IdiomDaily Life
English
Englisha bit on the side
Meaning: A secret lover; an affair.
Example: “The novel's plot turns on the husband's bit on the side.”
Origin: "On the side" means extra, as with a side dish ordered apart from the main course. The British phrase is recorded from the mid-20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: lío de faldas Literally: A tangle of skirts
More English idioms
- use someone as a cat's paw To get someone else to do one's dirty work.
- lose one's marbles To go crazy.
- the heart of the matter The most important part of an issue.
- play cat and mouse To toy with someone one has power over.
- blow me down An exclamation of complete surprise.
- get things back on track To bring a situation back under control after it has gone wrong.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- حمار (ḥimār) A stubborn fool — the donkey being the universal symbol of obstinacy in Arabic culture.
- Je bent een kanjer You're a star — a champ and a wonderful person.
- Золотые руки (Zolotye ruki) You're wonderfully skilled with your hands — a true master at making and fixing things.
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