Idioms · 5 entries

Vehicle

What does "Vehicle" mean?

Someone who criticizes from the side-lines without being directly involved.

Back seat driver

USA, 20th century.

City bike

USA, mid-20th century.

Fell off the back of a lorry

Britain, mid/late 20th century. The USA has a ‘fell off the back of a truck’ variant.

In the same boat

Britain, 17th century.

Miss the boat

The origin of this expression is uncertain. An early 1930 reference describe it as an Americanism, but that reference is from England and there are no earlier known uses from the USA.

Entry 1

Back seat driver

Meaning Someone who criticizes from the side-lines without being directly involved.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

She's always ready to be a back seat driver and tell people what to do but she never does anything herself.

Pronunciation

Entry 2

City bike

Meaning A bicycle designing especially for urban riding.

Usage Predominantly used in urban areas in USA and UK.

Example

It's more comfortable in a car but in London you get around much quicker on a city bike.

Pronunciation

Entry 3

Fell off the back of a lorry

Meaning A coy reference to an item that has been stolen.

Usage Britain.

Example

That iPad I just bought in the pub was really cheap. Best not to ask me where it came from. Let's just say it fell off the back of a lorry.

Pronunciation

Entry 4

In the same boat

Meaning Jointly facing the same predicament.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

The fog has grounded all the planes and no one is going anywhere. it's annoying but I suppose were all in the same boat.

Pronunciation

Entry 5

Miss the boat

Meaning Missed the chance to take an opportunity.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

I should have asked him for that loan when he was in a good mood. Now he's fed up because he's lost at golf and I've missed the boat.

Pronunciation