One hundred and twenty, not out

This is post number 120.  I have borrowed an expression from cricket for its title.  I have made a practice of reviewing my posts every fortieth post.  My previous review posts are The story so far… and Looking back

Make do… Expressions including the words make or do.

…and mend Make do and mend is a way of living when resources are scarce.   This post is about sewing and related subjects.

Out of my depth – Sport (Part 3) More sports including swimming.  (I really know very little about sport – hence the title of this post.)

Up, up… Mostly about up and upward movement, but some surprises too.

…and away!  Phrases including away or the concept of going away.  Up, up and away is a phrase and a line of a song.

You’re welcome!  Expressions concerned with hospitality.

Soldiering on – War (Part 1) This is the first part in a series about words connected with war.  Soldiering on has come to mean working hard or getting on with life in spite of difficulties.

Let’s make a start – Work (Part 3) Continuing to collect work-related phrases.

Marching orders – War (Part 2) Most of this post is about marching in the context of war.

It takes all sorts – People (Part 1) A collection of descriptions of types of people

In trouble and how others might respond.

Take aim – War (Part 3) More military terms including some where weapons are aimed.

Seasons – Weather (Part 3) Expressions about seasons and some folklore

Not my type – People (Part 2) Some of these characters are not pleasant

It’s criminal! Phrases connected with crime and dishonesty

Stage-struck!   A keen theatre-goer might be described as stage-struck.

Printed papers Books, newspapers and more vocabulary here.

Judge not… opinions and judgments

Playing fair a trip from fairness to excuses and beyond.

The Talk of the Town Expressions with town and some Cockney slang.

Lighting up words and phrase with connections to light.

Family – People (Part 3) Children and other people feature here

Crash, bang, wallop Noises

All Trades and None – People (Part 4)  Work and people’s characteristics.

Chance, perchance?  Words and phrases about gambling and what causes particular outcomes.

Success and failure Here I think the label is on the tin!

In sickness and in health Phrases and expressions about illnesses, accidents and traditional advice

Off… is the common word here.

…and on is here.  Off and on means sporadically or now and then.

Head first is about expressions with “head”.  A high-diver may intend to go head first, but for others it may be a painful mistake.

Heartening Is an equivalent post about heart.  Does your head rule your heart?

Mother knows best A collection of sayings, which were mostly used at one time or another by my Mum.  Do you use them?

Hot foot I was in a hurry to add this post about feet and legs.

Love story A short post about the language of love.

Hand in hand Shoulders, elbows, knuckles and fingers appear here.

Making history or keeping records.

Games children play From party games to role-play and more

Sit, walk, stand  Phrases connected to positions and actions.
Watchman Nee wrote a book called Sit, walk, stand which is about St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  If you have time the whole letter is short enough to read at a single sitting and contains a wealth of Christian teaching and some wonderful prayers.  If you have less time, click on the link to Ephesians 2.

Innards Blood, guts, skin – the parts which aren’t visible.  Innards means entrails.

I find it helpful to stop and look back from time to time.

Psalm 105:4-5 (NIV) Look to the Lord and his strength: seek his face always.  Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles and the judgments he pronounced.

Hot foot

He didn’t know whether he was on his head or his heels.
This is a saying which I associate with emotional turmoil.

Hard on the heels of means close behind.  If you walk too close to the person in front, you may step on the heel of their shoe!

Kicking one’s heels means at a loose end or with some time to kill.

Never to put a foot wrong is to have an unusually good record of sensible behaviour.

Pull the rug from under someone’s feet is a metaphor which describes refuting someone’s arguments for example.

Wrong-footed perhaps comes from marching where all the troops are in-step.  The metaphor describes putting another person in the wrong or embarrassing them. 

The boot is on the other foot.
This saying is about someone who has one set of standards for themselves and another for others. 

Foot in the door describes a pushy door-to-door salesman, who prevents the occupant from closing the door in his face, by putting his foot in the doorway.  It can also describe someone’s access to an opportunity or admittance to a workplace.

Set foot means step.

Time may be required to find your feet  in a new job, perhaps.

Getting onto your feet may mean standing up or getting established in life.

To fall on your feet is to let lucky.  Cats have a reputation for always landing on their feet.

Two left feet is what a clumsy dancer has.

Shake a leg means look lively.

Bandy legs or bow legs are not straight.

I mentioned put your best foot forward in an earlier post, which leads to today’s verse:

Micah 6:8 And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.