the pits
Meaning: The worst; extremely bad.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Being stuck in the airport all night was the pits.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: American slang from the mid-20th century. It is often linked to "armpits" or to pits as deep, low places, but the source is uncertain.
Equivalents in other languages
- Hebrew: על הפנים (al hapanim) — literally: On the face
More idioms — Daily Life
- sleep on it — To delay a decision until the next day to think it over.
- it'll all come out in the wash — Things will work out in the end.
- haste makes waste — Doing things too quickly leads to mistakes.
- where there's a will, there's a way — Determination will find a way to succeed.
- good things come to those who wait — Patience is rewarded.
- the penny drops — Someone finally understands something.
More English idioms
- the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence — Other people's situations always seem better than one's own.
- every cloud has a silver lining — Something good can come out of any bad situation.
- no pain, no gain — You must work hard or suffer to achieve something.
- the early bird catches the worm — Those who act first or get up early get the best chances.
- change one's tune — To change one's opinion or behavior, usually suddenly.
- call someone every name under the sun — To insult someone furiously with every abusive word one can think of.
From our proverbs
- Every man to his trade. — Individuals excel when focusing on their own expertise rather than attempting unfamiliar…
- Never fish in troubled waters. — Pursuing opportunities amid chaos or conflict will likely yield poor results and entangle…
- Never make troubles of trifles. — Small annoyances magnified through worry waste energy better spent on genuine problems.