Improve your English and learn idioms and phrases related to Thanksgiving. We’ll kick off with phrases. Scroll down to learn Thanksgiving idioms and share an infographic.
Thanksgiving idioms
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6 English Idioms and Phrases related to Thanksgiving
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idioms and phrases related to thanksgiving
By the time you read this post Halloween will have come and gone (arrived and departed) and thoughts will turn to the next holiday if any before Christmas and New Year. Traditionally in America (and also Canada), they celebrate Thanksgiving Day (thanksgiving always written as one word) near the end of November.
The exact date changes every year because Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November.
There appear to be different ideas as to when was the first Thanksgiving day but generally, most believe it was officially decided by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.
As the words suggest people gathered (came together) to offer thanks for the giving of the harvest. People wish to thank God for the safe collection of the harvest and the rain to help the crops grow.
In those days it was celebrated in Churches as a specific religious festivity (celebration or feast day) but now it has developed (like most traditions) into a commercial holiday.
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INSANITY: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Families traditionally come together for a family dinner which will always include some of the food they celebrated way back when (hundreds of years ago) so turkey, potatoes and pumpkin pie will be high on all menus. Usually, the beginning of the meal starts with a Blessing (words of thanks. Dear Lord we thank you for giving us this fine meal and bringing all the family together on this special day etc,etc).
The Thursday is a national holiday with many people also taking the Friday as an extra day so that thanksgiving day is actually in reality a 4 day holiday .
In the cities across America parades will be held on or around Thanksgiving day. Today it represents the official opening of the shopping season and traders (shop owners) count the number of weekends between thanksgiving and Christmas to estimate how good their shopping season will be. Depending on the day that Christmas day falls (occurs) there may be one extra weekend or one less.
For example, if Christmas Day (25th December) is on a Saturday or Sunday then normally they will have one less shopping weekend. This is really crucial (very important) for the big stores and retail shops. That extra weekend can mean the difference between a successful season or not
6 English Idioms and Phrases related to Thanksgiving
Here are some English idioms and phrases related to Thanksgiving:
count your blessings
Be grateful for what you have. If something bad happens to someone and we are moaning someone may say to us.Stop moaning you should count your blessings.
Example:
We may have had a bad week in work and we are complaining when your partner says “you should count your blessings. Our neighbour lost his job yesterday!”
A blessing in disguise meaning
a blessing in disguise idiom meaning - video lesson
a blessing in disguise
Usually when something unfortunate happens but actually turns out to be to our advantage we say “that was a blessing in disguise”.
Example:
He says it was a blessing in disguise, because it forced him to focus on growing different revenue streams.
talk turkey
A very American expression. Usually means we should start talking seriously. You often hear it in American detective films.
Example:
Ok you guys, we need to hear all the facts. You need to start talking turkey now otherwise we will lock you up!!
Idioms related to Thanksgiving
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(go) cold turkey
When someone gives up a bad habit very quickly they often suffer withdrawal symptoms and go cold turkey.
For example, when you give up smoking you will feel very bad for several days and wish you had a cigarette. You get headaches as part of your withdrawal symptoms.
Example:
Last year when I tried to quit smoking, I didn’t use any nicotine replacement and went cold turkey for the first time.
fall is in the air
Of course, nothing is actually falling in the air but the air and the atmosphere has changed with the cooler air comes the change in leaf colour. Pumpkins are everywhere and there’s a renewed interest in hot drinks, fuzzy sweaters and cozy fires. All of these things make people say that fall is in the air.
Example:
This morning I woke up and it felt like Fall was in the air. It was cool out, a little breezing, I actually wore a fleece zip up jacket.
I’m stuffed
My stomach is so full of food that I can’t eat anymore. I’m like a stuffed turkey.
Example:
The meal was good, and I was stuffed. After dinner, we went back to the room.
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