IdiomNature
English
Englishon the rocks
Meaning: Unstable; likely to collapse. When referring to alcoholic beverages, it means with ice cubes.
Example: “Their marriage has been on the rocks since he took the job overseas.”
Origin: Nautical: a ship driven onto rocks is wrecked or about to break up, which gave the sense of a relationship or business in serious trouble from the late 19th century. The separate drinks sense, a spirit poured over ice cubes ("rocks"), is American from the mid-20th century.
More English idioms
- take a rain check To decline an invitation for now, with the idea of accepting it another time.
- take something by storm To win great success or popularity very quickly.
- take the wind out of someone's sails To deflate someone's confidence or spoil their high expectations.
- too many irons in the fire Too many activities demanding one's time.
- turn over a new leaf To change one's bad ways and begin to lead a better life.
- under a cloud Less than entirely trustworthy; suspected of some wrongdoing.
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