IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishhave one foot in the grave
Meaning: To be close to death.
Example: “He jokes that he has one foot in the grave, but he still swims every morning.”
Origin: Halfway into one's grave. A version is found in the 16th century.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Sentir le sapin Literally: To smell of fir
More English idioms
- cast the first stone To be the first to condemn someone.
- steal a march on To gain an advantage by acting before someone else.
- the bee's knees Something or someone excellent.
- throw someone under the bus To betray or blame someone to save oneself.
- take stock To review a situation carefully before deciding what to do.
- with pomp and circumstance With great ceremony and display.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? A 'w/ch/ck' drill that accelerates comically — and nobody really knows the answer.
- The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick. Believed by Guinness to be among the hardest in English — 'six/sick/sheikh/sheep' blur in…
- Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said the butter's bitter. A 'b / t / tt' plosive drill that bounces between Betty, butter, and bitter.
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