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25 Popular Sayings and What They Really Mean

By The Web, ThinkingNo Comments

I love a good saying. In fact, I’ve made up a few of my own. My made up ones include:

  • What’s it made out of, Gold? – Meaning that something was really expensive to buy.
  • What a liberty! (I know Catherine Tate’s Nan character says this, but I was saying it before the TV show.) – Meaning how rude.
  • I can’t believe you’d even think that, let alone say it. – Mock shock at someone’s comment.

But most people, myself included, use well known popular sayings. Here are 25 popular saying with what they really mean:

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Something is easy or very easy to do.

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What you do carries more weight than what you say you’ll do.

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Talks a lot, usually aggressively, but lacks the influence or power to do anything. Or doesn’t follow through with what they say they’re going to do.

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Another day of work, another day earning pay. Usually said when people are fed up of going to work or are more generally tired.

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My mum says this one a lot to me. It means that you are loved and that you bring happiness or joy into someone’s life.

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I use this phrase whenever a woman flirts with me. But its more common use is to say that someone is trying the wrong approach or solution to a problem.

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This saying warns of the dangers of asking too many questions or investigating something in too much detail.

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Means get to the point.

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Whatever you’re waiting for happen probably wont. At least in the opinion of the person who says the phrase.

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He’s got a bad attitude.

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Lacks sensitivity. Is clumsy in words or actions. I always think of the Tasmanian devil swirling around in a glassware shop when I think of or say this phrase.

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This comes from the Bible in tale of the Good Samaritan. Basically means that he’s kind and compassionate.

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Stop. Wait. Get more information before you proceed.

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Means that you don’t want to tell them information that will disappoint them and make them less happy. There is a recognition in this saying that they will have to be told, just that you don’t want to be the one to do it. There’s a similar saying that means the same: I don’t want to rain/piss on their parade.

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I’m really happy about something.

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It was very expensive.

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It’s raining heavily outside.

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I’ve had some sex.

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There’s no point to feeling upset about something that has happened and can’t be changed.

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This actually comes from the film Jerry Maguire. Here’s the clip:

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People use it when they want evidence that something is worth the asking price.

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Having a decision to make with two equally bad choices.

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Those that are early risers see opportunities first and therefore have the biggest chance of success.

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Something that everyone in the room knows, but it is considered impolite to mention or talk about. I personally thrive on highlighting the elephant in the room using humour to defuse any tension.

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You can advise someone to do something, but you cannot make them do it.

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Someone old can’t learn something new. Someone stuck in a routine can’t have it changed. I disagree with the sentiment and meaning of this phrase. People can change their lives and anything in their lives at any time.

Blog soon,

Antony

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Blogs of Interest Links Updated

By Technology, The WebNo Comments

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Copyright © Antony Simpson, 2019.

I have updated the Blogs of Interest and Websites I Browse sections on the sidebar. This was to remove links to websites that are either offline or websites that haven’t been updated in so long that they may as well be offline.

There’s a question here about why bloggers stop. But I’ll leave that question for another time, maybe when I have the energy to consider the question and write a post.

Take care,

Antony

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Some Mental Health Advice to Madonna After Her Disastrous Performance at Eurovision 2019

By Health, Music & Radio, The Web, ThinkingNo Comments

Madonna recently performed at the Eurovision Song Contest. Here’s a video of her performance:

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Edit: 20/05/19, 08:45 – I had to change the video as the user had removed the original. There was a Vevo video, uploaded to Madonna’s official YouTube channel however it appeared to have been altered to make her performance sound better than it was during the original broadcast. So I went for this video that is more reflective of the original performance.

Madonna has had criticism since, with many calling it a disastrous and possibly career ending performance. People have described her voice as flat or off key, her outfit and the Christian heavy iconography controversial and unappealing.

I must admit that cringed watching it. But I realised something from it: We’re all human. Even Madonna.

We’ve all had times when things have gone disastrously wrong for us. I don’t know much about Madonna to be honest, but I once did see an interview where she described herself as a perfectionist. So I imagine that Madonna is currently in a mental state of self-denial, or one of rumination with her critical inner voice in over drive.

So here’s some mental health advice to Madonna, from my book Mental Health Wisdom:

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Rumination is thinking the same thoughts or replaying memories again, again and again in your mind. Nothing good ever comes from it. It’s like having a song that you hate on full ear-bleeding volume and stuck on repeat. Rumination makes you feel like you are losing your mind.

When it comes to replaying memories, they are usually memories that are emotionally traumatic. Our memory of events is never accurate and always has a negative bias. What you need to remember if you find yourself ruminating is that the event has happened. It’s in the past. It’s gone. You can’t change what’s happened, no matter how many times you replay the video. It’s time to accept what’s happened, how it made you feel, so that you can let it go and move on.

Rumination is a waste of time, energy and effort. Rumination and the Critical Inner Voice go together. The critical inner voice is that voice inside your head that says things like:

  • You’re not good enough.
  • You don’t know what you’re doing.
  • Just who do you think you are?
  • You’re worthless.
  • You screw everything up. You are a screw up.
  • Nobody cares about you.

The critical inner voice is abusive and says things that we wouldn’t dream of saying to our worst enemy. It never says anything useful, nice, good or kind. It tends to get louder and louder if we allow it to. Managing the critical inner voice starts with the choice not to put up with the things it says to you.

I manage my critical inner voice in two main ways. First by imagining a volume control knob. I imagine it being turned down and hear the voice go quieter and quieter until it is silent. Second, I repeat positive affirmations that I know are true. I say things to myself like:

  • I am good at my job. I have a lot of specialist knowledge and thirteen years of clinical experience.
  • I offer a lot to people around me, including humour, compassion and kindness.
  • People value my opinion. I know this because I am often asked for it by others.
  • I am doing the best that I can and learn every day.

Having difficulty coming up with positive affirmations about yourself that are true? Ask people who are close to you: What is positive about me? What do you like about me? Others often see things that we don’t spot in ourselves.

(From: Mental Health Wisdom by Antony Simpson, 2019, pages 97-99.)

So Madonna try not to be too hard on yourself. Learn from the performance, then let it go.

Write soon,

Antony

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