The meaning and origin of a few common money-related sayings1. There's no such thing as a free lunch.
= Nothing in life is free! One way or another, you’ll sooner or later have to pay for something that was, at first, given to you for free. This saying seems to have been coined in response to the democratic stance of Henry Wallace, the US Vice President (1941 -1945). After World War II, he proposed providing "minimum standards of food, clothing and shelter" for people across the globe and added, "If we can afford spending tremendous sums of money to win the war, then we can afford investing whatever amount it takes to win the peace.” His opponents were quick to argue that “one will always have to pay for a free lunch”, implying that Henry Wallace's intentions were far from charitable or unselfish. This saying might be used by someone who has to work a lot to get what they want. 2. Money makes the world go round. = Money is the only reason that the world keeps turning. This phrase is from the world-famous musical Cabaret, written in the sixties. This saying might be used by someone who believes that trade or the stock market, for example, plays a vital role in everyday life. 3. Neither a borrower nor a lender be. = Avoid borrowing money from other people or even lending it. This saying originates from Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare in 1602. In one of the acts in this play, Polonius advises his son, Laertes, before the latter sets out on a journey. This saying might be given as a word of advice to a young person who lacks experience in managing their finances. 1. "Speaking of / Talking of ..."
a fixed expression that is used for starting a new topic and linking it to the present one Example: "I totally agree. The Mediterranean diet is undoubtedly the healthiest diet in the world as it is abundant in fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil ... you can even eat sweets but in moderation. Speaking of food, what's for supper tonight?" 2. "When it comes to (sth / doing sth), ..." when the specified matter is under consideration Example: When it comes to combatting insomnia, a cup of chamomile tea is the best remedy. 3. "If worst comes to worst, ..." / "If the worst comes to the worst, ..." in the worst-case scenario; in the worst possible circumstances Example: We should be able to catch the 9.30 train, but if worst comes to worst, we could get a taxi and still arrive at the airport on time. |
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