Wednesday, January 28, 2015

wEIRD wORD wEDNESDAY


IDIOMS:  Nothing to Sneeze At

Example:  He won the silver medal, not the gold.  That's nothing to sneeze at.

Meaning: Not small or unimportant; something to be taken seriously.

Origin: In the early 1800s people were already using this saying.  Perhaps it comes from the idea of turning your nose up at something or someone to express scorn or contempt.  Since sneezes come from your nose, something that's "not to be sneezed at" should be treated as important and worthy.


Source: Scholastic dictionary of idioms: over 600 sayings, phrases and expressions / Marvin Terban. 1996.





No comments:

Post a Comment