21 sayings Americans love that use that confuse people abroad
By Tod PerryOct. 16 2024, Updated 3:10 p.m. ET
Ever found yourself in a foreign country and when you used a common turn-of-phrase in American English, it confused someone? Americans have a treasure trove of quirky sayings that make perfect sense to native speakers but can leave our international friends scratching their heads—even those who grew up speaking English in the UK or Australia.
From “spilling the beans” to “hitting the sack,” American idioms are colorful but can be confusing without the proper cultural context. So, if you’re an American who wants to make sense to your friends who aren’t from the States or there’s an American in your life, you’d like to better understand, check out this list of 21 confusing American sayings.
1. "Break a leg" — Americans know this means good luck, but it can sound like a curse to the unfamiliar. It originated from the superstition that wishing someone good luck directly would bring bad luck. Instead, they wish the opposite in hopes of a successful outcome.
2. "Bite the bullet" — To "bite the bullet" means to endure a painful or unpleasant situation with courage. This saying likely comes from battlefield surgeries where soldiers were given a bullet to bite on to cope with the pain. It signifies facing a tough situation head-on.
3. "Hit the sack" — Although this may sound like a boxing workout to the unfamiliar, this idiom dates back to the early 1900s, when mattresses were often stuffed with sacks of hay. It’s a casual way to announce that it’s bedtime.
4. "Piece of cake" — The phrase comes from cakewalks in the 19th century, where participants performed simple dance moves to win a cake.
5. "Spill the beans" — While to some, it may sound like a mishap around a cowboy campfire, Americans know it’s about sharing secrets or important information. The origin of this phrase is uncertain, but one theory ties it to an ancient Greek voting system where beans were used to cast votes. Spilling them accidentally would reveal the results too soon.
6. "Let the cat out of the bag" — It originated from medieval markets where pigs were sold in bags, and sometimes dishonest sellers would substitute a cat. Revealing the cat would expose the deception.
7. "Under the weather" — Taken literally, this could mean standing in the sunshine or being soaking wet from the rain. However, this nautical phrase dates back to when sailors would feel seasick during bad weather and go below deck to recover.
8."Kick the bucket" — The phrase sounds like a euphemism for being clumsy, but it’s much darker than that. The exact origin is unclear, but one theory suggests it comes from a method of slaughtering animals in which they were hung from a bucket.
9. "Barking up the wrong tree" — This idiom comes from hunting dogs that would bark at the base of a tree where they believed prey was hiding. However, the prey was nowhere to be found.
10. "Hit the road" — No, hitting the road doesn’t mean damaging your fist by ramming it into asphalt. This phrase became popular with the rise of automobile travel in the early 20th century. It conveys the idea of setting off on an adventure or simply departing.
11. "Costs an arm and a leg" — The origin is debated, but one theory is that portraits used to be priced by how much of the body was included, with arms and legs making the price higher. It highlights high cost or sacrifice.
12. "Hold your horses" — The phrase dates back to when horse-drawn carriages were common, and drivers would need to hold their horses steady. It’s a way of telling someone to slow down or stop rushing.
13. "Break the ice" — This idiom comes from the practice of breaking ice in rivers to allow ships to pass. It symbolizes overcoming initial awkwardness.
14. "Burn the midnight oil" — This idiom is pretty straightforward, but some people may be thrown by thinking it’s a reference to the Australian rock band, Midnight Oil who sang “Beds are Burning.” It originates from a time when oil lamps were the primary source of light, so working late required burning extra oil.
15. "Throw in the towel" — This phrase comes from boxing, where a trainer throws a towel into the ring to stop the fight. It’s used to indicate quitting or conceding defeat.
16. "Beat around the bush" — It comes from hunting, where beaters or a person who drives game out of areas of cover, would flush out birds by hitting the bushes. It implies avoiding the main topic.
17. "Cut to the chase" — It originated in the film industry, where "chase scenes" were exciting parts of the movie, so getting straight to the hot pursuit meant skipping the less interesting parts
18. "The ball is in your court" — This idiom is pretty straightforward, but some may think it references the court of law. This phrase comes from sports like tennis, where the ball’s location determines who must play next.
19. "Hit the nail on the head" — The phrase originates from carpentry, where hitting the nail on the head is a sign of accuracy and skill. It’s used to commend precise actions or statements.
20. "Kick the can down the road" — To some, this phrase could signify boredom by conjuring up the image of someone aimlessly kicking a can down a road. But it likely comes from children’s games, where players kick a can further to delay the end of the game.
21. "Pulling your leg" — Sorry, this phrase has nothing to do with a trip to the chiropractor. The phrase’s origin is uncertain, but it’s often associated with playful trickery. It means to lead someone on in a light-hearted way.
This article was originally published on July 29, 2024. It has since been updated.
This article was written with assistance from artificial intelligence. Megaphone creates content primarily driven by people but aims for full transparency in how our storytelling is produced. To learn more about our policy on artificial intelligence, click here.