down the rabbit hole
Who taught: Sangeetha and Alex
I feel like I have gone a long series about “animals in phrases.” In fact, there are so many phrases where you can find animals in it in American English. You know what the most popular animal is. I think it is “horse.” I mentioned about this to Jake and he told me he thinks it is because of American history of being with horses long time.
Let me summarize the expressions that have horse in it I learned!
1. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink
2. from the horse’s mouth
3. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
4. Trojan horse
5. hung like a ho…. (This is still very embarrassing to say even I mentioned it in my previous post! So,I am adding dots instead of the full one here.)
I learned another useful one with animal in it today. It is “down the rabbit hole” This expression can be used when you are about to do something hard or something you do not know how it will end or progress. So, let’s say you are going to get married! Then, I would say, “Well, my friend, you are about to go down the rabbit hole! Good luck with that!” Don’t get me wrong, though! I am saying you should take marriage very seriously and be prepared for so many different aspects of it. Don’t you agree?
The other thing I learned the other day is “make a mountain out of molehill” This is one of the expressions I actually get the meaning as I hear it for the first time. What do you think? Can you get it? It means basically “exaggerate.” For example, you have some bad experiences with your customer at your work today and, because of it, you are worried about you might be getting into a big trouble. Then, I would say “Come on, don’t make a mountain out of the molehill! It is not that important. Just, get over it! It could happen to anybody.” One thing I like about this expression is that this one has got rhyme when you speak. Try it now! Come on, say it to you! Can you feel it? I think that is another fun part of learning English or maybe different languages.
So, don’t be afraid of getting into a new thing. It is all yours. My friend Andrew says “You cannot get it with that attitude! Hey, Believe it and achieve it!” So, my friend out there, “Believe it and Achieve it!” Learning English is fun!! Yay!!
Good night and have a great weekend! ….. and see you soon!
Down the rabbit hole’s origin is from Alice in Wonderland btw.
As Phil mentioned, it’s from Alice in Wonderland. If you haven’t read it, it’s a great source for computer-geeky references. Its copyright has expired so you can read it online for free: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/11
FYI: When most people refer to “Alice in Wonderland” they usually are also including “Through the looking glass” as well: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/12
Some classics from Alice:
* Tweedledum and Tweedledee
* “Twinkle twinkle little bat, how I wonder where you’re at”
* Jabberwocky
* Lobster Quadrille
It looks like Project Gutenburg has *audio books* of Alice in Wonderland for free. Cool!
Listening to Alice in wonderland audiobook, I heard another expression, “shut up like a telescope”. Is it a legitimate one to use?
Nope. It’s just a very visual turn of phrase.
I gocha. Thanks!
I do not think that “rhyme” means what you think it does 😉
Andrew, you gotta tell me a good example of “rhyme”!!
Terry means alliteration not rhyming. Though they are related.
I see.. alliteration!! How about “out of sight, out of mind”? This one has rhyme, right?
It rhymes by repitition: “Out of” is repeated twice. Normally, one wouldn’t say it rhymes, since it “cheats” by repeating.
At least that’s my take on it. I’m certainly not an expert on rhymes and alliteration.
There is also an “unnamed” third attribute for phrases: How fun it is to say it. “Out of sight, Out of mind”, I would argue, is reasonably fun to say (maybe 4 stars out of 5). Especially if “Out of” is pronounced “Out’a”
Ciao!
“Down the rabbit hole” is one of my favorite phrases due to my love of Alice in Wonderland. I have a nice annotated copy you are welcome to borrow if you ever want to read it with some explanations in the margins.
Hey, Julie! Good to see you here! I will try to read if you rent it to me. But, I should say that I am not a reader (Maybe, I am a writer??) but I am pretty sure Jessy will really enjoy it.
Unless Julie is very miserly, I suspect she’ll “lend” it to you (not “rent” it to you).
That is what I meant. LEND. Sorry! Julie…
Pingback: Today is the 2nd anniversary of Leaning English from Friends (LEfF). | Learning English from Friends (LEfF)