Some classic idioms, such as “don’t cry over spilled milk” and “every cloud has a silver lining,” will never go out of style, but English speakers are creating new expressions all the time. An idiom is a phrase with a symbolic meaning, and it’s not always easy to understand what that meaning is simply from hearing or reading the individual words in the phrase. In the first example above, we’re not shedding literal tears over a leaky milk jug; the phrase is meant to suggest that it’s not worth getting upset over trivial problems. Pop culture is constantly giving us new references, and idioms develop over time. A person says a phrase with a coded meaning, and it takes off. Here’s a list of a few modern idioms and their novel origins.
All That and a Bag of Chips
This phrase means “very impressive.” Someone who is described as "all that and a bag of chips" is really special and then some. The idiom originated with ’90s hip-hop culture, when “all that” was popular slang. People would say someone was “all that” and add on all kinds of food items, such as chips, or Cheetos, or a cherry on top — anything to suggest a little something extra. Most Americans became familiar with the phrase during a 1993 episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, when Will Smith said the line, “I’ve never said this to a girl before, but oh, baby, you all that and a bag of chips.” Smith’s version stuck, and the rest was history.
Blowing Up My Phone
When someone calls repeatedly or sends a bunch of text messages, they are “blowing up your phone.” The explosion of dings, flags, and notifications can be flattering or annoying, depending on the intent and context for the idiom. This phrase became popular in the 21st century as smartphones and texting became the go-to method of communication for most people.
Jumping the Shark
There’s a special kind of heartbreak when a favorite show “jumps the shark.” This 20th-century idiom describes when a television show seems to decline in quality, particularly with outlandish or out-of-character story lines. The saying was coined in 1985 by radio personality Jon Hein in reference to a 1977 episode of Happy Days where Fonzie literally jumps over a shark while on water-skis.
Let’s Hug It Out
Two people “hug it out” to help them get over sad feelings or put an argument behind them. This idiom popped up especially to encourage men who are stereotypically more hesitant to express their feelings. The phrase comes from a 2014 episode of Entourage where agent Ari Gold utters the healing words. Actor Jeremy Piven improvised the line at the end of the scene, and it became one of the most famous sayings from the show.
Spill the Tea
If someone’s about to “spill the tea,” they’re about to give you all the gossip. In this instance, “tea” isn’t a hot drink — instead, it stands for “truth.” This saying first originated in LGBTQ+ culture, specifically with Black drag performers. In the 1994 book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, one of the performers refers to “T” as an abbreviation for “my thing” or “my truth.” Thanks to popular television shows like RuPaul's Drag Race, the phrase “spill the tea” later entered the mainstream.
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