Phase Lesson #11 "On The Fly"

The phrase "on the fly" indicates that something is created, or an action performed when it is needed. There is no planning involved, you just do it at that moment.
Consider the text of the example below:

Two friends have been separated for a long time and they had an opportunity to see each other once again. They wanted to go a restaurant to have dinner to talk about old times. The restaurant would be determined "on the fly!"

Lesson #10 "Until The Cows Come Home"

This phrase indicates "a long time!"

Background:

In the southern rural portion of the United States where families had cows, they would turn them loose to graze and the cows would be gone all day. At evening time the cows would come home.

When a person uses this phrase, they are indicating in the sentence that someone is doing something that they will continue to do for a relatively long time. Consider the examples below:



1. Serious basketball players will practice basketball "until the cows come home!"

2. When a comedian "get on a roll" (get a momentum in joke telling) they will have you laughing "until the cows come home!"

3. Some people will argue with you "until the cows come home!"



As you can see from the example sentences, using this idiom is communicating that someone will do something for a relatively long time, not necessarily literally, but figuratively. This phrase is commonly used in American daily life and the person listening will understand exactly what is meant, now you will too!

Lesson #9 "The Proof Is In The Pudding"

This phrase is used to communicate that the results are the most important thing which gives credibility to the means of obtaining the results.

For example, if someone was making pudding (which is a sweet dessert, different than ice cream) and didn't follow a recipe but put a little of this and a little of that (ingredients) into making the pudding and afterwards, upon tasting it, it tasted delicious! This would indicate it wasn't the recipe, but the skill of the Cook for the good results.

There are different situations that this phrase can be used, it also indicates that it doesn't matter what you say or do but what are the end results? Consider the examples below:

Example 1
A father says to his son: "Son, everyday after school you've been going to your room and closing the door. After seeing your school report card, "the proof is in the pudding" of what you've been doing in your room! These straight A's shows that you've been studying!" Congratulations Son!

Example 2
A certain school continually has graduates which excel in their area of study, "the proof is in the pudding" as to the caliber of teachers and administrators in that school!

Example 3
There is a phrase that says, "practice makes perfect" but if you do inferior work, "the proof is in the pudding" that you really haven't been practicing!

I hope these examples will help you to understand the phrase, "the proof is in the pudding." If so, please leave a comment, thanks!