Example: I asked my friends to loan me money but was met with the cold shoulder.
Origin: The shoulder of beef is a less desirable cut. Serving a cold piece of beef shoulder to your guests is a not so subtle message that they are not welcome in your home.
Example: I don't want to hear about how this is a great place to work. I just want the bottom line. How much does the job pay?
Origin: This might seem like a reference to the shape of ones pants, but it is not that interesting.
A reference to the standard accounting reports. These include the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Statement of Cash Flows. In each of these multi-line reports, a variety of financial figures are provided. Some are positive and some are negative. But "the bottom line" of each report provides the net of all the figures.
In that sense the bottom line of each report is generally the most important indicator of the financial position. Anyone wanting the quick story would look first to the bottom line of each report.
Example: If Siskel and Ebert give the movie two thumbs up, it is probably pretty good.
Origin: The phrase comes from the thumbs up hand gesture. It is attributed to the ancient Romans and the Gladiators who fought in the Coliseum.
When one Gladiator had emerged victorious in a fight, the spectators would get to decide if the loser should live or die. If they felt the loser had fought bravely enough, his life would be spared, otherwise he would be killed.
The spectators signaled their vote with a "thumbs up" for life and thumbs down for death.
In truth the thumbs down was not as we do it today, but instead a forward and downward thumb motion as if stabbing it into the ground. The thumb symbolized the weapon of the victor and hence the motions showed how the weapon should be used on the loser.
Meaning: To fail in a sporting event on purpose, to throw a game.
Example: All good employees learn to take a dive when playing golf with the boss.
Origin: Boxers who have been bribed to throw a bout but wishing to make it look as if the opponent won legitimately would dive to the mat after being hit. This was to create the illusion of a legitimate knock out.
Incidentally this is also a good strategy when playing golf with a customer.
