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"Beating a dead horse" -

Violence against animals is a crime. Violence against a dead animal is equally as despicable. Sure, the saying is about wasting energy on a lost cause, but just the thought of the literal meaning is pretty nauseating.

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"Skeletons in the closet" - This phrase can be traced back to Victorian-era Gothic novels, and it makes reference to one's embarrassing secrets, or something incriminating. Actually opening your closet and finding a skeleton would be a lot scarier!

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"Can I pick your brain?" -

Literally picking someone's brain looks as gruesome as it sounds...

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"An eye for an eye" -

Imagine if we traded eyeballs. I'd give you an eye, and you'd give me an eye back. Just like that!

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"Fighting fire with fire" -

Instead of using water, imagine firefighters using flamethrowers instead of firehoses to, well, fight fire with fire...

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"Throwing someone under the bus" -

This idiom is often used to describe someone who puts another in an undesirable situation. Literally throwing someone under the bus would be a lot worse!

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"Liar, liar, pants on fire" -

What if, every time you told a lie, your pants would catch on fire? We'd all probably be dead, or at least severely burned, by now.

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"He has the heart of a lion" -

How, exactly? Is there such a type of heart transplant? What's next, a head?

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"Give someone a hand" -

You can help someone, but please don't cut your hand off and give it to them...

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"Lend me an ear" -

Is there such thing as a rent-a-ear? "Here's an ear. Give it back when you no longer need it."

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"I'm all ears" -

Sure, the phrase is all about one's eagerness and readiness to listen to the other person. But imagine if it was taken literally!

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"Open a can of worms" -

This is actually an American idiom dating back to the 1950s. A can of worms should definitely be left alone...

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"It cost an arm and a leg" -

How's that for bizarre currency? According to the idiom, an arm and a leg certainly pays for very expensive things. By the way, can I have two fingers as change, please?

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"Throwing the baby out with the bath water" -

Again, a pretty gruesome image, right? This is actually a German proverb that dates back to 1512. It was then adopted by the English in the 1800s.

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"Sweating bullets" -

You'd probably need bulletproof deodorant for this one, right?

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"Making eye contact" -

What does making eye contact actually mean? Does your eye and the other person's eye touch? Is there actual physical contact between eyes?

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"Raining cats and dogs" -

This popular idiom has been used since the 17th century. Hollywood could well make a movie based on it. Imagine a sort of 'Sharknado,' but with cats and dogs. It could work, right?

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"There's more than one way to skin a cat" -

Does this mean that someone tried different methods to skin a cat? Well, just don't! Don't mention it, and definitely don't try it!

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"His eyes are bigger than his stomach" -

Not easy to imagine. Unless you're a tarsier. Even so, his eyes might not be bigger than his stomach.

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"He wears his heart on his sleeve" -

Yes, it's all about emotions, but imagine someone sewing one's heart onto a sleeve...

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"Keep your eyes peeled" -

Can you actually peel your eyes? Like you'd do with bananas? That's just gross...

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"Break a leg!" -

This is a popular expression used to wish someone good luck, mostly among performers. Imagine the person actually breaking a leg. Not cool!

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"Eat your heart out" -

This expression oozes cannibalism. No amount of jealousy or regret makes up for this image.

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"I'm dead on my feet" -

Luckily the expression doesn't mean you're actually dead and standing on your feet like a zombie. It would be really creepy if it did, though.

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"Cat got your tongue?" -

Many of us have heard this one, but hardly ever imagine a cat literally grabbing our tongue! Yeah, that one would hurt...

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"I'm dying to find out" -

We just hope it's not too late when you actually find out...

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"A wolf in sheep's clothing" -

How terrifying a sight would this be, right? Hard to imagine even the most talented of wolves pulling this con off.

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"Heart in one’s mouth" -

This is associated with feelings of fear and dread, but having an actual heart pumping in one's mouth would be pretty gross, right?

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"It makes my blood boil" -

It might feel like this sometimes when you get really angry or irritated, but the thought of your blood actually boiling is pretty scary!

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"Knock ‘em dead!" -

Please don't! These are just a few words of encouragement to do your best, not to be taken literally!

Sources: (Dictionary.com) (List25) (EC English)

See also: Funniest sayings from around the world

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