15 English Sayings That Make No Sense

There are some phrases that we use in everyday life that are truly bizarre. When we actually think about their meanings, they don’t make sense at all. We’re going to look at some famous phrases that appear nonsensical at first glance.

Sentences that don’t make sense

It’s raining cats and dogs

Every language has its own unique expression to say there’s a heavy downpour. In English, we say, “It’s raining cats and dogs.” There are many theories about the origins of this phrase, but the most common is that animals used to live in the rafters of homes in Britain. When it rained so much it went through the thatched roofs, pets would either fall or run down to safety, resulting in this now widely-used expression.

Don’t forget your umbrella, it’s raining cats and dogs!

Break a leg

The most popular saying in theaters and among the performing arts community is “Break a leg!” While it would be horrible to break any bone in your body, particularly on stage in front of a large audience, this saying isn’t used to wish harm on somebody. It’s actually the opposite. It means “good luck.”

They told each other to break a leg before the opening act.

Teach your Grandmother to suck eggs

There are a lot of things that young people may teach their grandparents; how to use a smartphone, how to shop online, or how to record their favorite TV shows. But have you ever heard about anyone teaching their grandmother to suck eggs? This very odd phrase refers to a time when sucking raw eggs out of their shell was commonplace. Grandmothers were experienced at this and didn’t need to be shown how it was done. That led to this expression, meaning to teach a person something that they already know, in particular someone who is more experienced than you.

I can give you some tips, but I don’t want to teach my grandmother how to suck eggs.

Rub someone the wrong way

If a person rubs you, or in British English, rubs you up the wrong way, then that doesn’t mean they have manhandled you. It doesn’t indicate any form of physical touch at all. Instead, it means that somebody is annoying you unintentionally or in a way that is hard to describe.

He rubbed me the wrong way when we first met, but we’re friends now.

Animal phrases that make no sense

Not my circus, not my monkeys

You don’t have a circus, and you certainly don’t have any monkeys, so what on earth are you talking about? This expression means something is out of your control or that you don’t want to get involved. Similarly, you could say, “it’s not my problem.”

He asked me to bail him out, but it’s not my circus, not my monkeys.

Cat got your tongue?

You will likely have heard this quote as a question. In times gone by, it meant that somebody was afraid to speak, but nowadays, it is used when somebody is inexplicably quiet. The full sentence, “has the cat got your tongue?”  is usually shortened to “cat got your tongue?”.

You’re strangely quiet this morning, cat got your tongue?

When pigs fly

This humorous saying is an exaggerated way of dismissing unlikely possibilities or unrealistic ideas. Pigs are unlikely ever to fly as they do not have wings, so this phrase is used to express extreme skepticism or the belief that something is highly improbable or impossible.

He asked me to do his laundry, so I said sure when pigs fly.

Bark up the wrong tree

This idiom has a very logical and literal meaning; when a hunting dog chases an animal, it runs up a tree, but the dog stays at the bottom of a different tree and is, therefore, barking up the wrong tree. The sentence is now used figuratively when people direct their efforts or accusations toward the wrong person or thing or go about something in the wrong way. It’s a way of saying that someone is pursuing a pointless or misguided endeavor.

The prime suspect has an alibi, so the police have been barking up the wrong tree all this time.

Weird quotes that make no sense

The whole nine yards

An American saying that is widely used but nonsensical is  “the whole nine yards.” This phrase is used to indicate giving or doing everything possible or going to great lengths. Its origin is uncertain, with theories suggesting it comes from ammunition belts used in World War II aircraft, the length of fabric needed for a complete three-piece suit, or the capacity of cement mixer trucks. Regardless of its exact origin, “the whole nine yards” remains a peculiar expression that has become a part of the English language.

He went the whole nine yards to make sure his daughter had the best birthday ever.

To have a skeleton in the closet

You don’t need to have literal bones in your closet in order to have a skeleton in there. This saying implies that someone has a secret, probably something unsavory or scandalous from their past, that they would prefer to keep hidden. It may originate from medical schools, where skeletons used for anatomical study were kept locked away in a closet. Regardless of its origins, “having a skeleton in the closet” has become a figurative expression to describe someone with a hidden past or secret that they do not want others to discover.

They’re an odd couple, I bet they’ve got a few skeletons in their closet.

Ruffle feathers

Ruffling feathers refers to the puffing up of feathers around a bird’s neck when they are scared, agitated, or angry. This idiom is used nowadays to talk about upsetting or offending people. While humans don’t physically have ruffled feathers, it is a metaphorical way to show a disruption of peace or harmony, resulting in a response of irritation or offense.

You ruffled his feathers when you rejected his idea.

Old English phrases and sayings

Let the cat out of the bag

This is another strange English expression that we use when someone reveals a secret. It is said to date back to the 18th century when it was common practice to replace piglets with cats inside bags when selling them at markets. The dishonest seller would be caught when the buyer opened the bag and “let the cat out of the bag.” Over time, the expression came to represent any situation where information is shared that was meant to be kept hidden.

I let the cat out of the bag when I accidentally shared my engagement ring on social media.

Let your hair down

Have fun, relax, be free; these are all different ways to say, “let your hair down.” The saying comes from the days when women wore elaborate hairstyles and would go home and let their hair loose, which would be far more comfortable. It now not only means to relax but also to have fun and behave more freely, without inhibitions or fear of being judged.

I really let my hair down last night at the party.

Kick the bucket

“Kick the bucket” is an idiom meaning “to die.” It is a euphemistic way of talking about someone’s death. There is ambiguity surrounding the origins of this saying, but there are two common theories: firstly, it originated from people hanging themselves by standing on a bucket, tying a rope around their neck, and then kicking the bucket away. The second theory suggests it’s derived from the slaughtering of animals, where a bucket used to be placed under a slaughtered animal so that it could kick as it died.

It’s such a shame he kicked the bucket just before his 90th birthday.

When did the phrase bucket list originate?

Bucket list

A “bucket list” is a list of things that a person wants to experience during their lifetime. This may be physical experiences such as travel or personal accomplishments. This is a very recent saying, dating back to 1999 when screenwriter Justin Zackham created a list entitled “Justin’s List of Things to Do Before I Kick the Bucket.” He shortened this to “Justin’s Bucket List,” which inspired the name of the 2007 movie “The Bucket List,” for which he wrote the screenplay.

Visiting the Seven Wonders of the World is at the top of my bucket list.

Sayings that make no sense: conclusion

In conclusion, many sayings don’t make sense literally, but when we take a closer look, we see that they convey a deeper meaning beyond literal interpretation. These idiomatic expressions are often rooted in cultural history or metaphorical imagery. While they may seem nonsensical at first glance, understanding their historical context and figurative meanings allows us to enhance our communication and express ideas in a creative way. You can practice using these expressions with an English tutor and enrich your vocabulary.