the four corners of the earth
Meaning: Every part of the world.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Pilgrims came from the four corners of the earth.”
Category: Nature
Origin: From the Bible: Isaiah 11:12 and Revelation 7:1 speak of the four corners of the earth, meaning the four directions.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Aux quatre coins de — literally: At the four corners of
More idioms — Nature
- like a bolt from the blue — Completely unexpected, usually of bad news.
- hearts and flowers — Excessive sentimentality.
- a slippery slope — A small step that leads to worse and worse consequences.
- separate the wheat from the chaff — To distinguish what is valuable from what is worthless.
- promise the moon — To promise something impossible to deliver.
- Indian summer — A period of warm weather in autumn; also a late, happy period in life.
More English idioms
- in the crosshairs — Targeted for attack, criticism or scrutiny.
- hand in hand — Closely together; in close association.
- butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth — Someone looks innocent or proper, but probably is not.
- raise a hue and cry — To make a loud public protest.
- have the inside track — To have an advantage over others.
- a horn of plenty — An abundant source of something.
From our proverbs
- There's reason in roasting of eggs. — Even mundane tasks, properly executed, follow rational principles worth understanding.
- The receiver is as bad as the thief. — Accepting stolen goods makes you complicit in the crime, not merely a passive bystander.
- If there were no receivers there would be no thieves. — Demand for stolen goods creates the market incentive that drives theft itself.