"Put a lid on it" means to keep quite or keep news from spreading

Have you ever cooked something on the stove, only to have the contents inside the pot splatter outside the pot and make a mess?  One way to solve this problem is to put a lid on it, that is the pot.

In daily conservation, you may hear someone say put a lid on it.  What does it mean?

Put a lid on it is a way of saying to be quiet, to shut up, or keep the news about something from spreading.   Since one meaning it to “shut up”, it is important to watch your tone of voice to avoid being impolite.  However, sometimes emphasis  becomes more important than manners to get the point across.

Examples of put a lid on it

“Mark, put a lid on it!  We are sick of hearing about your weird ideas!”

“Fred wanted to throw a surprise party for his wife, so he told his children to keep a lid on it so the surprise wouldn’t be spoiled.”

OK, I’ve provided you with several examples of put a lid on it.   I’m not asking you to put a lid on it, rather I am ask you to contribute to My China Connection with your own examples.  Leave one in the comment section and I’ll provide you with feedback on how you did.

Is there a way in Chinese to say put a lid on it?   Interested 老外 would like to know!

"Heads will roll" is a slang way to say someone will lose their job.

Today I was listening to the radio and the host used the phrase heads will roll while he was speaking of a political campaign who appears to have some weakness.

What does heads will roll mean?

Heads will roll is a phrase used to mean that someone is in really big trouble on their job.  Someone made an egregious mistake, something which cannot escape notice and has such, their job is at stake.   They’ll probably end up getting fired.

This phrase came to us from the French guillotine.   During the French Revolution, many people were executed by decapitation, that is they had their head cut off.

During this period of French history, known as the Reign of Terror, tens of thousands of people lost their heads.  These heads rolled into a basket, hence the phrase heads will roll.

Examples of heads will roll

“After the marketing team saw their company’s earning decline, the CEO bellowed, ‘heads will roll‘.  We must be profitable!”

“You better turn things around quickly or heads will roll!”

Can you think of some ways to say heads will roll?   Try your best in the comment section and I’ll let you know how you did.

Is there a way to say heads will roll in Chinese?  If so, please share it with us!  The 老外 of the world want to know!

'Wild horses couldn't drag me away!' emphasizes that one will not move or one will not be hindered from going somewhere.

Sometimes we get so involved and engrossed in an activity that we simply don’t want to move.    Today’s phrase is an emphatic way of expressing that idea:  wild horses couldn’t drag me away.

If you are in a situation where you don’t want to move or be interrupted, or you want to express that you will accept an invitation to an event that you absolutely want to attend say wild horses couldn’t drag me away.

This concept really isn’t difficult to grasp.  Wild horses are strong and powerful.   We rate engines in terms of horsepower.   Horses have been used to pull heavy loads for centuries.  So to use this phrase is to show one’s determination to do something no matter what.

Examples of wild horses couldn’t drag me away

“Of course I’ll attend your college graduation party!  Wild horses couldn’t drag me away!”

“I was so engrossed playing Mortal Kombat for hours.  Wild horses couldn’t drag me away and that really got my mom angry around supper time.”

I try to make daily posts to My China Connection, so I hope that you visit the site often to learn phrases that you probably will not find in your English textbook.   Try today’s phrase, wild horses couldn’t drag me away in a sentence and I’ll give you feedback.   It’s free!

Do you have a way of saying wild horses couldn’t drag me away in Chinese?

"Beyond the pale" means going beyond what is socially acceptable.

If something happens that causes much trouble or controversy, you may hear someone say “that was beyond the pale!”

What is the meaning of beyond the pale?

First, let’s define “pale“. The word “pale” is a now out-of-date word meaning a wooden stake.  You’ll probably only hear the word “pale” in today’s phrase. (But a pail, is a bucket, a word you should know.)

Beyond the pale means that something is outside the limits of what is allowed, polite, civilized or proper; also, outside the limits within which one is protected.

The phrase beyond the pale got its start during the 14th century, when the part of Ireland that was under English rule was outlined by a boundary made of such stakes or fences, and known as the “English Pale“. To go outside of that boundary, or  beyond the pale, was to leave behind all the rules and traditions of English society, which the English regarded to be equal with civilization itself.

During election time in the United States, both parties will hurl accusations at each other, often using beyond the pale in their criticism.

Examples of beyond the pale

“If you fart in private that is one matter, but to do it frequently in public is beyond the pale.”

“Many quickly accused Rush Limbaugh for going beyond the pale when he called Sarah Fluke a slut on his radio program.”

What have you observed that is beyond the pale?   Describe that event in the comment section and I’ll provide you with feedback.

How do you say beyond the pale in Chinese?

Do you have the chops to learn English slang?

If you hear someone say “you have the chops” or “he has the chops“, it probably isn’t referring to your kung fu ability to hit or strike.  But, to have the chops is a compliment.

What does have the chops mean?

First, let’s define what is meant by “chops“.    ”Chops” is a slang term used to describe the mouth, jaws, or the lower cheeks.

A trumpet player must have a very strong  jaws or “chops” to be an excellent player.   Over time, to have the chops meant that a trumpet player had the necessary skills and talents to be an excellent musician.

Now, to have the chops is not restricted to playing the trumpet, it also applies to anyone who has a special talent or ability to do something.

Examples of have the chops

“Do you think that they have the chops to pass the AP Latin exam?”

“Bob and Paul and excellent debaters.   They have the chops to go to the national debate finals and probably win.”

When it comes to learning English slang, do you have the chops?   You probably won’t find this phrase in your typical English book, that’s why it is important that you read the posts at My China Connection every day.

Try using have the chops in a sentence of your own.  If you don’t quite get it right, don’t worry about it.   I’ll correct anything you leave in the comment section.   If you don’t try, you don’t improve!

Is there a slang phrase like have the chops in Chinese?

"A breath of fresh air" is a welcome change, just as the transition from winter to spring is.

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There are times when we are accustomed to a routine.   It can be rather mundane, ordinary and monotonous.   Then something new and interesting comes along.  It is like a breath of fresh air!

A breath of fresh air means that something is a welcome relief, novel, a refreshing change from what one normally experiences.  It is a break from the routine or normal day-to-day events.

Examples of  a breath of fresh air

“Normally the family would watch some shows on Netflix on Saturday evenings, but going to the movies and out for Chinese food afterwards was a breath of fresh air!”

“After nearly running a large company into the ground, the new and competent management was indeed a breath of fresh air.  Who wants to work for a loser?”

I do hear from people who provide their own examples, but not nearly enough.  What do you think is like a breath of fresh air?  Try your own example in the comment section.  I’ll be happy to provide feedback.

Is there a way to say a breath of fresh air in Chinese?  If so, I’d love to hear from someone.

'Tie one on' means to drink too much alcohol.

I’m not one to drink too much.  I occassionally have a glass of wine (hey, I live in California!)  or have a beer from time to time.  (I like Qingdao, Taiwan Beer, and Asahi.).  But there are times when people drink too much and we have a phrase, tie one on, that you might find useful to know.

Tie one on means that one drinks excessively, to the point of drunkenness or inebriation.

This phrase sounds a bit odd, doesn’t it?  I believe that tie one on refers to connecting drinking sessions together, that is one session begins before the effects of the previous drinking spree have ended.  They tied together.

Examples of tie one on

“If you go to the convention, resist the temptation to go out with the sales team, they like to tie one on after the day’s events are over.”

“College campuses are famous for students who like to tie one on.”

If you do indeed drink, I hope it is in moderation.   Drinking can be enjoyable, but if it is done excessively, it poses a danger to your health and safety, not to mention others.   Try using tie one on in a sentence and leave it in the comment section.

How do you say tie one on in Chinese?

P.S.  A here’s a joke using this phrase:

A: Did you hear about the new Chinese bar in town?

B:  No, what’s it called?

A: Taiwan On.  (sounds like  tie one on)

"Pressure makes diamonds" means that working under stress can help someone excel

When we speak of pressure, it is typical to think of a force spread out over an area, such as atmospheric pressure.   When carbon is under a high degree of pressure, diamonds are formed.   This leads to today’s idiom, pressure makes diamonds.

In life, when one faces difficulty, that too is called “pressure”, it is another word for stress.   If things at a job are rather stressful, then someone may say to you, “I’m under a lot of pressure.”

But sometimes, this stress or pressure, causes someone to improve their abilities with an excellent result, this is what is meant by pressure makes diamonds.

This proverb is attributed to General George S. Patton, a very outspoken and famous American general from World War II.   I suppose that if anyone faces pressure, it is a general during a very bloody war.   He was a diamond of sorts, and his efforts shine in history.

Examples using pressure makes diamonds

“I know that preparing for your college entrance exams are stressful, but in the end you’ll be glad you did this.  Pressure makes diamonds, and you will come out better in the end!”

“My track coach said ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going!’ and ‘pressure makes diamonds‘ when he pushed us to our limits.”

Can you use this phrase pressure makes diamonds?   Go ahead, try it.  The more you practice these things, the better you will be at sound more  native in your English.   I’ll be happy to help you if you make any mistakes.

How do you say pressure makes diamonds in Chinese?

If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen means to get out of stressful position if you can't handle it.

Have you ever been in a difficult situation and you wanted to throw in the towel?  Then if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen is a phrase to learn!

If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen means that you should not persist if the pressure of a situation becomes too much to bear.  However, it is often used to scold someone when they complain about the difficulty of a task.

If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen was a phrase made famous by the U.S President, Harry S. Truman.   He was very frank and candid about things, moreso than would be typically accepted today.  However, if we had another president like that, I think it would be like a breath of fresh air!

Examples of  if you can’t take the heat…

Student:  ”Professor, this calculus class is very difficult, could you please slow down?”

Professor: “I have to finish so much material before the end of the semester.  If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. (Or see me during office hours!)”

Brett:  I didn’t realize this job would be so tough!  I’m on the road more than half the time.  They told me it would only be one-forth of my time.

Danny:  If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.   You can always find another job.

I’m not going to tell you if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen if you find learning English a challenge.  I’m here to help!  Try your hand at this phrase to see if you understand the meaning.

All you have to do is write your sentence in the comment section and I’ll help you if it isn’t quite correct.

How do you say if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen in Chinese?

"No comments from the peanut gallery" is a way to tell someone their comment is not welcome.

No comments from the peanut gallery is a useful phrase to use when you receive someone’s opinion.

What does no comments from the peanut gallery mean?   First a little history.

In early 1900s, when there were live performances in theaters, performers were sometimes heckled by people sitting in the cheapest seats.   These hecklers would throw their peanuts at the performer if they did a bad job.    In time, this section earned the name “the peanut gallery”.

Today, the phrase no comments from the peanut gallery means that comments from people who are regarded as unimportant are spurned and unwelcome.  It is especially used when the person making the comment is not an expert or is  a ‘know-it-all’.

Examples of no comments from the peanut gallery

“Hey, who asked for your opinion, no comments from the peanut gallery!”

“Sensing that one of her students took exception to her political views, Professor Sander sneered, ‘I will tolerate no comments from the peanut gallery, George.’”

At My China Connection, there is no peanut gallery, we welcome your comments, especially when you try to use the phrase that I’m teaching you.   You’re not going to learn no comments from the peanut gallery in your English text book.   This is the place to be!

What is the Chinese equivalent of the peanut gallery?