IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishtake potluck
Meaning: To accept whatever is available.
Example: “We arrived unannounced and had to take potluck for dinner.”
Equivalents in other languages
French: À la fortune du pot Literally: At the pot's fortune
Origin: In the 16th century "potluck" meant whatever food a guest happened to find in the cooking pot, with no special preparation. Thomas Nashe used it in 1592. The shared "potluck dinner" where guests bring dishes is a later American sense.
More English idioms
- talk a blue streak To talk fast and at length.
- talk through one's hat To speak without authority on some topic; to talk nonsense.
- throw down the gauntlet To challenge someone to fight or argue.
- throw the book at someone To give someone the harshest penalty or punishment allowed by law, or to impose any sever…
- throw one's hat into the ring To announce one's candidacy for elected office.
- tickle someone's fancy To please or amuse someone in a light-hearted way.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- 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.
- She sells seashells by the seashore. The definitive 's' versus 'sh' alternation — the tongue has to switch place of articulati…
Keep exploring