Rolls off the tongue is definitely your blog if you want to come to terms with English idioms.
Idioms, as the person or people behind the blog say (sorry! I couldn't find any names to say thank you! and keep up with the good work!) are the weirdest part of the English language. They never mean what they say. They "
roll off the tongue" without stopping at the brain.
A cartoon is published on a weekly basis. Readers have to find out what idiom the cartoon illustrates. Four or five days later the answer is posted, together with some background information about the origin of the idiom, both its literal and metaphorical meaning, a sentence to exemplify the idiom and an explanation of the cartoon.
Most English learners, especially at intermediate level and below may find the task of deducing the meaning out of the cartoon daunting, to say the least, but they can always check old entries and learn a few idioms together with their meaning. That way, they will improve their vocabulary, the reading skills and their grasp of English culture.
Answer: FIT AS A FIDDLE
Origin: My instincts tell me that this expression exists because of the alliteration (fit and fiddle both start with the letter F) There is something about the English language and perhaps all languages which makes it pleasant to rhyme words and also to use alliterations. Cockney rhyming slang is a perfect example of this. “Fit as a fiddle” goes back to the early 17th century when it first appeared in print. Verbally it could be a lot older. However in those days “fit” did not mean “healthy”. Rather it came from the idea of something being the correct size, also to be suitable for some purpose. There is also the expression “fine as a fiddle.” Eventually “fit” replaced “fine” probably because the T had a closer sound to the D, though “fine as a fiddle” is still in use. By the way, the Roman goddess of joy was Vitula. There is speculation that the word “fiddle” might be derived from her.
Usage: Informal, spoken and written general British and American English
Idiomatic Meaning: To be healthy; to be in good physical and mental condition.
Literal Meaning: Violins can be in good and bad shape just as any other object. If they are taken care of they will be fit or suitable to play. However, as we see in the cartoon, this particular fiddle has been working out, exercising and is in good physical shape!
Why is this funny? Normally the expression is only a metaphor however in the cartoon universe anything can happen. Cows can jump over moons; dishes can run away with spoons; and blind mice can walk around with canes. As the illustration shows all of these nursery rhyme characters have suffered some injury, except for the violin, or fiddle. Even the banged up and bandaged cat can’t understand why the fiddle is so healthy. We can also see that the fiddle has been exercising by the barbells it is lifting. We see both meanings of the idiom here. The fit fiddle is “fit as a fiddle!”
Sample sentence: Now that I’ve recovered from my hernia operation, I feel “fit as a fiddle”
