Having previously written posts about baking, cooking and dancing related idioms to tie in with popular TV shows, it seems only right to turn to pottery as we approach the final of this year’s The Great Pottery Throw Down.
So, let’s crack on to discover which well-known pottery phrases I unearthed…
What a lot of pots
A pot (or crock) of gold = a large amount of money that someone hopes to get in the future
A watched pot never boils = the feeling that time seems to go slower when you’re anxiously waiting for something to happen
Fusspot = a person who fusses unnecessarily
Go potty = become irrational or crazy; become very excited or enthusiastic (about something)
Go to pot = be ruined; deteriorate through neglect
In the melting pot = likely to change; in the process of changing
Take potluck = eat whatever food has been prepared or is available
The pot calling the kettle black = someone making criticisms about someone else which could equally well apply to themselves
China calling
Bowl over = surprise someone greatly; astound; amaze
Feet of clay = a weakness perceived in someone held in high regard
Jug-eared = having ears that stick out markedly, resembling the handles of a jug
Like a bull in a china shop = behaving recklessly and clumsily in a place or situation where you’re likely to cause damage or injury
My old china (plate) = Cockney rhyming slang for ‘mate’
Not for all the tea in China = not at any price
On the tiles = out having a wild or enjoyable time, not returning home until late
The messy part
Asleep at the wheel = not attentive or alert; inactive
Fifth wheel = a superfluous or unnecessary person or thing
Glaze over = become glassy; lose clear vision (in reference to eyes)
Give someone the slip = evade or escape from someone
Let something slip = reveal something inadvertently in the course of conversation; fail to take advantage of an opportunity
Let something slip through one’s fingers = lose hold or possession of something; miss the opportunity of gaining something
Put a spin (on something) = twist or report a story to one’s advantage
Reinvent the wheel = waste time or effort in creating something that already exists or doing something that’s already been done
Slip up = make a blunder or mistake; fall over
The wheel has come full circle = being back at the point of departure
Throw down the gauntlet = issue a challenge to someone
Finishing touches
Cracked up to be = asserted to be (generally used in negative contexts to indicate that someone or something has been described too favourably)
Crackpot = crazy person; crank
Fire away = begin talking or asking questions
Get cracking = (start to) act quickly and energetically
Paper over the cracks = disguise problems or divisions rather than trying to solve them
Play with fire = take foolish risks
Scratch the surface = deal with a matter very superficially
I hope you’ve enjoyed this mixed bag of pottery phrases, idioms and sayings. Do let me know if I’ve missed any obvious ones and I’ll be glad to add them.
To finish off, here’s an old pottery quotation that caught my eye:
A vessel is formed from a lump of clay with care, however, it is the empty space within the vessel that makes it useful. – Laozi
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