WORDS WORKS

IDIOMS

DON'T HAVE  A COW , MAN!

YOU'RE WALKING TO ALGEBRA CLASS ONE DAY, AND A FRIEND INTRODUCE YOU TO MICHEL, A NEWLY ARRIVED FRENCH FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT. HE SPEAKS SOME ENGLISH, BUT HE STILL HAS A LOT TO LEARN .AS YOU'RE TALKING , YOU SUDDENLY REALIZE YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE FOR CLASS.''YIKES! MICHEL, I GOTTA GO.IF I'M LATE FOR CLASS AGAIN, MR.KIM WILL HAVE A COW!''YOU EXPECT ALAUGH FROM UR NEW FRIEND, BUT INSTEAD MICHEL GIVES U A PUZZLE LOOK.WHY?

WELL, YOU USED AN IDIOM, A PHRASE WHOSE REAL MEANING CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD BY PUTTING TOGETHER THE MEANINGS OF THE INDIVIDUAL WORDS THAT MAKE UP THE PHRASE .SOME OF MOST COLOURFUL IDIOMS HAVE FASCINATING HISTORIES.'EAT HUMBLE PIE MEANS'TO BE FORCED TO ADMIT A MISTAKE OR TO ACCEPT INSULT OR SHAME.IN MEDIEVAL ENGLAND, THE MASTER OF THE MANOR WAS THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO HUNT GAME .WHEN HE SHOT A DEER , HE KEPT THE MEAT AND GAVE THE INNARDS , OR UMBLES , TO HIS SERVANTS, WHO WOULD MAKE PIES FOR THEM . EAT HUMBLE PIE MEANT BEING FORCED TO ACCEPT THE LEAST DESIRABLE FOOD..