| Idiom | On the Rocks |
|---|---|
| Example | I need a loan because my dog-walking business is on the rocks. |
| Meaning | financially ruined or wrecked; near disaster; finished |
| Origin | An unfortunate ship that has run aground and is on the rocks will eventually sink. In the 1800s the phrase "on the rocks" (meaning headed for disaster) was expanded to describe many areas of life, not just ships at sea. Note; There's also a totally different meaning for this saying. A person can order a drink "on the rocks." In this case, "rocks" mean ice cubes. |
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Ropes business summer ice cream store lot middle
Previous card: Hot seat caught mike eating candy bar weight
Up to card list: Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms