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3rd Grade Sayings & Phrases

(Part of the Core Knowledge curriculum)

"Actions speak louder than words"

Meaning: This proverb means that sometimes people do not

say what they think, but their actions tell what they really feel or
believe.

Example: "Deena always says I'm her best friend," said

Jayne, "but she keeps doing things that hurt my feelings."

"They say actions speak louder than words," replied Philip. "A
true friend wouldn't treat you that way."

Origin and History: This saying has been traced back to about
1628 in England and was used by Abraham Lincoln in 1860 in
his Cooper Union Address.

"Beat around the bush"

Meaning: This idiom is used to describe a person who talks

indirectly about a difficult subject instead of getting right to the
point.

Example: "So what do you think of my new haircut?" Frederick

asked Suki.

"You know, I always like the way you wore your hair before,"
she replied.

"And?" Frederick encouraged.

"And this new style is very modern," offered Suki.

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Frederick was exasperated. "Oh, stop beating around the

bush, Suki! Tell me what you really think."

"You really want to know?" Suki asked.

"Nah, let's go play skee-ball," chimed Frederick.

Origin and History: This idiom dates back to the 1500s. It

alludes to an ancient hunting practice. During the Middle Ages,
nobles had serfs beat around the bushes to flush game birds
out of hiding. While it was the job of the "beaters" to carefully
stir up the game, it was the job of hunters to get to the point by
shooting the birds.

"Beggars can't be choosers"

Meaning: The literal meaning of this proverb is that a poor

person who is forced to beg does not have the option of
choosing what he or she wants but must take whatever he or
she can get. This proverb means that if you really need
something and are getting it for free, then you cannot be picky
and should gratefully accept whatever is being offered.

Example: "I'm glad I came to visit you," Lida said to her cousin
Rose, "but I should have packed warmer clothing–I'm freezing!"

"Here's a sweater you can have," offered Rose. "It's from 1989,
but it's warm."

Lida wrinkled her nose. "Don't you have something that's more
in fashion? That old thing is ugly!"

"Beggars can't be choosers!" Rose cautioned. "Either take it or

shiver."
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Origin and History: This saying dates back to about 1546 in

England.

"Clean bill of health"

Meaning: This idiom refers to anyone or anything that is free

of faults or defects.

Example: Before purchasing a used car, make sure the

mechanic gives it a clean bill of health. You wouldn't want to
buy a car that breaks down all the time!

Origin and History: In the 19th century, bills of health certified

that no infectious diseases had been reported in the port from
which a ship was about to sail. If a shipmaster sailed from an
infected port, he got a foul bill of health. Without a clean bill of
health, the ship might be refused entry into a port.

"Cold shoulder"

Meaning: This idiom refers to someone who acts indifferently

or unfriendly.

Example: "I'd like to be friends with the new boy in school,"

Lindsay confided to her mother, "but I don't think he likes me
very much; he always gives me the cold shoulder."

"Maybe he's shy," her mother counseled. "I think you should try
talking to him, and then maybe he'll be more friendly."

Origin and History: This saying originates from the practice of

serving food to a guest. While a welcome visitor would be
offered a hot, tender serving of roast, an uninvited guest or one
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who stayed too long would be offered a cold, inferior cut of

mutton from the shoulder of a sheep.

"A feather in your cap"

Meaning: This idiom refers to an accomplishment that is

worthy of praise.

Example: Reinaldo's hip hop class was learning a difficult

dance step, and he was having trouble perfecting it. After
several tries, he was ready to give up. "I quit!" he sighed. "You
might as well cut me from this routine."

"Keep trying, Reinaldo," the teacher encouraged. "I'm sure

you'll have learned it by the time of the dance recital. Then it
will be a real feather in your cap!"

Origin and History: This 17th-century idiom alludes to an

ancient Native American and Asian custom. Warriors placed a
feather in their headgear for every enemy they defeated in
battle.

"His bark is worse than his bite"

Meaning: The literal meaning of this saying is that a dog is

more apt to bark viciously and loudly than it is likely to bite. It
refers to a person who talks meanly and harshly but is actually
harmless.

Example: Richard's family moved into a new apartment

building. "The man who lives downstairs scares me
sometimes. He always scowls at me and grumbles that we're
too noisy," Richard confided to the neighbor next door.
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"Oh, don't worry about Mr. Duffy," his neighbor replied. "He likes
to complain, but he won't hurt you. His bark is worse than his
bite."

Origin and History: This proverb can be traced to a 1651

collection of proverbs assembled by English poet George
Herbert.

"Last straw"

Meaning: This idiom describes the final incident in a string of

bad things that has happened–the incident that pushes a
person or situation "over the edge."

Example: "I've really had it with these marketing people!"

Spiderman threw his webby hands in the air. "Ever since they
found out I like to eat Reese's Pieces, they've been hounding
me for a product placement in The Daily Bugle. I just wish
they'd leave me alone. First, they tried kidnapping Mary Jane.
Then, they showed up at the annual superheroes convention–
Wolverine made so much fun of me! Now, I just found out they
filled my gym locker with 15,000 Reese's Pieces. This is the
last straw!"

Origin and History: This idiom comes from the proverb "It is
the last straw that breaks the camel's back." The proverb dates
to the time when camels were used to transport goods over
difficult terrain. According to legend, a man piled one piece of
straw at a time on a camel's back until the "last straw" proved
to be too much. The weight of the straws ultimately broke the
animal's back.
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"Let bygones be bygones"

Meaning: This proverb means that one should forget about the
hard feelings caused by past events.

Example: Dad hung up the phone and turned to face Marina.

"Your Uncle Alvaro and cousin Paulo are in town and I invited
them to come to your house tomorrow."

"Oh no! Not Paulo!" groaned Marina. "He pinches me and

pulls my hair."

"Marina, that hasn't happened since you were both four," her
father reminded her. "I think it's time you let bygones be
bygones."

Origin and History: This proverb has been traced to 1577 in

Scotland and in America to Cotton Mather's dictionary of 1710.

"On its last legs"

Meaning: This idiom refers to something or someone that is

worn out and useless or that is about to collapse, break down,
or die.

Example: Thanh's family lived in a farmhouse that was more

than 100 years old.

"What a great house!" exclaimed Vanessa when she came over

to play. "It has so much history!"

"That's true," replied Thanh, "but all the appliances are so old.
The water heater is on its last legs. It breaks down nearly
every week, and then we have to take cold showers."
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Origin and History: unknown

"One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel"

Meaning: This proverb means that one bad person or one bad
thing can ruin everything connected with it.

Example: At Luana's birthday party, everyone was laughing

and singing and having a great time–except for Harry. "I just
can't get enjoy this party," he admitted. "My big brother just
went away to college and I miss him so much. I think I'll head
home. One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel, and I don't
want my bad mood to rub off on anyone else."

Origin and History: An apple or another piece of fruit that is

bad will eventually cause an entire barrel to spoil. This proverb
has been traced to 1340 in medieval Latin. American politician
and writer Benjamin Franklin used it in his popular Poor
Richard's Almanack (1736).

"Rule the roost"

Meaning: This idiom refers to a person who takes charge and

acts in a dominant way by bossing others around.

Example: Miss Cho turned to her students. "Class, take out

your math textbooks and open to page 53."

Victor raised his hand. "Miss Cho, the class took a vote, and
we want to play a game instead of having math today."

The teacher kindly looked around at the students' expectant

faces. "Well, I'm for democracy, but around here I rule the
roost. Open your books, please."
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Origin and History: This idiom derives from the behavior of a

rooster in a chicken house. The roost is a wooden bar or perch
where a rooster and his hens can rest together. Because the
rooster is bigger and stronger than the hens, he reigns over the
roost. English poet Geoffrey Chaucer describes the behavior of
the bossy rooster in "Nun's Priest's Tale" in The Canterbury
Tales. A variation from the 15th century is "rule the roast,"
which refers to the master of the house who is in charge of
cutting the meat.

"The show must go on"

Meaning: This proverb means that a project, event or plan

must be completed no matter what happens.

Example: "Oh no!" Tommy looked up from the computer. "I

just got an IM from Mahir. He has laryngitis and he can't sing
the solo in our choir concert tonight! We'll have to cancel."

"You can't cancel," replied Sandra, "Your voice is just as good

as Mahir's. You can sing the solo. The show must go on!"

Origin and History: This saying, which was in use in the

United States by about 1867, likely originated with the circus.
Despite tragic accidents, poor weather conditions and other
setbacks that could cause cancellation, circus shows usually
took place as scheduled.

"Touch and go"

Meaning: This idiom refers to a dangers situation or

unpredictable condition.
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Example: Mrs. Levine walked in the door on a snowy winter

evening, out of breath and looking very glad to be home. "The
path up to the house is so slippery I almost fell down three
times," she told her husband. "After I catch my breath I'll put
some salt down to melt the ice; it's very touch and go out there
right now."

Origin and History: This idiom comes from a 19th-century

British nautical expression. It refers to a sailing ship that has
nearly run aground. If the ship touches bottom without getting
stuck, it is able to then float clear, or go again.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do"

Meaning: This proverb means that you should conform to the

manners and customs of the people with whom you associate
when you are a guest in a foreign place or in an unfamiliar
situation.

Example: Mizuki invited her friend Barbara over to her house

for dinner. "In my family, we eat with chopsticks, but if you want,
but you can use a fork."

"No thank you," replied Barbara. "I'll try chopsticks. My motto

is: when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Or in this case, do as
the Japanese do."

Origin and History: This proverb dates back to the 4th

century CE and is attributed to St. Ambrose, who advised St.
Augustine to fast in Rome because the Roman Christians
believed fasting was good for the soul.