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The phrase “brand spanking new” was used in the article on New Year’s Resolutions. Can you find it again? Did you know what it meant? Could you tell from the surrounding sentence what meaning it was supposed to convey? This phrase is known as an idiom.

An idiom is “a phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meanings of the words in it.” For instance, what does “spanking” have to do with new? For that matter what does “brand”?

Idioms are colorful ways to express ordinary ideas. Sometimes they serve to intensify the meaning. Something that is “brand spanking new” isn’t just new. It means it’s never been used and that it just came off the assembly line at a factory. So in the article it meant that the standard set of 12 months we call the New Year was straight off the assembly line; never used and never touched. It’s pristine and ready for you to start fresh. That’s really new!

Here are a couple of other idioms and their meanings:

• stick your neck out means to say or do something that is bold and risky.
• go out on a limb means pretty much the same thing except that it is used for more dangerous predicaments.
• break the ice means to be the first one to say or do something, in the hope that others will follow. Just starting a conversation can need someone to “break the ice”.
• get the ball rolling is very similar to “break the ice”. It means to be the first one to start or do something while encouraging others to join in the effort.

Sometimes carrying out a New Year’s Resolution requires the courage to stick your neck out or to break the ice. Whatever it takes, let’s all get the ball rolling for a great New Year!