The Bible

Everyday English phrases that came straight from scripture.

Genesis 1–4: the making of the world, Eden, and the first family.

• forbidden fruit IDIOM Illicit pleasure.
• my brother's keeper IDIOM Responsible for the welfare of another person — most often used when denying that responsibility.
• the mark of Cain IDIOM A visible stigma that marks someone out as guilty or disgraced.
• let there be light IDIOM A phrase marking the start of something new, or a moment of sudden clarity.
• by the sweat of your brow IDIOM Through hard physical labour and personal effort.
• fig-leaf WORD A small or flimsy thing used to hide something embarrassing or shameful.

Israel's escape from Egypt and the long march to Canaan.

• the promised land IDIOM A long-awaited goal or destination that promises freedom, reward, or a better life.
• manna from heaven IDIOM An unexpected benefit or help that arrives just when it is needed most.
• let my people go IDIOM A demand for the freedom of an oppressed group from those who hold power over them.
• a land flowing with milk and honey IDIOM A place of great abundance, comfort, and prosperity.
• scapegoat WORD a person or group that people blame for something bad, even if it is not their fault. You use this when someone else is punished to make a problem go away.
• olive-branch WORD A sign or offer of peace, reconciliation, or goodwill.

The rise and fall of kings and the warnings of the prophets.

• David and Goliath IDIOM A contest in which a much weaker underdog faces a far stronger opponent.
• the writing on the wall IDIOM A clear sign that something, especially failure or disaster, is on its way.
• feet of clay IDIOM In someone apparently strong and without failings, a hidden weakness which could lead to downfall.
• a drop in the bucket IDIOM A quantity so small it is negligible next to what is actually needed.
• a leopard cannot change its spots IDIOM People rarely change their fundamental nature, however much they may seem to.
• how the mighty have fallen IDIOM A remark on the dramatic downfall of someone once powerful or admired.
• a still small voice IDIOM A quiet inner prompting of conscience or intuition.
• sackcloth and ashes IDIOM A public display of deep grief, mourning, or remorse.
• a voice crying in the wilderness IDIOM A lone warning or opinion that goes unheeded by everyone around it.
• a balm in Gilead IDIOM A source of comfort, healing, or consolation for suffering.

Job, Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes on how to live.

• nothing new under the sun IDIOM Human affairs endlessly repeat; what seems novel has all happened before.
• the patience of Job IDIOM Extraordinary endurance and calm in the face of prolonged suffering.
• by the skin of your teeth IDIOM Just barely
• pride comes before a fall IDIOM Arrogance and overconfidence tend to precede a downfall.
• a fly in the ointment IDIOM A small flaw or problem that spoils something otherwise good.
• my cup runneth over IDIOM A feeling of having blessings or good fortune in overwhelming abundance.
• the valley of the shadow of death IDIOM A time or place of extreme danger, fear, or hardship.
• three score and ten IDIOM Seventy, being the number of years in a full lifetime of traditionally-expected duration.
• spare the rod IDIOM The idea that failing to discipline a child will spoil them.
• a two-edged sword IDIOM Something that has both beneficial and harmful consequences.

The Gospels and the Sermon on the Mount.

• the salt of the earth IDIOM Good, honest, dependable people who lack pretension.
• a wolf in sheep's clothing IDIOM A dangerous or hostile person who hides behind a harmless, friendly appearance.
• cast the first stone IDIOM To act self-righteously in accusing another person, believing oneself to be blameless.
• go the extra mile IDIOM To make an extra effort; to do a particularly good job.
• turn the other cheek IDIOM To accept punishment or injury without retaliating.
• the blind leading the blind IDIOM A situation in which someone incompetent is guiding others who are equally incompetent.
• the eye of a needle IDIOM A standard for something so difficult it is all but impossible to pass or achieve.
• the meek shall inherit the earth IDIOM The gentle and humble will ultimately prevail over the powerful and arrogant.
• a house divided IDIOM A group weakened by internal conflict and unable to survive its own disunity.
• a millstone around your neck IDIOM A heavy, inescapable burden or responsibility that drags you down.
• O ye of little faith IDIOM A gently mocking rebuke to someone who doubts or lacks confidence.
• faith can move mountains IDIOM Strong belief and conviction can accomplish seemingly impossible things.
• man shall not live by bread alone IDIOM People need more than material things; spiritual or emotional nourishment matters too.
• the straight and narrow IDIOM A morally correct and disciplined way of living.

The short stories Jesus told to make a point.

• good Samaritan IDIOM A person who helps someone in distress out of their own good nature.
• the prodigal son IDIOM Someone who returns, chastened and repentant, after a period of reckless or wasteful living.
• the eleventh hour IDIOM The very last possible moment before a deadline or a decisive event.
• separate the wheat from the chaff IDIOM To select only that which is of value.
• a house built on sand IDIOM A plan or venture with no solid foundation, liable to collapse under pressure.
• the widow's mite IDIOM A small gift that represents a great sacrifice for the person who gives it.
• a good and faithful servant IDIOM Someone praised for loyal, diligent, and dependable service.
• bury your talents IDIOM To waste your natural abilities by failing to use or develop them.
• kill the fatted calf IDIOM To begin a festive celebration and rejoice for someone's long-awaited return.
• fall by the wayside IDIOM To fail to be completed, particularly for lack of interest; to be left out, to suffer from neglect.

The betrayal, trial and crucifixion.

• wash your hands of it IDIOM To publicly refuse any further responsibility for something or someone.
• thirty pieces of silver IDIOM A contemptible price paid or accepted for an act of betrayal.
• doubting Thomas IDIOM One who requires proof before believing.
• a cross to bear IDIOM A heavy, ongoing personal burden or difficulty that one must carry.
• a Judas kiss IDIOM An act of betrayal disguised as friendship or affection.
• a crown of thorns IDIOM An honour or position that brings suffering rather than glory.
• give up the ghost IDIOM To cease clinging to life; to die.
• sweat blood IDIOM To work with extreme, agonising effort or to suffer intense anguish over something.
• money changers in the temple IDIOM The corruption of something sacred or high-minded by commercial greed.

Acts and the letters of Paul to the first churches.

• reap what you sow IDIOM Your actions produce their own inevitable consequences, good or bad.
• the root of all evil IDIOM The underlying source of much wrongdoing — most often applied to money.
• fight the good fight IDIOM To persevere with determination in a worthy and difficult struggle.
• a thorn in the side IDIOM A persistent source of irritation, trouble, or difficulty.
• road to Damascus IDIOM An important point in someone's life where a great change, or reversal, of ideas or beliefs occurs.
• the wages of sin IDIOM The inevitable painful consequences of wrongdoing.
• in the twinkling of an eye IDIOM In an instant; extremely quickly.
• the powers that be IDIOM The people or institutions holding authority, especially remote or unnamed ones.
• a labor of love IDIOM Work done for the joy of it or out of devotion, rather than for money or reward.
• the quick and the dead IDIOM The living and the dead; everyone, without exception.
• the letter and the spirit of the law IDIOM The distinction between a rule's exact wording and its underlying intention.

Genesis after Eden: Noah and the flood, Babel, Sodom, and the patriarchs.

• two by two IDIOM In pairs, one alongside another.
• Tower of Babel IDIOM A grand, over-ambitious project that collapses into confusion and a breakdown in communication.
• Sodom and Gomorrah IDIOM A place or scene of extreme wickedness, vice, and moral ruin.
• a pillar of salt IDIOM The fate of someone who cannot stop looking back at the past instead of moving forward.
• Jacob's ladder IDIOM A link between the earthly and the heavenly, or by extension a long, steep climb.
• a coat of many colors IDIOM A conspicuous mark of favouritism that stirs up envy in others.
• old as Methuselah IDIOM Extremely old; ancient.
• forty days and forty nights IDIOM A long, unbroken period of trial, hardship, or waiting.

End-times and final-judgment imagery, from the Gospels to Revelation.

• Alpha and Omega IDIOM The beginning and the end; the most essential or all-encompassing element of something.
• a bottomless pit IDIOM Something that consumes endlessly and can never be filled or satisfied.
• fire-and-brimstone WORD Threats of punishment or damnation, especially in stern moralising or preaching.
• separate the sheep from the goats IDIOM To distinguish the worthy or capable from the unworthy or inadequate.
• gnashing of teeth IDIOM Extreme distress, frustration, or anguished complaining.
• cast into outer darkness IDIOM To be completely excluded, banished, or shut out from a group or from favour.