorous activity. This term comes from the early days of steam engines when they had no safety valve. …

Right off the bat means — immediately; from the very start; at once; without delay. This phrase comes from baseball and alludes to a ball leaving the bat. It conveys the notion that something is done as quickly as a ball leaves the bat after being hit by it. Let’s…

To fork something over means — to surrender something; to give something to someone reluctantly; to hand over something unwillingly. It is suggested that this phrase comes from the pickpocket’s style. Pickpockets use only two fingers to extract money from the victim’s pockets.