American English Idioms

Dollars and SenseIdioms About Money and FinancesTARGET IDIOM"bring home the bacon"Meaning: To earn money for a family or household; to be the main financial provider.Where it comes from: The phrase likely comes from country fairs, where a greased pig was a prize for winners of certain games — bringing the bacon home meant you had won something valuable. It became a common expression for earning a living in the early 20th century.Example: Both parents work full-time to bring home the bacon and

On the JobIdioms About Work and CareersTARGET IDIOM"learn the ropes"Meaning: To learn how to do a new job or task; to become familiar with a new situation.Where it comes from: This idiom comes from sailing ships. New sailors had to learn how to handle the many ropes that controlled the sails — a skill that took time and practice to master.Example: It took Sofia about a month to learn the ropes at her new job, but now she trains other new employees.DialogueFirst Day at the OfficeManager (Ms. Patel):