Which idiom, proverb, expression do we use when we are challenging someone to show what he can do?
- Posted:
- 3+ months ago by amina saf...
- Topics:
- expression, proverb, proverbs
Answers (1)
Idiom, proverb, and expression are figures of speech. A challenge is not. A figure of speech is a departure from the normal patterns of language for the purpose of emphasizing something. The simplest figure of speech is the SIMILE. A simile emphasizes a similarity of two things by merely saying it: "You are like a dog", or "You are as a dog". The figure rests entirely on one word.
A METAPHOR emphasizes a similarity of two things by saying they are the same; "You are a dog".
Next comes a big word: HYPOCATASTASIS. This is a Greek word for name-calling. Hypocatastasis just calls the fellow "Dog!" See Luke 13:32 "that fox", and Genesis 3:1 "the serpent".
A PARABLE is an extended figure of speech; a story based on a simile, metaphor, or hypocatastasis. If the story is possible, it is a MYTH. If the story is impossible, it is a FABLE. If a fable includes an explanation of the meaning, it is an ALLEGORY. Don't confuse any of these with LEGEND, which is a supposedly true but unverified historical account (Adam and Eve, for example).
These terms are not used with any precise meaning in modern discourse. For instance, most people think 'allegory' means "a story full of religious symbolism beyond human comprehension". But when discussing figures of speech they are very precisely defined. Here is a book that lists about 900 figures found in the bible. It is almost the only work in the subject for the last two thousand years:
openlibrary.org/search?q=e.+w.+bullinger+figures+of+speech
More figures: mentalfloss.com/article/60234/21-rhetorical-devices-explained
An idiom is a word or phrase with a special meaning to people of a certain place. For example, Americans speak of a "fork in the road" and people outside America have no idea what that means. An idiom depends entirely on the people of the area of which you speak.
If you want to be clever with language you must learn the language better than most people. The internet has hundreds of examples poking fun at students who tried to say something clever when they didn't know what they were saying. I am not sure that what you want exists, but in any case you have to find it yourself and be sure it is the right thing to say.
I found the following answers:
"Hit me with your best shot", "put your best foot forward", "show me what you are made of", "have a flag in your hands, and an armored locomotive heading towards you".
I don't know if I can use all of them in the meaning "show me what you are capable of". But anyway I will ask my teachers.
Thank you for your answers.
I think what you want is "Show us what you are made of," but that is not an idiom or a proverb.
The best expression is "Show us what you do."
Yes, "show us what you are made of" is not a proverb or an idiom. I don't know which answer my teacher wants. She will say the right answer on Wednesday at our lesson. I will write it here.
Thank you.
Bear in mind that it is rare to find anyone who knows anything at all about figures of speech, even a teacher. If you read that book I linked, you will be equal to a PhD in the field just because nobody else knows that much.
I want to know how we can say "show what you are capable of" with the help of idiom or proverb