Idioms are words, phrases or expressions not intended to be taken literally. Commonly used in modern day, everyday language, it’s not surprising to see idioms included in books and other publications during the last century. However, some idioms can even be traced back to Roman Times.

Listed below are 5 idioms; each with an explanation of their meaning, origin, and a published example.

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Dragons have always been mythical figures, capturing the imaginations of cultures all around the world. Traditionally they combined the powers of all four elements, in their ability to fly (air), breathe fire (fire), swim (water) and live in caves or underground (earth). Western dragons appear in a number of early literary classics for noble heroes to overcome.

According to myth, the beautiful creatures of the ocean called Mermaids often took human lovers, and the male offspring that came of these unions became Otherworldly children, who would return to the ocean as Mermen.

You may have wondered why little is mentioned of Mermen, compared to Mermaids. Perhaps as the sailors of the past were always men, away from other women for long periods of time, a beautiful woman would be more pleasing to their eyes, than a handsome man.