I love phrases for which there are no opposites, like this one. “Losing my mind,” is another one that comes to mind. Word games, plays on words, puns, sarcasm – they all make our language a delightful surprise, bring a smile to our faces and lighten our moods. :0)
I really feel lucky to have grown up speaking English. I tried to learn Spanish when I was in school. I even was lucky enough to stay in Mexico City with a family who was a part of my dad’s community club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The girl had spent a month or so in our home, and this particular family wanted to return the favor – so I was the beneficiary. I got so I could understand if people spoke very slowly, and I could reply, if haltingly, kind of like a young child, but that was the best I could do.
I don’t know how someone learns English. There are so many quirky things about it. Very few rules that aren’t broken randomly. A whole different language when you throw in phrases and slang, puns, jokes, homonyms, etc.
I threw the ball through the window. Are you through? is just one example of why it’s probably impossible to really learn English well unless you grown up with it as your first, if only, language.
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