The expression meant that the person who cannot hold a candle to you is not fit even to be your servant.

VOA: special.2011.05.29

But beans are used to describe something of very little value in the expression, not worth a hill of beans.

VOA: special.2010.01.31

The expression probably comes from the physical act of turning your back toward someone, instead of speaking to him face-to-face.

VOA: special.2009.12.13

The expression fireworks gets its meaning from the fireworks that people shoot into the sky when they are celebrating a great event.

VOA: special.2010.07.04

I did not know she was married!" Language expert Webb Garrison tells an interesting story about the expression.

VOA: special.2010.02.14

The words hot potato,for example, give you no idea at all to the meaning of the expression,hot potato.

VOA: special.2009.12.06

The expression "fireworks" gets its meaning from the fireworks that people shoot into the sky when they are celebrating a great event.

VOA: special.2009.07.05

The expression probably began because the jungle is filled with wild animals and unknown dangers that threaten people.

VOA: special.2010.05.16

The expression was first used in the southern part of the United States to describe the use of force to win an election.

VOA: special.2009.02.15

The expression may be used to describe a politician's last campaign, his final attempt to win the cheers and votes of the people.

VOA: special.2010.04.11

The "six" in the expression comes from the six feet that make up a fathom which is a little less than two meters.

VOA: special.2009.05.24

The phrase to be left holding the bag is as widely used as the expression to let the cat out of the bag.

VOA: special.2009.01.25

But in the nineteen sixties, the expression rolling stone became famous in the world of rock-and-roll music.

VOA: special.2010.10.17

The expression "to bulldoze" also means to make someone helpless, usually by using power or threatening violence.

VOA: special.2009.02.15