Phrases and Sayings that you understand the meaning, but really don't make any sense

[Mdizzle]

"When in Rome..."

what about it?!

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I think it's pretty self-explanatory.

 

[Drizzle]

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

I call b.s. on that one. This fella looks like he's gathered a bit more than moss over the years:

 

[Shemtov]

.

Never look a gift horse in the mouf.

You can tell the age of horse by looking at its teeth. So people "shoudn't check the age of the gift horse" wich is basiclly what the idiom means.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

You can tell the age of horse by looking at its teeth. So people "shoudn't check the age of the gift horse" wich is basiclly what the idiom means.

It has nothing to do with teeth or age. It means if someone gives you a gift, don't be critical of it; just accept it.

 

[Shemtov]

It has nothing to do with teeth or age. It means if someone gives you a gift, don't be critical of it; just accept it.

Yes but the younger tghe horse the better so if you check the age you are being critical of it.

 

[PyroChamber]

What does "cake eater" mean?

I remember they would say it on The Mighty Ducks movies, but I never knew what it meant.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Yes but the younger tghe horse the better so if you check the age you are being critical of it.

Your definition of the idiom was still incorrect.

 

[Mdizzle]

What does "cake eater" mean?

I remember they would say it on The Mighty Ducks movies, but I never knew what it meant.

Weren't they referring to the rich kid, Adam Banks?

 

[Cunning Stunts]

"When in Rome..."

what about it?!

"When in Rome... Do as Romans do."

You're hearing a shortened version of the phrase. Basically, if you're in a place/situation you're unfamiliar with, do what those used to that place/situation would do to get by.

 

[DA Dent]

Burn the candle at both ends

 

[SuBe]

Old Vulcan Proverb, "Only Nixon can go to China".

 

[SLVRSR4]

blank as f

I've heard this used to describe everything when very few things refer to the act itself

also "Dip his wick"

 

[Spidey-Bat]

also "Dip his wick"

It means to have sex

 

[ross2287]

"When in Rome..."

what about it?!

"Yes...please go on."

Anchorman ftw!

 

[PyroChamber]

Weren't they referring to the rich kid, Adam Banks?

Usually, but I still never understood what it meant.

 

[Dew k. Mosi]

" a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"...wtf does that mean

Ahura..awesome

it's from one of Aesop's Fables.

A hunter caught a bird and was holding it in his hand, to take home for dinner. He heard too birds fluttering around in the bush, and decided that two birds were better than one, so he set the one down and went after the two in the bush. They flew away and he couldn't catch them, so he turned to retrieve the one he had already had but it too had escaped. So the Hunter when home and went to bed hungry.

The Moral of the Story is: "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"

In other words, if you have something substantial, don't risk it for a dream if there is a chance that you'll lose more than you can afford.

 

[Mdizzle]

Usually, but I still never understood what it meant.

Maybe because...rich ppl often eat cake as opposed to other slop we normal ppl eat??? hahah I have no idea.

 

[Crook]

It isn't about a literal cake.

Now that it's been explained, I see where the confusion lies. It's the interpretation of "have". I always saw it as in literally holding or acquiring said cake, but never actually using it. But now, I know it means eating/taking it in.

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

''Blood is thicker than water''-Tell that to people who have horrible families, but find a better life with friends.

 

[terry78]

''Blood is thicker than water''-Tell that to people who have horrible families, but find a better life with friends.

There are more people with good families than bad, I would wager though. Some people claim their family sucks when reality they are the ones that do.

 

[Logan's Runt]

It has nothing to do with teeth or age. It means if someone gives you a gift, don't be critical of it; just accept it.

People are talking about the origins of phrases and why they mean the things they do. We're not having a discussion about what phrases mean in their popular usage. That's why the thread is called 'phrases you understand but don't make sense'. They don't make sense nowadays when taken literally.

Someone didn't just make up a phrase about a horse and attach an arbitrary meaning to it. The phrase actually made sense at the time. What Odin was trying to explain was that in past times, the value of a horse was easily determined by looking in it's mouth- age, health, etc. So if someone gave another person a horse as a gift, it would be rude to immediately look in the horse's mouth to see how nice a gift it actually was, instead of being grateful for the gift.

 

[Shemtov]

"In like Flynn"
In what?
is it (as the Internet legend goes) That Errol Flynn was a lady's man and that it means in a vag?
I don't think so because the phrase originated in more prudish times so i'm guessing maybe it refers to Errol Flynn's sopossed ability of getting into a movie just because he was Errol Flynn?
or is there a more mundane explanation not involving sex or movies?

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

There are more people with good families than bad, I would wager though. Some people claim their family sucks when reality they are the ones that do.

Too true.

 

[Dew k. Mosi]

I've heard that In like Flynn was not because of his sexual prowess but because he was such a celebrity that just his name opened doors. He could go wherever he wanted, do whatever he wanted, do WHOever he wanted. So, if you were In like Flynn you had reached a level of notoriety comparable to Errol Flynn

 

[Shemtov]

So my own In Like Flynn quesstion made me go to google. And i found this site:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/198700.html
So basiclly Dew was right.