介绍:
1) Story holds water
-Damien's alibi that he was nowhere near the crime scene hold's water
-Simon's explanation that his homework was eaten by his dog hold's water
-Roger's story that he did not cheat on his wife and that he was at a business trip does not hold water
Definition: a questionable story turns out to be true
Etymology:
In Ancient Rome, there were nuns who were supposed to be virgins like modern day nuns. One nun was accused of having sex. She said she was innocent. The accused nun took a wooden sieve which were very leaky. She declared that if she was guilty the water would fall out. She filled the sieve at the river and walked to the temple, and not a single drop fell. That coined the term "story holds water
2) Letting off steam
-Sophie let off steam from work by playing with her cat
-Craig let off steam from school by batting balls in the batting cage
-Marco let off steam from being dumped by his girlfriend by boxing with his friend.
Definition: relieving anxiety or anger
Etymology:
From early steamships that were introduced to America in 1803. They were prone to exploding unless steam was released. So it came to mean to relieve stress
3) Black sheep
-Paul's alcoholism made him the black sheep in his family
-Alvin's schizophrenic condition made him the families black sheep.
-Tiffany's liberal views made her the black sheep in a family of conservatives.
Definition: family's embarrassment
Etymology:
Derived from how shepherds liked white sheep because you could dye the wool any color. However, black wool was less valuable. Eventually this grew to mean a person of shame in the family.
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