Phrase Finder

Idioms · 9 entries

Misfortune

What does "Misfortune" mean?

1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.

A bad break

1. USA 2. UK.

A bad hair day

USA.

Bag lady

USA, 1970s.

Basket case

USA.

Queer street

Britain - 17th century.

The author of your own misfortune

Unlucky in love

Up shit creek without a paddle

USA, 1890s. Note: Shit creek isn’t a real place.

Ups a daisy

America, 20th century. The expression sounds old and English, but it isn’t.

Entry 1

A bad break

Meaning 1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.

Usage 1. USA. 2. Widely used.

Example

  • 1. Tony has lost his job, just when he needed the cash to move house. That’s a bad break. 2. Tanya’s leg was crushed when the rock fell on it - a really bad break the doctor said.

Pronunciation

Entry 2

A bad hair day

Meaning A day on which everything seems to go wrong.

Usage Predominantly in the USA but also more widely.

Example

  • I missed the bus and was late on the one day the boss was early and now I’ve laddered my tights! - talk about a bad hair day.

Pronunciation

Entry 3

Bag lady

Meaning A homeless woman, who carries all her possessions in shopping bags.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • It's a shame about Edith. She had a home and family this time last year and now she's divorced and living on the streets as a bag lady.

Pronunciation

Entry 4

Basket case

Meaning A person or thing that is no longer able to function effectively, either through disability or misfortune.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The Greek economy took a nosedive after the 2008 world financial meltdown - to the point of becoming a total economic basket case.

Pronunciation

Entry 5

Queer street

Meaning The imaginary location of people who have major problems in their life, especially debt. (Note: not a real place, nor connected to homosexuality)

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The business has gone into liquidation, my wife has left and the mortgage company want the house. I'm really in queer street.

Pronunciation

Entry 6

The author of your own misfortune

Meaning Be to blame for one's own problems.

Usage Worldwide, but rather old-fashioned.

Example

  • Tommy just took off across the moors with no gear and no phone. He ended up in hospital but no one is too sorry for him - he was the author of his own misfortune.

Pronunciation

Entry 7

Unlucky in love

Meaning Having been unable to find a long-term romantic partner.

Example

  • Jane's so unlucky in love. That's the third time she's been engaged only to have it broken off.

Pronunciation

Entry 8

Up shit creek without a paddle

Meaning In serious difficulty, with no hope of respite.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • We were halfway across the Australian outback when we realised our water bottle had leaked. We really were up shit creek.

Pronunciation

Entry 9

Ups a daisy

Meaning A saying, usually to a child, after a stumble or fall, to encourage them to get up. (ups is a variant of whoops).

Usage Worldwide, but considered dated and coy by many.

Example

  • Ooh, Tommy the toddler, fallen over again have you? Never mind - ups a daisy and let's try again.

Pronunciation