Proverbial challenge

From apples to inches: This game might teach you a thing or two!

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Wisdom comes in many shapes and sizes. Maybe it was a piece of advice a friend gave you, or that class at college you never forgot. Today, we have a game for you: wisdom in the shape of proverbs. How many do you know? Do you know what they mean? Read the first five sections to see the context, and try to guess the proverb. In the final sections, we’ll give out the answers. Ready for a challenge? Keep reading and see!

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We don’t only inherit our hair color; we also inherit behavior, gestures, and ways of talking, even. This proverb is used when those similarities are too big to hide! Good or bad, the attitude that you copy from a parent makes people go: "Well, you know, the apple doesn’t…"

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Who hasn’t done a small favor for a friend or family member? Our days are full of good deeds, and they make us proud, right? Well, the problem comes when a simple favor turns into a bigger ask, and then an even bigger one. That friendly neighbor who asked for a tool first, but then asked you to fix the whole fence, you gave them an inch… What’s next?

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Goodbyes are hard, there’s no denying that! But you know that some time apart from that special someone can really help you understand how you feel and, most times, you’ll learn you really love that person and wish they were right next to you again. How does absence make the heart feel?

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Picture yourself in your house, looking at the phone, hoping to hear it ring with the bad news you know is coming your way. But time passes by, the phone never rings, and so you start feeling calmer and calmer. You just wait, hope for the best, and remind yourself that no news is…

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Everyone hits rough patches. We’ve all been there, right? However, some people seem to strive right through them with nothing but determination. The confidence is high and there’s a certainty that if you want something badly enough, you’ll get it, no matter how hard it is to do so. After all, you know, where there’s a will…

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That’s right, and Newton knew it! (LOL) All jokes aside, the proverb is the best way to say we are pretty similar to the people who raised us. How could we not? As long as it refers to good traits, cheers to that!

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Oh, that neighbor! You can ask for a tool, but that’s that! This proverb highlights the difference between asking for a small favor and taking advantage of someone else! An inch is an inch, and that’s what you should ask for!

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Distance and absence are what really show us how we feel about people. It’s not necessarily fair, but time apart can make feelings grow stronger. In the end, real connections are what matter, regardless of the distance!

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Stop waiting for the phone to ring. If it doesn’t, you know it’s because there’s nothing to say. And sometimes, that’s the best news you can get! Great proverb to help us deal with anxiety today, huh?

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You could use the word "resilient," or you can put this great proverb to use! In any case, if you have it in you, if you really want it, you’ll find a solution to your problems!

Healthy talk

How many apples do you eat a day? 10 health idioms everyone should know

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Do you keep up with the latest health news? What daily habit do you think is your healthiest, and which one do you feel you should try to change? Health is an important issue for everyone, and our language is proof of that! English offers us many health-related idioms with very interesting origins. Some of them will give you valuable tips, others will teach you a lesson, and others will make you laugh out loud. If you want to discover the meaning and roots of 10 popular health idioms, read on!

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Let's start with a classic. You were probably just a child the first time you heard that "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." We have nothing against doctors; it's just that we'd rather not have to visit their office!

While it's not entirely true that eating an apple keeps you from getting sick, this idiom highlights the importance of maintaining a balanced and healthy diet.

This popular saying is believed to have originated in Wales in the 19th century. The earliest surviving written version is from 1866 and reads, "Eat an apple on going to bed, and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread." It became popular in our country during the 20th century, and it changed its format several times until it reached the current version.

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Do you have a slight headache? Do you feel like you need some rest? Is your stomach giving you a hard time? If you want to express that you're not feeling well, you can say you're "under the weather."

This expression, so famous today, is believed to have originated among sailors. When someone felt seasick or affected by the weather conditions, this phrase was used. It first appeared in written records in the 19th century and became more and more popular over time.

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Here's a truth everyone should hear: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Hand in hand with the apple that keeps the doctor away, this idiom reminds you how important it is to take care of your body and mind. The use of "ounce" and "pound" emphasizes the idea that small preventive steps can help you avoid big problems in the future. You know, it's better to stop ailments before they start, so you don't have to deal with them later. The expression is often used in different contexts and situations beyond health.

Did you know that this phrase is attributed to Benjamin Franklin? That's right! The Founding Father included it in his "Poor Richard's Almanack" of 1736.

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If a friend tells you they are "in the pink," you should celebrate! This idiom is used to indicate that someone is in excellent health. But what does wellness have to do with the color pink? Well, there are a couple of theories about this expression's origins.

The first indicates that it dates back to the 1500s when the color pink was used to describe or represent perfection. Other scholars claim the idiom is the result of a modification of the word "pinnacle," indicating that something or someone was at the top or in the best possible situation.

It was not until the 17th century that the idiom began to be especially linked to a person's state of health.

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Do you remember when you were very young and took a pill for the first time? Hard to swallow, right? Some medications are more "swallowable" than others, and the tough ones can be a problem.

In this popular idiom, the pill serves as a metaphor to represent a big problem or a difficult truth to accept. But the thing is, even if some medicines don't taste good or some pills are too big to swallow, we must take them to make the pain go away or help us heal. What do you think?

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An idiom often used in fiction, especially when dealing with villains, is "A taste of your own medicine." While it's not limited to the medical field and is used in different contexts every day, the expression actually originates from a story about a doctor.

We're talking about the Quack Doctor, one of Aesop's fables. In the story, a swindler deceives people into believing he has a cure for every illness. Later, this "doctor" is tricked into tasting his own fake medicine, which ends up causing him harm.

This popular expression has survived to this day and often indicates that someone received the same treatment they gave, usually negative. Some medications may taste bad, but when it's about your own medicine, it's definitely a hard pill to swallow!

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If your doctor says you have a "clean bill of health," congratulations! It's time to celebrate, as the expression implies that something or someone is in excellent condition, whether it's about a person's health, a computer's performance, or a company's accounts. In other words, people say it when things (or our bodies) are working optimally, so there's no reason to worry.

The idiom is believed to have originated in shipping during the 17th century. The captain of a ship was often required to provide a health certificate indicating that the entire crew was free from infectious diseases. That was commonly known as a "bill of health."

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The '70s and '80s were golden years for many of us, and during that time, there was a particular expression that took on a lot of popularity.

Okay, it seems that pills take up a lot of space in this article. But this one is not hard to swallow; in fact, it's quite the opposite: a "chill pill!" While not real medicine, if someone tells you to take the famous chill pill, it doesn't mean you should run to the pharmacy; they're suggesting that maybe it's time to take a deep breath and focus on nice things.

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The expression "fit as a fiddle" is used to describe someone in excellent shape or health, but the meaning of this phrase was not always the same.

From the beautiful sound they produce to their detailed and fine design, violins, also called fiddles, are symbols of elegance and sophistication. The saying dates back to 17th-century British English, when "fit" meant something closer to "suitable," "proper," or "seemly." Over time, both the term "fit" and the whole expression slightly changed their meaning to the one we know today, associated with athletic and healthy people.

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Anyone who has seen or been around a horse will understand what this phrase refers to. Strong, muscular, fast, tough, and smart, horses have always been considered symbols of health and endurance.

"Healthy as a horse" means that someone is fit and full of energy. A person described this way not only possesses good health but also has a vigorous and resistant appearance.

While the precise origin of the expression isn't known, it's believed to have come into use in the 19th century or even earlier, as horses have been associated with different types of endurance work since ancient times.