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ReDSanchous Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary
A couple of idioms with the word 'barrel'
I have picked up two idioms recently. These are: 'over a barrel' and 'not a barrel of laughs'. But I don't know how they work. I made up a sentence for each of them. Here they are:
-It was not a barrel of laughs.
-He got so annoyed when she had him over a barrel.
Are these sentences correct?
-It was not a barrel of laughs.
-He got so annoyed when she had him over a barrel.
Are these sentences correct?
Top answer
Here are some definitions: Barrel of Laughs If someone's a barrel of laughs, they are always joking and you find them funny. Over a Barrel If someone has you over a barrel, they have you in a position where you have no choice but to accept what they want. Since the idiom is said to refer to a person rather than an object or a situation, I would change It was not a barrel of laughs to He was not a barrel of laughs , for example.
- Here are some definitions: Barrel of Laughs If someone's a barrel of laughs, they are always joking and you find them funny.
- Over a Barrel If someone has you over a barrel, they have you in a position where you have no choice but to accept what they want.
- Since the idiom is said to refer to a person rather than an object or a situation, I would change It was not a barrel of laughs to He was not a barrel of laughs , for example.
- I suppose the second one is correct when put in context.
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4 Answers
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Here are some definitions:
Barrel of Laughs
If someone's a barrel of laughs, they are always joking and you find them funny.
Over a Barrel
If someone has you over a barrel, they have you in a position where you have no choice but to accept what they want.
Since the idiom is said to refer to a person rather than an object or a situation, I would change It was
Barrel of Laughs
If someone's a barrel of laughs, they are always joking and you find them funny.
Over a Barrel
If someone has you over a barrel, they have you in a position where you have no choice but to accept what they want.
Since the idiom is said to refer to a person rather than an object or a situation, I would change It was
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My dictionary says:
not a barrel of laughs - informal - a very unpleasant experience or situation
Sadly, it doesn't give any examples for these two idioms.
Thank you
not a barrel of laughs - informal - a very unpleasant experience or situation
Sadly, it doesn't give any examples for these two idioms.
Thank you
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Yes, that definition is OK too, Red.
'Trying to fight through the crowds in Tokyo Station is no barrel of laughs.'
'Getting sprayed by a skunk is no barrel of laughs' (I think 'no barrel' may be more common than 'not a barrel')
'When my girlfriend got pregnant, she had me over a barrel-- I had to marry her!'
'Trying to fight through the crowds in Tokyo Station is no barrel of laughs.'
'Getting sprayed by a skunk is no barrel of laughs' (I think 'no barrel' may be more common than 'not a barrel')
'When my girlfriend got pregnant, she had me over a barrel-- I had to marry her!'
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