IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishborn in a trunk
Meaning: Raised in a family of traveling performers and in the business from childhood.
Example: “Her parents were jugglers, and she was born in a trunk.”
Origin: Theater slang: children of touring actors were said to have been born in a costume trunk backstage. The song "Born in a Trunk" in the 1954 film A Star Is Born made it familiar.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Un enfant de la balle Literally: A child of the ball
More English idioms
- fall into someone's lap To come to someone without any effort.
- fire in the belly Strong ambition and drive.
- a slippery slope A small step that leads to worse and worse consequences.
- snug as a bug in a rug Very warm and comfortable.
- breathe down someone's neck To watch someone too closely, or to be close behind them.
- champ at the bit To be impatient to start.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Better go about than fall into the ditch. Taking an indirect, longer route safely beats risking catastrophe through the shortest pa…
- God sends meat, and the devil sends cooks. Abundance means nothing without the wisdom to use it well; poor execution ruins good fort…
- One God, no more; but friends good store. Loyalty to one supreme authority prevents conflict, while cultivating many friendships cr…
Keep exploring