idiom | Matthew Dicks

“Close to the chest” or “close to the vest?” The answer annoys the hell out of me.

By Matthew Dicks | April 20, 2016 |

I’ve heard this idiom spoken both ways: “Play your cards close to the vest.” “Play your cards close to the chest.” So I wondered: Which of these is correct? The answer: Both. There is no definitive answer to this question. While it appears that “close to the vest” appeared first, “close to the chest” followed…

FYI: “Drives me up the wall” is an idiom.

By Matthew Dicks | March 3, 2016 |

My first grade daughter: “I love Charlie, even when he drives me up the wall.” She paused. Smiled. Then continued. “By the way, ‘drives me up the wall‘ is an idiom. I learned it in school. Do you know what an idiom is, Daddy?”