Section outline

  • Idioms


    The art of Self Discipline


    Have a yarn

    Have a casual talk about everything or anything.

    Have a chat with someone.

    Have a yak (yakity-yak)

    Hard yakka

    Hard strenuous work.

    Yakka derived originally from an aborigianl word for work.

    Far out

    Frustrated about something

    An expression of disbelief about something.

    Sometimes expressed in rhyming slang as, 'far out brussel sprout.'

    Barking up the wrong tree.

    Taking the wrong approach

    Trying to solve a problem by looking at the wrong source

    Misdirected in their views of a problem.

    Set the cat among the pigeons.

    Stir things up.

    To say or do something controversial to make others react strongly.

    Ants in their pants.

    Be very restless.

    Can not sit still.

    Sail close to the wind.

    To do something that has a high risk.

    Do something that could be dangerous if you get it a little wrong.

    Ducks in a row.

    Got all your ducks in a row

    To be organised in both thinking, practice and how you set things up in your life.

    A snowball’s chance in hell.

    Impossible to do.

    A very low chance of success.

    A dogs breakfast

    Very untidy.

    A job or project that is very messy.

    A stubby short of a six pack.

    Not very smart.

    A lack of ability to think or analyse.

    A sheep short in the top paddock.

    Not very smart.

    A lack of ability to think or analyse.

    If you had a brain cell it would be lonely.

    Not very smart.

    A lack of ability to think or analyse.

    Bite the bullet.

    Suffer the pain

    Put up with the difficulty or pain.

    Close fisted.

    To be stingy.

    To not spend money.

    Can’t hold a candle to.

    When something or someone is lesser than something else.

    As an example it could be said 'coal power can't hold a candle to nucleaur fusion.'

    Dog and pony show.

    An elaborate show or presentation.

    When many people come to gether for a common reason organised by others. (sometimes used as slight negative coment).

    Enough rope.

    Allow someone enough freedom to make a mistake.

    Used to be, 'give them enough rope to hang themselves.'

    Flat out like a lizard drinking.

    To be working very hard.

    Flatout is to be working hard or driving fast just like a lizard drinking that is flat out in posture.

    Go pear-shaped.

    To go wrong very quickly.

    If a project goes pear shaped it fails or goes wrong very quickly.

    The economy went pear-shaped during covid.

    Hang by a thread.

    To be almost failing.

    Almost failing and if some bad small thing happens all hope for success will crash or fail.