Idioms

Sleight of Hand

โœ…: sleight of hand๐Ÿ›‘: slight of hand Meaning: manual dexterity; skillful deception To get this one right, remember “sleight” refers to deceit and cunning, whereas, “slight” means slim or lacking substance. Therefore, in this idiom we are commenting on the cunning way by which someone uses their hands, rather than their hand’s appearance.

Exact Revenge

โœ…: exact revenge๐Ÿ›‘: extract revenge Meaning: to inflict punishment for a wrong “Exact” is likely first recognized as an adjective (meaning it is completely correct), but here it is used as a verb (to demand or compel). Therefore, we aren’t trying to suggest it is a specific revenge, but one that is required.

Case in Point

โœ…: case in point๐Ÿ›‘: case and point Meaning: illustrative, relevant, or pertinent case In point used to mean “ready for action,” though the phrase has since been retired from common usage. While and makes sense in modern times, this is a case of a fossil phrase that still lingers in the form of this idiom.

“Deep-Seated”

โœ…: deep-seated ๐Ÿ›‘: deep-seeded  Meaning: strongly felt or believed and very difficult to alter or remove From the verb seat, as in “to situate,” the expression is believed to have originated as a descriptor for infections and diseases that were located deep within the body, and thus difficult to eradicate.

“Piqued My Interest”

โœ…: piqued my interest ๐Ÿ›‘: peaked my interest  Meaning: to make curious or spark intrigue Piqued = to excite through interest (HOWEVER, pique is a French word meaning, “to prick,” so it also means slightly angry or annoyed)Peaked = to reach the highest point of activityPeeked = to glance quickly