Political Idioms

It's Election Day in the U.S. and the presidential candidates have been campaigning hard these last few weeks. We've been hearing a lot of idioms on television and the radio, in the presidential speeches, and in conversations with our friends and coworkers. Let's take a look at a few of them today.

-to put your foot in your mouth: to say something that you regret because it was embarrassing, insulting, or hurtful

Ex: “I really put my foot in my mouth when I said that.”


-to throw your hat in the ring: to officially enter a contest

Ex: “I would really like the chance to throw my hat in the ring with those candidates!”


-the buck stops here: said by someone who is responsible for making decisions and who will be blamed if things go wrong

Ex: “Although I appreciate your advice, the buck stops here and I need to do what I think is right.”


-you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch: you should not depend on something before it happens

Ex: “I’m feeling really confident, but I know I shouldn’t count my chickens before they hatch.”


-to be stuck between a rock and a hard place: to be in a very difficult situation or having to make a very difficult decision

Ex: “This is awful…I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to figure out what to do.”


-to make a mountain out of a molehill: to make a small problem seem like a much bigger problem

Ex: “I can’t stand it when these protestors try to make a mountain out of a molehill.”

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Published on November 8, 2016

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