27 Figures Of Speech For You To Find In A Cartoon

Find 27 Figures of Speech

Can you find the 27 figures of speech in this cartoon?

Our English language is rich with literal and figurative language. But what is a figure of speech?

It is a rhetorical device that a writer or speaker deliberately uses to create an implied comparison with a word or phrase.

A common figure of speech often uses an inanimate object to convey a figurative instead of a literal meaning.

Common figures of speech examples

I am sure you know the expression, all the world’s a stage by William Shakespeare. The world is not literally a stage where people perform plays.

Shakespeare uses the word stage to explain how we all live and behave in our world.

Very often, we also use similes and metaphors to express an idea or concept.

Idioms are another type of figurative speech.

We use thousands of figurative expressions in our everyday language, and we often use an inanimate object as an implied comparison in a figure of speech.

It helps to create emphasis. For example, it’s raining cats and dogs, and I’ll give you a hand.

No animals are falling from the sky. And you would not chop off your hand with an axe to give it to someone. Both of these expressions are a play on words.

These two figurative language phrases mean it is raining very heavily, and I’ll gladly assist you.

If you are a writer or an author, you are using words and expressions, literally and figuratively, all the time.

You might be trying to create verbal irony, express human qualities, or add color to your text.

 

Types of expressions in popular figures of speech

The most common literary devices are metaphors and similes, which are both well-known figurative expressions.

Another type of figurative form uses word order repetition or similar successive clauses, such as in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Other rhetorical devices can use a chiasmus, where the second part of the expression is balanced against the first.

For example, you should work to live, not live to work.

Exaggeration, or hyperbole in literary terms, can quickly turn a word or phrase from literal language into figurative.

It deliberately makes a situation significant.

I have a million things to do at the office today, or it cost me an arm and a leg.

The opposite, of course, is an understatement that makes a situation seem less important.

It’s only a scratch when referring to a deep or nasty wound.

Or, it’s a little fresh today when the temperature is well below zero.

Or, Tiger Woods was a half-decent golf player in his prime.

Many figures of speech examples include euphemisms.

They are very common forms of saying something in a way that is more polite or not as blunt or direct.

He passed away instead of he died. I’m going to let you go to replace you’re fired. Or, it fell off the back of a truck when, in fact, it was stolen.

 

Other forms we use

Some expressions use alliteration, where a consonant sound is repeated.

Examples include, I’m as busy as a bee, and it’s as dead as a doornail or dodo.

One of my pet sources of idioms and expressions is my favorite sport – cricket.

To be hit for six, to be caught on a sticky wicket, to be stumped, I did it off my own bat, to be caught out, and to bowl a maiden over.

I love the last one.

You know all this, so I don’t need to remind you about idiomatic speech.

We use phrases with objects to create implied or abstract meanings.

I know you know, but before you disappear off into the ether …

 

How good is your knowledge of figures of speech?

Here is a fun challenge for you to test your knowledge of idiomatic and figurative speech.

I stumbled upon this absolutely brilliant cartoon by Ella Baron in the Times Literary Supplement on Twitter.

Ella has illustrated twenty-seven figurative language terms. They are a mixture of metaphors and similes, and I wonder if you can identify all of them.

At first glance, it looks like an easy puzzle to solve.

But it gets a little more difficult once you get past identifying the first ten to fifteen idioms. She has been very cunning, indeed.

Perhaps, as cunning as a fox.

 

27 Figures of speech cartoon by Ella Baron

Ella's 27 Figures of Speech

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find an answer list for each of the 27 figures of speech examples represented in the cartoon.

Perhaps Ella prefers to play her cards close to her chest and leave a little mystery by keeping an ace up her sleeve.

I got as far as identifying twenty or so from the picture but then ran into trouble.

Maybe you can do better than me and find all twenty-seven figures of speech.

But I don’t want to give you a red herring or spill the beans. So I will leave you with it, and I’m sure it will be a piece of cake.

 

Did you find all 27 figures of speech?

Did you manage to find the five or so that I missed?

Don’t get cold feet!

Do it quickly, though, before I kick the bucket. You know how quickly time flies.

Yes, I know it is a tough assignment.

But, well, you can’t make an omelet without breaking an egg, can you?

Anyway, I have given you more than enough clues to get you halfway to solving the puzzle. Now it’s up to you.

But are you champing at the bit and up to the challenge of finding all 27 examples in the image?

 

An update to this article

A big thank you to Kim, who posted a comment on this article. She added this link to Ella Barron’s answer on Twitter.

In her post, Ella lists all 27 figures of speech answers.

However, Ella adds an interesting aside.

There could be up to 49 figures of speech expressions captured within her cartoon. Now, that really is a tease.

But let’s put you out of your misery.

 

Answers for 27 Figures of speech

Official answers from Ella Barron

1. In a nutshell
2. Piece of cake
3. Cherry on the cake
4. Bald as a coot
5. A screw loose
6. Stiff upper lip
7. Born with a silver spoon in your mouth
8. Earworm
9. Keep your cards close to your chest
10. Joker in the pack
11. An ace up your sleeve
12. Heart on your sleeve
13. On a silver platter
14. Spill the beans
15. Big cheese
16. Red herring
17. Tie the knot
18. Put all your eggs in one basket
19. Walking on eggshells
20. Shadow of your former self
21. No room to swing a cat
22. The cat’s got your tongue
23. Kick the bucket
24. Pull your socks up
25. Cold feet
26. From rags to riches
27. Time flies

Other possible answers

1. Got the cat by the tail
2. Hit the nail on the head
3. A screw loose
4. A fish out of water
5. Tie the knot
6. Bird brain
7. Cherry on top
8. Chalk and cheese
9. Knock your socks off
10. Put your best foot forward
11. A hard nut to crack
12. A fish out of water
13. A can of worms
14. Big cheese
15. Best foot forward
16. Follow your nose
17. Pale as a ghost
18. Stick your neck out
19. Raise an eyebrow
20. More holes than Swiss cheese
21. Bird’s eye view
22. Left in tatters
23. Best foot forward

 

Get your figure of speech expressions right

If you are a writer, you are using set expressions all the time.

However, you should be careful that you always check your usage and accuracy. There is nothing worse than getting a fixed expression wrong.

We all use some form of online grammar and spell-checking nowadays.

These apps are extremely useful and are now essential tools for writing accuracy, especially for new writers.

But these tools will rarely find an error in use for set phrases.

For example, as hard as a brick, brave as a tiger, and laughs like a monkey.

Only your knowledge can tell you what they should be.

The correct expressions are as hard as a rock, brave as a lion, and laugh like a hyena.

The same applies to acronyms and abbreviations.

Using a grammar checker is unlikely to help you differentiate between am and a.m. or SCABA when you mean SCUBA.

It doesn’t matter if you are writing a blog post or a book. Always pay close attention when you are editing and proofreading your text.

Yes, you must always check your grammar and spelling and correct typos. But be sure to double-check your fixed figurative expressions as well to make sure they are correct.

A figure of speech is a word or phrase that you absolutely must get 100% right, 100% of the time.

Then you will be as right as rain.

 

Related Reading: Here’s another word puzzle for you: 18 Weird Words For Common Objects 

133 thoughts on “27 Figures Of Speech For You To Find In A Cartoon”

  1. Running with scissors. Cutting corners. (Look in the lower left), coming to heel, half a mind

  2. Time flies
    An ace up your sleeve
    Wear your heart on your sleeve
    Spill the beans
    Cold feet
    Living in your shadow
    Loose screw
    Kick the bucket
    Born with a silver spoon in the mouth
    Got the cat by the tail
    Don’t carry all your eggs in one basket / Put all eggs in one basket
    Walking on eggshells
    Can’t make an omelet without breaking an egg
    The joker in the pack
    On the wings of time
    Keep your cards close to your chest
    Nail on the head / hit the nail on the head
    In a nutshell
    Hard nut to crack
    Cat got your tongue
    No room to swing a cat
    Something fishy
    On a silver platter
    Fish out of water
    Chalk & cheese
    Tie the knot
    Red herring
    Piece of cake
    Bird brain
    Bird’s eye view
    Cherry on top
    The cherry on the cake
    An earworm
    Earwigging
    A can of worms
    Worm your way out
    Knock your socks off
    Pull up your socks
    Rags to Riches
    Shadow of his former self
    Walk/be in someone’s shadow
    Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
    Put your best foot forward
    The shoe is on the other foot
    Bald as a coot
    Bald as a billiard cube
    Stiff upper lip
    Big cheese
    Follow your nose
    Pale as a ghost
    Stick your neck out
    Raise an eyebrow
    More holes than Swiss cheese
    Left in tatters
    Pot to piss in
    Spoiled like a rotten egg
    Clean the wax out of your ears
    Silver tongue
    Tongue-tied
    Riding on his coattails
    All patched up
    Beggars can’t be choosers
    Tall as a beanpole

  3. May I point out how an ELS student may have problems with idioms? I knew of one who replaced “don’t cross this line in the sand” with “don’t cross this red line” — and replaced “I won’t throw her to the wolves” with “I won’t throw her under the bus.”

    Interesting, eh? You hear the changed idiom, and you know something is wrong, but you can’t quite figure out what it is till some time later when it dawns on you “OH! THIS is what he meant by that!”

  4. Avatar for Annamarie du Toit
    Annamarie du Toit

    Do someone have this 27 answers in Afrikaans. My child has the same picture and have to tell what the idioms are in Afrikaans

  5. I thought there were pins and needles under his left foot, so I said, “he’s on pins and needles.” What is that under his left foot? Thanks!

  6. 1) spill the beans,
    2) shadow dancing,
    3) in a nutshell,
    4) hot under the collar,
    5) cat got your tongue,
    6) something smells fishy,
    7) start off on the right foot,
    8) time flies,
    9) kick the bucket,
    10) all your eggs in one basket,
    11) ear worm,
    12) silver spoon in your mouth,
    13) ace up your sleeve,
    14) playing cards close to your vest,
    15) heart on your sleeve,
    16) hit the nail on the head,
    17) bird brain,
    18) rags to riches,
    19) having cold feet,
    20) you cant unbreak an egg,
    21) walking heel to toe,
    22) tie a string around your finger,
    23) tie our fingers in knots,
    24) stinky service,
    25) not enough room to swing a cat,
    26) measuring your words,
    27) pull up your socks

      1. I can’t figure out what the object above the letter A in the title “A Figure Of Speech,” is. Does anyone know?

        1. That has been driving me nuts. I have 50 Plus answers in addition to her 27 and I still can’t find one for that item. I just emailed the artist. I will let you know what she says.

  7. Avatar for Amanda LaFleur-Giambrone
    Amanda LaFleur-Giambrone

    I would say that neither “it’s raining cats and dogs” nor “I’ll give you a hand” is a play on words. They are both idiomatic expressions, popular metaphors, if you will.

    A play on words is a pun, a usage of an expression in which a word can have more than one meaning, or where there is play between the word and another that sounds very much like it.
    A magician is driving down the road. Suddenly he turns into a parking lot.
    Need an ark to save two of every animal? I noah guy. (Thanks, internet.)

  8. 1 Birdbrain 2 that one flew over my head 3 a little thin on top 4 your story has more holes than Swiss cheese 5 what’s wrong you look a little blue 6 spill the beans 7 he has high standards 8 revenge is a dish best served cold 9 piece of cake 10 from rags to riches 11 wearing your heart on your sleeve 12 Timeflies 13 shady character 14 nail on the head 15 in one ear and out the other 16 now the shoe is on the other foot 17 You’ve got him wrapped around your finger 18 dead man walking 19 you opened a can of worms 20 thought I had the cat by it’s tail 21 Hanging on by a thread 22 flying by the tail of his seat 23 walking on eggshells 24 he’s got something up his sleeve 25 something’s fishy 26 aces up their sleeve 27 Play your cards close to your chest 28 always guard your heart 29 lead with your best foot forward 30 flying by the seat of his chair 31 that’s the cats meow 32 Not now I’m juggling ten things at once 33 always walk before you run 34 only time will tell 35 I lost track of time 36 born with a silver spoon in their mouth 37 he’s too big for his britches 38 it was handed to him on a silver platter 39 high tail it out of here 40 don’t trip in a nutshell 41 ghosted 42 Runnin on fumes 43 what a nightmare that was 44 now look what you’ve done, you made a mess of everything 45 now I have steam coming out my ears 46 a wise man once said nothing at all 47 deaf in one ear and can’t hear out the other 48 thinks the sun comes up just to hear him crow 49 he has peanuts for brains 50 don’t be so thin skinned 51 what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger 52 pain in the ass 53 why your nothing but skin and bones 54 I can see straight through you 55 cats got your tongue

    1. It’s ‘flying by the seat of his pants ‘

      some of those are not idioms but incorrect translations I think.

  9. Ok, I’ll tell you the whole story, no problem, piece of cake, cherry on top… Anyway in a nutshell it goes like this… Time flies and you can’t let it get ahead of you, before you know it you kick the bucket, you gotta have an ace up your sleeve, you can’t keep all your eggs in one basket, see? I am keen on this girl… she’s in my head all day like an earworm I can’t stop singing but she’s just throwing me shade, see? She says she’s only interested in serious relationships, she wants to tie the knot, but me I had cold feet. The cat had my tongue. I thought I was the big cheese because I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but she smells a red herring and before you know it I spill the beans… she wants it on a silver platter but I’m just riding my coattails… What can i say? I keep my cards close to my chest but I wear my heart on my sleeve. Yeah, I know, I’m a bird brain, I’m screwed in the head. I thought I had the cat by the tail, but before you know it the bird sings and I’m just some joker dealt a bad hand. Guess them’s the breaks.

  10. How the shadow crawled across the room. Though he was no better,
    he overshadowed her in all things.

  11. So many more than 27….so adding a few ma be pushing a bit, but picture has some questionable things in it…..
    riding on his coattails
    all patched up
    clean the wax out of your ears
    big cheese
    fish out of water
    walking on pins and needles (or is that the artist signature??)
    open a can of worms
    ants in my pants (looks like ants at bottom on egg)
    last one in is a rotten egg or spoiled like a rotten egg (egg at bottom)
    pot to piss in
    silver tongue
    loose lips
    clean the wax out of your ears or earworm

  12. Avatar for Bianca & J.o. King
    Bianca & J.o. King

    – Shadow of your former self
    – piece of cake
    – child at heart
    – wearing your heart on your sleeve
    – playing all your cards close to the chest
    – bird brain
    – your story has more holes in it than swiss cheese
    – follow your nose
    – in a nutshell
    – put your best foot forward
    – from rags to riches
    – served on a silver platter
    – don’t get cold feet
    – hard to crack
    – can’t make an omelette without cracking an egg
    – shoe on the wrong foot
    – pale as a ghost
    – beggars can’t be choosers
    – nail on the head
    – spilled the beans
    – in one ear and out the other
    – kick the bucket
    – all your eggs in one basket
    – time flies

  13. Avatar for SANDRA CUNNINGHAM
    SANDRA CUNNINGHAM

    wearing your Heart on your sleeve, Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket, Time flies. Born with a Silver spoon in your mouth, Kick the bucket, red herring, Ace up his sleeve, ear worm, cat got your tongue, Bird brain, Playing his cards close to his chest, Hit the nail on the head or a screw loose,Don’t Spill the beans, It;s a piece of cake…with a cherry on top, Can’t make an omelet without breaking an eggs-, he’s Got Cold Feet, Big cheese or Your story has more holes than swiss cheese, In a nutshell, Best foot forward, Shadow of your former self, Rags to riches or life in tatters, Everything was handed to him on a silver platter, Shoe on the other foot, Overshadowing women/cast a shadow over me, Skinny as a rail or tall as a beanpole, Bald as a billiard cube, Pale as a ghost,

    1. 1) Time flies
      2) cat got your tongue
      3) ace up your sleeve
      4) don’t put all your eggs in one basket, 5) wear your heart on your sleeve
      6) kick the bucket,
      7)behind every man is a good woman or cast a shadow over me
      8)spill the beans
      9) everything handed to you on a silver platter
      10) walking on egg shells
      11) screw in your head loose
      12) born with a silver spoon in your mouth
      13) in a nutshell
      14) tie the knot
      15) cold feet
      16) by the tail
      17) rags to riches
      18) red herring
      19) keep your cards close to your chest
      20) bird brain
      21) in one ear out the other or earworm
      22) best foot forward
      23) big cheese or your story has more holes in it than Swiss cheese
      24) shoe on the other foot
      25) skinny as a rail or tall as a beanpole
      26) follow your nose
      27) to find?? PIECE OF CAKE

      1. 1. He kicked the bucket 2. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket 3. Time flies 4. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth 5. He has a screw loose 6. There are worms in your ears/brain 7. Don’t spill the beans 8. Fish on a silver platter 9. Cards up your sleeve 10. Wearing your heart on your sleeve 11. Keep your cards close to your chest 12. Hanging on by a thread 13. Cat got your tongue 14. Caught holding the cheese? 15. Caught by the skin of the tail 16. There go your nuts 17. Cut the cheese? 18. Big cheese 19. He got cold feet 20. Fish out of water 21. Riding his coattails 22. All patched up 23. Bird brain 24. Story has more holes than Swiss cheese 25. Best foot forward 26. Screwed up in the head 27. In a nutshell 28. Follow your nose 29. Red herring 30. Ace up your sleeve 31. Pale as a ghost 32. Rags to riches

  14. In a Nutshell
    Cracked up
    Piece of cake
    Cherry on top/ Cherry on the cake
    Bald as a coot
    Bird brain
    A screw loose
    Stiff upper lip
    Born with a silver spoon in your mouth
    Earworm/ Bug in your ear
    Play your cards close to your chest
    Joker in the pack
    Ace up your sleeve/ Trick up your sleeve
    Heart on your sleeve
    On a silver platter
    Spill the beans
    Big cheese
    Stick your neck out
    Raise an eyebrow
    Eyes wide open
    Red herring
    To tie the knot
    Put all your eggs in one basket
    Walking on eggshells
    Shadow of your former self
    No room to swing a cat
    Cat’s got your tongue
    Kick the bucket
    Pull your socks up
    Cold feet
    From rags to riches
    Time flies
    Best foot forward
    Tongue
    In a Nutshell
    Cracked up
    Piece of cake
    Cherry on top/ Cherry on the cake
    Bald as a coot
    Bird brain
    A screw loose
    Stiff upper lip
    Born with a silver spoon in your mouth
    Earworm/ Bug in your ear
    Play your cards close to your chest
    Joker in the pack
    Ace up your sleeve/ Trick up your sleeve
    Heart on your sleeve
    On a silver platter
    Spill the beans
    Big cheese
    Stick your neck out
    Raise an eyebrow
    Eyes wide open

    Red herring
    To tie the knot
    Put all your eggs in one basket
    Walking on eggshells
    Shadow of your former self
    No room to swing a cat
    Cat’s got your tongue
    Kick the bucket
    Pull your socks up
    Cold feet
    From rags to riches
    Time flies
    Best foot forward
    Tongue tied
    Shoe on the other foot
    Fish out of water
    Worm your way out
    More holes than swiss cheese
    Stepping on toes
    Tongue-tied
    Shoe on the other foot
    Fish out of water
    Worm your way out
    More holes than swiss cheese
    Stepping on toes

    1. Wow! thought you had a full 50+ list there, then realised you doubled up on a lot :(
      Great answers though :)

      My Couple=
      Bird’s Eye View
      Got the Cat by the Tail
      Forget Me Knot
      All Patched up

    2. Avatar for Clarice Bridgewater
      Clarice Bridgewater

      heel to the ground, piece of cake, full deck, full house, sing another tune, walk in another’s shadow, to have a full plate, full of holes, spill the beans, time waits on no man, fish on a platter, crack the nut, stepping on pins and needles, hole in the head

  15. By positioning myself in a great vantage point especially one with a birds eye view I’ve got the ace up the sleeve, so I will get through this as quickly as I can as we all know how time flies, especially when you got all your eggs in one basket. Kicking the bucket is not something I do often simply because I’m very careful to keep my cards close to the chest while walking on egg shells. But on some occasions the shoes on the other foot but still remain composed not to leave a screw loose. I have always been advised to put a bug in the ear some I’m aware of who is spilling the beans. Silver platter and silver spoon in the mouth was not the privilege I was exposed to, what really kept me in tune and allowed me to acquire the common sense needed was to make sure I don’t wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve … has the cat got your tongue you say, definitely not, I just know just where and when not to share, to me my experiences has made my discerning skills a piece of cake and no red herring placed in front of me could ever get me tongue tied. You could swing a cat or hold a cat by the tail and it will not unsettle me or give me cold feet which may then force me to pull my socks up. Cast a shadow over me, tie my legs to a tree, even with half a brain I promise I will always strive to go from rags to riches as I always put my best foot forward, even if the shots that life takes at me, as much as it may look like more holes than a Swiss cheese I will always come out on the brighter side with a cherry on top while still being the smart joker in the pack that’s just my attitude In a nut shell.

  16. I’ve got the ace up the sleeve, so I will get through this as quickly as I can as we all know how time flies, especially when you got all your eggs in one basket,
    kicking the bucket is not something I do often simply because I’m very careful to keep my cards close to the chest while walking on egg shells.
    But on some occasions the shoes on the other foot but still remain composed not to leave a screw loose. I have always been advised to put a bug in the ear some Im aware of who is spilling the beans. Silver platter and silver spoon in the mouth was not the privilege I was exposed to when really kept me in tune and allowed me to acquire the common sense needed to make sure I don’t wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve, has the cat got your tongue, definable not I just know just when and when not to share, to me my experiences as made my discerning skills a piece of cake and no red herring placed in from of me could ever get me tongue tied. You could swing a cat or hold a cat by the tail and it will not unsettle me or give me cold feet which may then force me to pull up your socks up. Cast a shadow over me, tie my legs to a tree, even with half a brain I promise I will always strive to go from rags to riches as I always put my best foot forward, even if the shots that life takes at me as much as it may look like more holes than a Swiss cheese I will always come out on the brighter side with a cherry on top that’s just my attitude In a nut shell.

  17. 1. Ace up his sleeve
    2. Kick the bucket
    3. Born with a Silver spoon in the mouth
    4. He has a screw in his head
    5. Served on a silver platter
    6. To have something coming out of your ears
    7. To tie a string around your finger
    8. Putting all your eggs in one basket
    9. Time flies
    10. Cherry on the cake
    11. Stepping on people’s toes
    12. It’s a red herring
    13. Spilling the beans
    14. Getting cold feet
    15. You cannot make an omelette without breaking an egg
    16. Bird’s eye view
    17. The cat’s got my tongue
    18. Keep your cards close to your chest
    21. Left in tatters
    22. My best foot forward
    23. Living in his shadow
    24. Wear your heart on your sleeve
    25. Pull up your socks
    26. Piece of cake
    27. Joker in the pack

    I had loads of fun

  18. Time flies
    Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
    Born with a silver spoon in his mouth
    You hit the nail on the head
    Bird brain
    Spill the beans
    He wears his heart on his sleeve
    I’ve got an ace up my sleeve
    He holds his cards close to his chest
    Put a bug in his ear
    It’s a piece of cake
    Pretty please, with cherries on top
    Kick the bucket
    Shoe’s on the other foot
    Cat’s got your tongue
    Tie the knot
    In a nutshell
    He got cold feet
    Served on a silver platter
    Cut the cheese (?)
    You’ve got to break a few eggs to make an omelette
    Total of 21

  19. As alert as a bird
    The flutter of birds
    As dead as a dodo
    Put a bug in your (someone’s) ear
    You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs
    Beggars can’t be choosers (He does look… halfstarved)
    One foot in the grave
    Barefoot and pregnant
    Bird brain (?)
    Odd bird (?)
    A nutcase (?)
    Crack the nut
    Stomach in knots
    Tie the knot
    A fish out of water
    Hit the nail in the head (okay, it is a screw)
    A screw loose
    A crow’s nest
    Stone the crow
    Eat crow
    Keep your cards close to your chest
    Show your hand
    Lend me your ear

  20. In a nut shell
    Time flies
    Kick the bucket
    Well heeled
    Pull up your sock
    All eggs in one basket
    Silver spoon in the mouth
    Nail on the head
    Screw loose
    Cuckoo head
    Ear worm
    Coming out of your ear
    Play your cards close to your chest
    Joker in the pack
    End of your rope
    Tied up in knots
    Red herring
    More holes than Swiss cheese
    Spill the beans
    Served on a platter
    Lot on your plate
    Ace up the sleeve
    Wear your heart on your sleeve
    Hold a cat by the tail
    Cat got your tongue
    Cherry on the cake
    A piece of cake
    Patched up
    Bend the knee
    Knock your socks off
    Best foot forward
    A shadow of your former self
    Rags to riches
    From head to toe

  21. Avatar for Nasheera Maharaj
    Nasheera Maharaj

    I was hoping not to *spill the beans* but I guess the *cat’s got my tongue*. Let me *put my best foot forward* before I grow *cold feet* and I am *left in tatters*
    The *Ace up my sleave* is not a *red herring* nor is *she living in his shadow*. I would rather keep * my cards close to my chest* with the *joker in the pack* rather than *serve it all on a silver platter* as it’s *a piece of cake*
    Oh see how *time flies* some of us have already *tied the knot* and others have unfortunately *kicked the bucket*
    Some may say *i have a loose screw in my head * to which I say *screw you* and don’t *put all your eggs in one bucket*.
    Anyways I wasn’t born with *a silver spoon in my mouth* I just *cracked the egg to make the omelette* It’s really not a *hard nut to crack* but you just need to *pull up your socks*, get the *joker in the pack* not *have your heart up your sleeve* and in no time you will find *the cherry on top* and soon you will find the two figures of speech that *wormed out of my head* because this narrative has *more holes than a Swiss cheese*

  22. 1)Play one’s card close to the chest….
    2)A stitch in time saves nine…
    3)Putting all your eggs in a basket…
    4) Kick the bucket
    5) Hit the nail on the head
    6) Walk on egg shells
    7)Shoe on the other foot
    8) Spilling the beans
    9) Ace up the sleeves
    10) How time flies
    11) Silver spoon in the mouth
    12)Piece of cake
    13) Tongue tied
    14) Having a cold feet
    15) More holes than a Swiss cheese
    16)In a nut shell
    17) hold a cat by the tail
    18) Red Herring
    19)Silver platter
    20) Cherry on the top
    21) Cast a shoulder over
    22) Putting your best foot forward
    23)Put a bug in the ear
    24) Cat got your tongue
    25) Rags to riches
    26) Pull up your socks
    27) Half a brain
    28) Wearing one’s heart on a sleeve
    29) Hard nut to crack
    30) Can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs

  23. Put all your eggs in one basket

    Have an ace up your sleeve

    Keep your cards close to ur chest

    A Red herring

    Spill the beans

    A Piece of cake

    Having Cold feet

    Kick the bucket

    A stitch in time saves nine

    How time flies

    Tie the knot

    Born with a silver spoon in ur mouth

     You can’t make an omelette without breaking an egg

    Hit the nail on the head

    Wear your heart on your sleeve

    Hold a cat by the tail

    You can’t leave your shadow behind / Lurking in the shadows

    Pull your socks up

    Put a bug in someone’s ears / Worm your way out of

    cheery on the cake

    In a nutshell

    On a silver platter

    Put your best foot forward

    More holes than a Swiss cheese

    Bird brain / Sing like a bird

    The shoe is on the other foot

    Cat’s got your tongue

    Joker in the pack / The joke is on you

  24. It’s certainly not (1) a piece of cake, looks like (2) a tough wal-nut to crack. Although I wasn’t (3) born with a silver spoon in my mouth, and there are many who think (4) I’m just a joker in the deck, I will (5) put my best foot forward. I have to be careful of the naysayers though; so, for now (6) I’m going to play my cards close to the chest and not (7) spill the beans. I also have to make sure that (8) I don’t carry my heart on the sleeve and put (9) all my eggs in one basket.

    Ah, (10) How time flies – my hair is gone now & (11) I’m bald as a coot, (12) my clothes are in tatters, and (13) I’m at the end of my tether. I’m getting (14) cold feet & I have half a mind to (15) worm out of this whole thing. In the meantime, looking at me (16) tied up in knots the naysayers are asking me sarcastically, “what’s the matter, (18) cat, got your tongue”.
    I began wondering if they (19) hit the nail on the head. Not one to give up so easily, I told myself, “(20) pull your socks up and think; no one is going to give you the answers (21) on a silver platter.” Perhaps, if I (22) hold the cat by the tail, I’ll spot the missing clues: I have to do this quickly though before (23) I kick the bucket”.
    However, the clues are not easy and there are quite a few (24) red herrings; I’m tired,and my logic seems to to have (25) more holes than a block of Swiss cheese. But, wait a minute, I do have (26) an ace up my sleeve as I near the end. I don’t mean (27) to crow, but, take that you naysayers, “I finished it. Who’s is the (28) Big cheese now? How does it feel to have (29) the shoe on the other foot?”. I did not wait for an answer, the lost look on their faces said it all – it was the delicious (30) cherry on top.

  25. I am mentioning here only the ones which are different from other lists. I can’t agree with some of them like ‘ you can’t make an omelette without breaking an egg..’ The cartoon has been drawn up with great precision and the idioms must match each item. No one mentions the shadow either….Here are some interesting ones from me.
    I
    Best foot forward
    More holes than the Swiss cheese
    A shadow of one’s old self
    Walk over egg shells
    Bug in the ear
    Head over heels
    A stuffed shirt
    The joker in the pack
    Tying the Guardian knot
    As black as a raven
    Cherry on the icing

  26. 1. born with a silver spoon in the mouth
    2. time flies
    3. don’t keep your eggs in 1 basket
    4. kick the bucket
    5. no room to swing a cat
    6. screw loose
    7. keep your cards close to your chest
    8. shadow of my former self
    9. like cracking a walnut
    10. piece of cake
    11. wear your heart on your sleeve
    12. bird brain
    13. ace up your sleeve
    14. tie the knot
    15. wormed his way out
    16. red herring
    17. big cheese
    18. spill the beans
    19. you can’t make an omlette without breaking an egg
    20. cat got your tongue
    21. put your best foot forward
    22. knee jerk reaction
    23. handed to you on a silver plate
    24. rags to riches
    25. don’t get cold feet
    26. shoe on the other foot
    27. joker in the pack

  27. We say one is ‘growing horns’ when they are starting to resist authority.
    As in, “…the new employee has started growing horns, he will not be sent to the printer.”

    1. Looks like there’s more than 27. From the responses here, I can count well over 35. I’ll add the following:

      1. To be long nosed
      2. Take to one’s heels

  28. 1. In a nutshell
    2. Crow about
    3. As bald as a badger
    4. Walter wondered where Winnie was
    5. Ear wormed
    6. The big cheese, More holes than Swiss cheese
    7. The red herring
    8. Spill the beans
    9. On a silver platter
    10. Born with a silver spoon
    11. Foot signature
    12. Itchy feet,
    13. Cold feet
    14. Wearing your heart on your sleeve
    15. Jocker in the pack,
    16. Keep your cards close to your heart
    17. Have a trick up your sleeve
    18. Tied up in knots
    19. Cat by the tail, Cat got your tongue, tongue tied
    20. All the eggs in one basket
    21. Time flies
    22. Kicked the bucket
    23. Best foot forward
    24. Pull up your socks
    25. Piece of cake, A cherry on top
    26. Rags to riches
    27. Can’t make an omlette without breaking an egg

  29. Looks like a hard nut to crack.. but we can try to put our best foot forward and then maybe the shoe will be on the other foot…

  30. Time flies
    a screw loose
    kick the bucket
    pull your socks up
    born with a silver spoon in your mouth

    An Ace up your sleeve
    Earworm
    In a nutshell
    Got the cat by the tail
    The cat’s got your tongue

    Spill the beans
    Red herring
    Wearing your heart on your sleeve
    All your eggs in one basket
    The cherry on the cake

    Bird brain?
    Keeping your cards close to your chest
    As many holes as a Swiss cheese
    Best foot forward

    Cold feet
    A piece of cake
    A shadow of my former self
    Can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs ?
    On a silver platter

  31. On a silver platter
    shadow of himself
    Tie into knots
    In a nutshell
    Smell something fishy
    worm out of

    1. I was hoping not to *spill the beans* but I guess the *cat’s got my tongue*. Let me *put my best foot forward* before I grow *cold feet* and I am *left in tatters*
      The *Ace up my sleave* is not a *red herring* nor is *she leaving in his shadow*. I would rather keep *my cards close to my chest* with the *joker in the pack* rather than *serve it all on a silver platter* as it’s *a piece of cake*
      Oh see how *time flies* some of us have already *tied the knot* and others have unfortunately *kicked the bucket*
      Some may say *i have a loose screw in my head * to which I say *screw you* and don’t *put all your eggs in one bucket*.
      Anyways I wasn’t born with *a silver spoon in my mouth* I just *cracked the egg to make the omelette* It’s really not a *hard nut to crack* but you just need to *pull up your socks*, get the *joker in the pack* not *have your heart up your sleeve* and in no time you will find *the cherry on top* and soon you will find the two figures of speech that *wormed out of my head* because this narrative has *more holes than a Swiss cheese*

  32. Since there is a 12 of hearts – Playing with a stacked deck.
    Tied into a Gordian Knot
    More holes than Swiss cheese
    Bird brain
    Hand to on a silver platter

  33. Cat caught your tounge
    There is something fishy
    Rags to riches
    In a nutshell
    Catch the cat by its tail
    Cat caught your tounge
    Nail on the head
    Born with a silver spoon
    You cant make an omlete without breaking the egg
    Piece of cake
    Under once shadow
    Put all your eggs in one basket
    Tie the knot
    Cheesy

    1. Avatar for Olufunmi Okorocha
      Olufunmi Okorocha

      1) Ace up the sleeve,
      2) How time flies,
      3) Eggs in one basket,
      4) kick the bucket
      5) Cards close to the chest
      6) walking on egg shells
      7) shoe on the other foot
      8) nail on the head
      9) put a bug in the ear
      10) spilling the beans
      11) silver platter
      12) silver spoon in the mouth
      13) wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve
      14) cat got your tongue
      15) piece of cake
      16) red herring
      17) tongue tied
      18) you could swing a cat/hold a cat by the tail
      19) cold feet
      20) pull up your socks
      21) cast a shadow over
      22) cherry on top (of the cake)
      23) rags to riches
      24) half a brain
      25) more holes than a Swiss cheese
      26) put your best foot forward
      27) In a nut shell

        1. It’s a piece of cake, with a cherry on top! Don’t think it’s a red herring. He hit the nail on the head by spilling the beans. Is that pie in the sky? Time really flies when you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth. That guy wears his cards close to his chest, has an ace up his sleave and wears his heart on his sleave. There is of course a joker in the pack and the story has more holes than Swiss cheese! Hope he doesn’t kick the bucket but the cat has my tongue . Perhaps that bird has a birds eye view?Do you think there is no room to swing a cat or is he just a scaredy cat? Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket, because you have to crack some to make scrambled eggs. This man puts his best foot forward, but clearly the clothes don’t make man! Is this just a shadow of his former self? He obviously gets everything handed on a silver platter, but he is all knotted up and I hope he hasn’t come to the end of his rope!!… He probably still needs to tie the knot, but now he has cold feet!That ear worm is killing me, he will have to pull up his socks, and that’s all from me…..in a nutshell .

      1. I think it’s not Nail on the head but he’s got a screw loose. If you look at the image closely, it’s not a nail but a screw

        1. That could well be! It’s misleading, perhaps, that the screw is on the man’s head (so it makes you think of hitting the nail on the head). One for the pedants, like me! ;-)

    2. Okay, not sure how to start a new comment so I’m going to jump in this way. If you take the 49 that the one person found that Ella said were all viable (although a few I think were really stretching it) plus the 6 that the person missed that Ella had in her original post that’s 55 possible solutions.

      Ella posted a screen cap of the 49 solutions the other woman sent her. Just scroll down a tiny bit on the twitter thread linked above in the article for the complete list.

  34. Since most have been answered and a few may have multiple answers .. a few which I thought are also possible –
    A. Walking on eggshell
    B. Tough nut to crack

  35. Bald as a Coot
    The Big Cheese
    To Walk on Eggshells
    The Gloves are off….?
    Ride on Coattails
    On a Silver platter

  36. From top to bottom and left to right, I think these are the best answers:-

    1. In a nutshell.
    2. How time flies.
    3. Kick the bucket.
    4. Pull up your socks.
    5. Don’t trust your own shadow.
    6. Crowing about nothing.
    7. His head is screwed on tight.
    8. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
    9. Wormed his way out.
    10. From rags ( bottom half of his dress) to riches (top half).
    11. A stitch in time.
    12. Joker in the pack.
    13. Keep your cards close to your chest.
    14. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
    15. Tied up in knots.
    16. More holes than Swiss cheese.
    17. It’s a red herring.
    18. Don’t spill the beans.
    19. Served on a silver platter.
    20. An ace up his sleeve.
    21. He wears his heart on his sleeve.
    22. Got him hanging by the tail.
    23. Cat got your tongue?
    24. Tongue tied.
    25. The shoe is on the other foot!
    26. You got cold feet?
    27. Worn out to his heel.
    28. Can’t make an omelette without cracking an egg.
    29. It’s a piece of cake.
    30. Cherry topping. Or With cherries on top.
    31. Like a cat chasing its own tail.

  37. Naming from the bottom:

    1. Piece of cake
    2. Cherry on the cake
    3. Best foot forward
    4. Pull up your socks
    5. Kick the bucket
    6. Can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs
    7. In tatters
    8. Rags to riches
    9. Have cold feet
    10. Shadow of oneself
    11. Look before you leap
    12. All of your eggs in one basket
    13. Hold a cat by the tail
    14. Cat got your tongue
    15. Tied up in knots
    16. Time flies
    17. Keep your cards close to your chest
    18. Joker in the pack
    19. Wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve
    20. An Ace up your sleeve
    21. Spill the beans
    22. Red herring
    23. More holes than Swiss cheese
    24. On a silver platter
    25. born with a silver spoon in mouth
    26. Ear to the ground
    27. Hit the nail on the head
    28. Birdbrain
    29. Cracked walnut

    1. . “Can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs” could also be “Hot enough to fry an egg”

  38. 1. Don’t put all your in one basket
    2. Wear your heart on your sleeve
    3. An ace up my sleeve
    4. Joker in the pack
    5. Don’t trust your own shadow
    6. Growing out of ones ears
    7. Don’t spill the beans
    8. Red herring
    9. Piece of cake
    10. Time flies
    11. All eggs in one basket
    13. Cant make an omelette without breaking an egg
    13. Like a cat chasing its tail
    14. Give a long rope
    15. Born with a silver spoon in the mouth
    16. Cut a big cheese.
    17 Don’t trust your shadow
    18 Bird’s eye view
    19 a stitch in time saves nine
    20 cracked a walnut
    21. Riding on a tailcoat
    22 to get a cold feet
    23 as many holes in Swiss cheese
    24 cherry on the cake
    25 kick the bucket
    26 hit the nail on the head
    27 cat got your tongue

    1. Some of those aren’t english tho’
      The broken egg is more ‘it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement’

  39. 1. Born with a silver spoon
    2. Ace up my sleeve
    3. All eggs in a basket
    4. Tie in knots
    5. Kicking the bucket
    6. Carrying my heart on my sleeve
    7. Joker in the pack
    8. Make ends meet
    9. Crowing about (something)
    10. End of my tether
    11. Getting Cold feet
    12. Pull up your socks
    13. Be a patch on (something)
    14. Worm out (of a situation)
    15. Cherry topping
    16. In tatters
    17. Red herring
    18. Spill the beans
    19. Bald as a cue ball
    20. Bald as a coot
    21. Holding the cat by the tail
    22. Can make an omelette without ‘breaking an egg’
    23. Keep your cards close to your chest
    24. A piece of cake
    25. Hit the nail on the head
    And of course
    26. Time Flies
    27. Cat Got Your tongue

        1. Also, the cheese. Big cheese? My niece found that but google will give its meaning clearly.

        2. Kick the bucket
          Dont put all your eggs in one basket
          Time Flys
          Silver Spoon in your mouth
          Nail on the head
          As the Crow Flys
          Heart on your sleeve
          Ace up your sleeve
          Stomach in knots
          Fish out of water
          Red herring
          Cat by the tail
          Cat got your tongue
          More holes than swiss cheese
          Cut the Cheese
          Playing your cards close to your chest
          Piece of Cake
          In a nut shell
          Getting cold feet
          Can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
          Don’t spill the beans
          Worm your way out
          As the worm turns
          Put your best foot forward
          Handed to you on a silver platter
          To throw/cast a shadow.
          Shoes on the other foot
          There is more than one for some such as red herring and fish out of water. The shadow of the woman threw me still not sure its correct. So 27 individual idiom or less but some with more than one meaning. Running out of time just came to me.
          So do we take her literally or figuratively?

    1. Avatar for Kiran Sharma Badhani
      Kiran Sharma Badhani

      An ace up the sleeve
      Born with a silver spoon…
      Kicked the bucket
      Hit the nail on the head
      Spill the beans
      Counting the eggs before they hatch
      Are they correct?

        1. Bald as a coot. A coot is a black bird with a white marking above its beak. Baby coots are bald. They have red heads with no feathers on them. Bald as a coot!

    2. Half a brain is more In a Nutshell surely
      and Cast a shadow over isn’t actually in the pic ??

    1. My whole family got in to it and we found 20 and couldn’t find anymore! The answers from various different groups don’t tally up either.

  40. Hey, can you help me out with the ones you’ve already found? I’m terribly breaking my head about this

    1. I’m now making things up cold feet, kick the bucket, ear worm, cat got your tongue, piece o’ cake, cherry on top?, bird brain, red herring, spill the beans, kick the bucket, ace up sleeve, heart on sleeve, cards close to chest, the big cheese, cheese fish beans (ha), what is the shadow??, screw loose, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket, walking on eggshells

      1. 1.Wearing heart on your sleeve
        2.Ace up your sleeve
        3.Twist around one’s finger/tie oneself in knots/knot in my chest
        4.Putting all your eggs in one basket
        5.Kick the bucket
        6. Cold feet
        7. Time flies
        8. Nail in your head/got screwed/
        9.Bird’s eye view
        10.Hole in your head/ screw loose
        11.Best foot forward
        12.A Patchwork approach
        13.Bug/flea in your ear/earworm
        14. The joker in the pack
        15. Spill the beans
        16. Cat got your tongue
        17. (caught) by the tail/held by an arm’s length
        18 A red herring
        19. Spill the beans
        20. Big cheese
        21. Silver platter
        22. Piece of cake
        23. The cherry on top
        24.Turn over a new leaf
        25. Bad Egg/break an egg (to make omelette)
        26.hard nut/ nut case
        27. (Living) in the shadow/to cast a shadow/Gender-bender

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