terra firma
Meaning: Solid ground, as opposed to the sea or the air.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “After the bumpy flight, I was glad to be back on terra firma.”
Category: Nature
Origin: Latin for "firm land." It is used in English from the early 17th century, originally for mainland territory.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Le plancher des vaches — literally: The cows' floor
More idioms — Nature
- a rolling stone gathers no moss — Someone who keeps moving never settles or accumulates anything; sometimes also, keeping a…
- little strokes fell great oaks — Small, steady efforts achieve great results.
- protect one's turf — To defend one's area of control or responsibility against others.
- chase rainbows — To pursue something unrealistic.
- left high and dry — Stranded or abandoned without help.
- gone with the wind — Gone forever, vanished without a trace.
More English idioms
- the sandman is coming — It's time to sleep; someone is getting sleepy.
- bite the hand that feeds you — To harm or insult someone who helps you.
- soaked to the skin — Completely wet.
- cash on the nail — Payment made immediately.
- move the needle — To make a noticeable difference.
- in two shakes of a lamb's tail — Very quickly.
From our proverbs
- He deserves not the sweet that will not taste the sour. — Pleasure earned through hardship is more valuable and meaningful than unearned comfort.
- He must needs swim that's held up by the chin. — Desperation forces you to learn survival skills you'd never develop in safety or comfort.
- He that strikes with the sword shall be beaten with the scabbard. — Violence begets proportional retaliation; aggressors face consequences matching their own…