the eighth wonder of the world
Meaning: Something extraordinary, often said ironically.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “He treats his new espresso machine like the eighth wonder of the world.”
Category: The Absurd
Origin: Ancient writers listed Seven Wonders of the World, such as the Pyramids of Giza. Many later buildings and marvels have been hailed as an "eighth wonder" since at least the 17th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: La huitième merveille du monde — literally: The eighth wonder of the world
More idioms — The Absurd
- scream blue murder — To protest very loudly.
- a Procrustean bed — A rigid standard forced on everything, whatever the damage.
- a Sisyphean task — An endless, futile task.
- Captain Obvious — A mocking name for someone who states the obvious.
- diddly-squat — Nothing at all.
- a fat lot of good that does me — That is of no use to me at all.
More English idioms
- a den of thieves — A place full of dishonest people.
- in the arms of Morpheus — Asleep.
- take someone at their word — To believe someone, or to act on exactly what they said.
- talk the hind legs off a donkey — To talk endlessly.
- money makes the world go round — Money is what drives everything.
- cut the Gordian knot — To solve a complicated problem with a bold, simple action.
From our proverbs
- He that will steal a pin will steal a better thing. — Small moral compromises create a slippery slope toward committing greater wrongs.
- One man may better steal a horse than another look over the hedge. — Injustice favors the bold and powerful while punishing the humble for minor transgression…
- Step by step the ladder is climbed. — Incremental progress through consistent effort achieves what rushing toward ambitious goa…