OUT OF HAND

MEANING
• OUT OF CONTROL
• NO LONGER IN CONTROL OF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE
• DIFFICULT TO CONTROL A SITUATION
• BE CHAOTIC OR UNMANAGEABLE
• BE IN AN UNRULY STATE

EXAMPLE SENTENCES
1. WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED, THEY REALISED THE PARTY WAS GETTING OUT
OF HAND.
2. JANE AND SARAH HAD A DISAGREEMENT THAT SUDDENLY GOT OUT OF
HAND AND THEN EVERYONE WAS SHOUTING.
3. THEIR KIDS NEED SOME DISCIPLINE, THEY ARE GETTING COMPLETELY OUT
OF HAND.
4. THE FARMER WAS TRYING TO GET ALL THE SHEEP INTO THE BARN WHEN IT
ALL GOT OUT OF HAND AND THEY ENDED UP IN THE ROAD.

ORIGIN

THIS PHRASE ORIGINATES FROM LOSING CONTROL OF A HORSE WHEN RIDING OR A

TEAM OF HORSES PULLING A WAGON. IF THE RIDER LETS GO OF THE REINS OR
DOES NOT KEEP A FIRM GRIP, THEN THEY CANNOT CONTROL THE HORSES. HENCE,
THE HORSES WILL BE 'OUT OF HAND'.

TWO PEAS IN A POD

ALSO, LIKE PEAS IN A POD

MEANING | SYNONYMS
• PRACTICALLY IDENTICAL IN APPEARANCE
• ALIKE IN CHARACTER OR IN LOOKS
• TO BE VERY SIMILAR
• WHEN TWO OR MORE THINGS ARE INSEPARABLE
• BEARING A VERY CLOSE RESEMBLANCE OR PROXIMITY

EXAMPLE SENTENCES
1. THOSE BOYS COULD BE TWINS, THEY ARE LIKE TWO PEAS IN A POD.
2. JEFFREY DEFINITELY HAS A PREFERRED TYPE OF WOMAN THAT HE FINDS
ATTRACTIVE. THE LAST THREE HAVE BEEN LIKE PEAS IN A POD.
3. LISA AND HER BEST FRIEND COULD BE SISTERS, THEY ARE AS ALIKE AS TWO
PEAS IN A POD.
4. THEY'VE HARDLY BEEN APART SINCE THEY MET. THEY ARE ALWAYS
TOGETHER, LIKE TWO PEAS IN A POD.

ORIGIN

THIS IDIOM IS USED TO SAY THAT TWO PEOPLE ARE VERY SIMILAR IN EITHER
APPEARANCE OR IN CHARACTER. IT ALLUDES TO TINY PEAS IN A POD WHICH,
MORE OR LESS ALL LOOK THE SAME IN SIZE, COLOUR. THEY ARE ALSO PACKED INTO
THE POD VERY TIGHTLY SO, THIS IDIOM IS ALSO USED TO SUGGEST TWO OR MORE
PEOPLE BEING CLOSE OR INSEPARABLE.

A HOT POTATO

MEANING
• ANY SUBJECT WHICH SEVERAL FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT AND WHICH IS
FREQUENTLY ARGUED
• SOMETHING THAT IS HARD OR TERRIBLE TO HANDLE
• A PROBLEM OR SITUATION THAT IS DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH AND CAUSES A
LOT OF DISAGREEMENT
• AN ISSUE OR QUESTION ABOUT WHICH PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS
AND FEEL VERY STRONGLY
• A CONTROVERSIAL SITUATION THAT IS AWKWARD TO DEAL WITH

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

1. THE ISSUE OF GUN CONTROL IS A POLITICAL HOT POTATO IN THE UNITED

STATES.
2. I NEVER DISCUSS ANYONE'S RELIGION, IT CAN BE A HOT POTATO.
3. THE PARTY MEMBERS ARE NOT SPEAKING ON THIS TOPIC AS IT IS A
POLITICAL HOT POTATO.
4. THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO CURB BENEFITS TO SOME SECTIONS OF
SOCIETY IS LIKE A HOT POTATO.

ORIGIN
THE TERM ORIGINATED IN THE MID 1800S AND IS DERIVED FROM THE SLIGHTLY
OLDER TERM "TO DROP LIKE A HOT POTATO", MEANING "TO ABANDON
SOMETHING OR SOMEONE QUICKLY". IT ALLUDES TO THE FACT THAT
COOKED POTATOES RETAIN CONSIDERABLE HEAT BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN A LOT
OF WATER.