Sayings associated with fire, water and light – some notes on C
cast/shed/throw light on sth – provide an explanation or information which makes a matter easier to understand
"He said he was going away – can you shed any light on that?"
a drop in the ocean – a very small amount considering what is needed or expected
"I gave her a few pounds to help with her study fees, but it was a drop in the ocean, she’ll have to find more money somehow."
mouth-watering – adjective – very tempting (of an offer, suggestion, money or prospects)
Eg He’s offered her a really mouth-watering job in Japan.
go up in smoke – to burn to the ground, or fail to produce the intended, hoped-for, desired or planned result
Eg "We spent hours producing the accounts the auditors were after, and then they all went missing – all that hard work (gone) up in smoke!"
watertight – closely sealed, fastened or fitted so as to prevent the passage of water; (of an argument or account) indisputable, wholly convincing, without flaws, unquestionable
flaming INFORMAL adjective – (of an argument or disagreement) very angry
a flaming row – a very angry argument in which people shout at each other
Paul and Chris were in the middle of a flaming row / argument about how much money she spends.
bring or come to light – make or become widely known or evident
Some new evidence has come to light which may well prove the man’s innocence.
wet behind the ears – INFORMAL – immature, lacking experience
I don’t see why we should take advice from some young director who’s wet behind the ears.
set light to sth / set sth alight – cause something to start burning
The cushion caught fire and set light to the sofa / and set the sofa alight.
waterproof – able to protect from rain, impervious to water
"Put / Stick that in your pipe and smoke it!" OLD-FASHIONED OR HUMOROUS – a rude way of telling someone that they must accept what you have just said, even if they do not like it
Eg – "My husband wasn’t happy about my going to London with my sister, but I just told him to put it in his pipe and smoke it." Warning – be careful, it is highly inadvisable to say this very often!
wet – INFORMAL adjective – (of a person or his /her opinions or ideas) feeble, not robust, over-liberal