Wisdom is a valued trait that encompasses knowledge, experience, and good judgment. Using expressions related to wisdom can enhance your communication and convey deeper understanding. Here are 20 expressions that reflect the essence of wisdom.
1. Bite the bullet
Meaning: Face difficulty bravely.
Example: She decided to bite the bullet and apologize.
2. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Work late into the night.
Example: He burned the midnight oil to finish the project.
3. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: Be exactly right.
Example: Her analysis hit the nail on the head.
4. Keep your chin up
Meaning: Stay positive.
Example: Despite the setbacks, he kept his chin up.
5. Know the ropes
Meaning: Be experienced.
Example: She knows the ropes in this industry.
6. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: Reveal a secret.
Example: He let the cat out of the bag accidentally.
7. Look before you leap
Meaning: Think before acting.
Example: You should look before you leap in investments.
8. Play it by ear
Meaning: Act without planning.
Example: We’ll play it by ear and adjust as needed.
9. Pull the wool over someone’s eyes
Meaning: Deceive someone.
Example: They tried to pull the wool over his eyes.
10. Read between the lines
Meaning: Understand the hidden meaning.
Example: She read between the lines of his message.
11. Speak of the devil
Meaning: The person appears when mentioned.
Example: Speak of the devil, here he comes!
12. Steal someone’s thunder
Meaning: Take credit for another’s idea.
Example: He stole her thunder during the meeting.
13. Take it with a grain of salt
Meaning: Be skeptical.
Example: Take his advice with a grain of salt.
14. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your decision.
Example: Now, the ball is in your court to decide.
15. The writing on the wall
Meaning: Obvious impending doom.
Example: The writing on the wall was clear to everyone.
16. Throw in the towel
Meaning: Give up.
Example: He decided to throw in the towel after many attempts.
17. Turn a blind eye
Meaning: Ignore something.
Example: She turned a blind eye to his mistakes.
18. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling ill.
Example: He’s feeling under the weather today.
19. Water under the bridge
Meaning: Past events forgotten.
Example: Their argument is water under the bridge now.
20. You can’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Appearances can be deceiving.
Example: You can’t judge a book by its cover in this case.
