If you say that you are stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea, you mean that you are facing two equally unpleasant options. This saying has most likely originated from the Bible. According to the Bible, the punishment for sinners comes in two forms — either damnation which…

All these phrases are HR terms used in reference to the hiring, retaining, and firing of senior level executives. The presence of the word “golden” in these phrases suggests enormous amounts of money. ‘Golden hello’ is a term used for a large payment that is offered as a welcome package…

And where does it come from? — To pull your own weight means to do one’s share in a common task; to contribute to a group effort. This term comes from rowing, where each member of a crew must pull on an oar at least hard enough to propel their own weight.

You will be surprised to learn that this idiom comes from the behaviour of cows. To chew the cud means — to think about something deeply; to ponder over something; to reflect upon something. You might have heard that many ruminant animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, and giraffes have…

To pull your punches means — to express your criticism in a very mild manner; to be lenient and moderate with your words to avoid upsetting someone. This phrase comes from bare-knuckle boxing in which the contestants don’t wear boxing gloves or other padding materials.

To be on tenterhooks means — to be in a state of painful suspense; to be in a state of anxiety or uneasiness. “Tenters” were wooden frames that were used about six hundred years ago in the process of making woolen cloth. …

To jump the gun means — to do something prematurely; to do something before the right time; to act or begin too soon or without due caution. This phrase comes from athletics. In earlier times, the races in these games began when the starter fired a gun into the air…

To stick to your guns means — to maintain your position in the face of opposition; to hold your views with determination and defend them, even if people are opposing you. In olden times, during a battle, the soldiers who staffed strategically critical posts or who operated heavy artillery were…

To make ends meet means — to earn enough money to survive; to manage your earnings so that your resources are sufficient for your needs. There are several proposed origins for this phrase. The first one suggests that this phrase originated from ships with lots of sails.