These Eleven Idioms All Make The Grade

by Dictionary Scoop

    A lot of slang terms and everyday words have surprisingly rich backstories tied to real historical events and practices. These expressions once described literal experiences before turning into figures of speech. What was their first, literal meaning?

1–Run-of-the-mill

   “Run-of-the-mill” these days means something ordinary or unremarkable, like in the sentence: The film on television last night was very run-of-the-mill.

   Originally, the phrase referred to ungraded lumber coming straight from a sawmill—nothing selected or special, just the standard output.

2–Having a chip on one’s shoulder

   To have a chip on one’s shoulder means acting defensively or aggressively, as if expecting to be mistreated, like in: He’s hard to deal with; he’s always had a chip on his shoulder about his lack of education.

   The phrase comes from the old practice of a man placing a wood chip on his shoulder, daring others to knock it off and start a fight.

3-Witch-hunt

   The idiom a witch-hunt refers to the unfair pursuit or persecution of people with unpopular views, often without proper evidence.

   It comes from real witch-hunts in history, especially in the U.S., where many were accused of witchcraft during periods of mass hysteria.

4–Having an axe to grind

   The idiom have an axe to grind means having a personal or selfish reason for getting involved in something, as in: I have no axe to grind, I just want to help.

   It likely comes from a story Benjamin Franklin told about a man who tricked someone into sharpening his axe under the pretense of curiosity.

5–Bark up the wrong tree

   The idiom bark up the wrong tree means to make a wrong assumption or take the wrong approach, like in: You’re barking up the wrong tree if you think you can influence the judge.

   It comes from raccoon hunting, where dogs sometimes mistakenly barked at the wrong tree, thinking the raccoon was there.

6–On the breadline

   The idiom on the breadline means living with barely enough money, as in: The widow and her children were living on the breadline.

   It dates back to the Great Depression, when the poorest queued for free food at soup kitchens run by groups like the Red Cross and Salvation Army.

7–Burning the midnight oil

   The idiom burn the midnight oil means to work late into the night, often while studying or finishing tasks.

   It comes from the time before electricity, when people used oil lamps for light. Though the lamps are long gone, the phrase is still used.

8–Make the Grade

   The phrase make the grade means to meet a required standard or succeed, though many assume it comes from school.

   But it originates from railroads, where powerful trains had to climb steep gradients—if they reached the top, they “made the grade.”

9–Show your true colors

   The idiom show your true colors means to reveal your real character or intentions, often after hiding them.

   It comes from pirate ships that sailed under false flags to trick their targets, only raising their true flags when ready to attack.

10–The time is ripe

   The idiom the time is ripe means the moment is ideal for action or change, drawing from the image of perfectly ripe fruit: sweet and ready, but quick to spoil if missed.

   Martin Luther King Jr. used this phrase in his 1968 speech Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution to stress the urgency of social action.

11–Basket case

   The term basket case began during World War I, referring to soldiers who lost all four limbs and had to be carried in baskets.

   Over time, it came to describe someone seen as helpless, overwhelmed, or mentally unstable, often due to extreme stress or anxiety.