let the grass grow under one's feet
Meaning: To waste time and miss opportunities.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “She doesn't let the grass grow under her feet: the shop opened a month after she had the idea.”
Category: Nature
Origin: Someone who stands still long enough for grass to grow around their feet is going nowhere. The phrase is recorded in English from the 15th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Russian: Считать ворон (Schitat' voron) — literally: To count crows
More idioms — Nature
- go through fire and water — To face any danger or hardship for someone or something.
- the eye of the storm — The center of a crisis; sometimes a brief calm in the middle of it.
- fight fire with fire — To respond to an attack with the same methods.
- in broad daylight — Openly, during the day, when anyone could see.
- wish the ground would swallow one up — To feel so embarrassed that one wants to disappear.
- push up daisies — To be dead and buried.
More English idioms
- a closed book — Something one knows nothing about, or someone impossible to understand.
- up to one's ears in debt — Deeply in debt.
- hand on heart — Said when swearing that something is completely true.
- you'll live — Said to someone making a fuss over a small injury or setback.
- with an iron fist — With harsh, absolute control.
- a trump card — A decisive advantage kept in reserve.