Sayings and Expressions that begin with the letter "I" from "I came, I saw, I conquered" to "It's too much of a good thing"

To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain a perennial child.
Cicero 50 B.C.

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I CAME, I SAW, I CONQUERED---Reporting to the Roman senate on his military victory over Pharnacles II, king of Pontus (47 B.C.) Julius Caesar succinctly said: "Veni, vidi, vici." (I came, I saw, I conquered.)

I CAN'T MAKE HEADS OR TAILS OF IT---Ambiguous; unclear.---Margery Mason (1679). The Ticker Tickled. "Their tale...had neither head nor taile."

new! I DIDN'T JUST FALL OFF THE TURNIP TRUCK---I know what is going on; I'm not stupid.---"He tried to sell me that piece of junk he's driving, did he think I just fell off the turnip truck."---Early 19th century---Alludes to an unsophisticated person from the country that is not versed in the ways of the big city. A picture of a farmhand sitting on a load of lowly turnips, riding into the big city.

I DIDN'T LIKE THE COLOR OF HIS MONEY---Mistrust; found something suspicious about a person or proposal.---The color of money in a given location is usually the same color, so in a particular case a person or proposition seemed to be tainted or faulty. Thomas Gordon (1718). A Cordial for Low Spirits. "I have never seen the colour of Mr. Baskett's money."

I DON'T GIVE A TINKERS DAMN---Worthless.---When a tinker was preparing a vessel for soldering he would make a small "dam" out of clay to keep the solder from spreading, when he was finished he threw the dam away.

I DON'T KNOW HIM FROM ADAM---A stranger.---Presumably one would not know Adam. Charles Dickens (1840). The Old Curiosity Shop. "He called to see my Governor this morning and beyond that I don't know him from Adam."

I DON'T PUT ANY STOCK IN IT---To have no regard for something; I don't believe it.---"I heard what he said but I don't put any stock in it."---The subscribed capital of a company or some other organization. You wouldn't want to invest any confidence or real support in a certain person or thing.---(1874). "He did not take stock in all the remarkable yields of butter reported on [cows fed on] grass and hay."

I EAT TO LIVE, NOT LIVE TO EAT---I don't have an obsession with eating.---Northbrooke (1577). Dicing Etc. "Thou lyuest not to eate, butt eat as thou mayest lyue.

I FEEL IT IN MY BONES---To have a premonition or intuition about something.---"Something bad is going to happen, I can feel it in my bones."---Shakespeare Timon of Athens. "I feel't upon my bones."

new! I HAD AN INKLING---Some advance notice; a feeling; premonition.---"I had an inkling this was going to happen."---Originally meant a sample or a glimpse of a written idea.---Related to tha Anglo Saxon verb imt to mutter.

I HAVE OTHER FISH TO FRY---I am busy with other things.---"I cant hang around here all day, I have other fish to fry."---Swift (1710). Journal to Stella. "Which I will not answer tonight...No, faith, I have other fish to fry."

new! I MAY AS WELL, I CAN'T DANCE---Said at a party or nightclub when asked if you want a drink.

I MAY BE WITTY, BUT THE AUTHOR WHO WROTE SNOWBOUND WAS WHITTIER---I would like to have a nickel for every time I heard my father utter this one.---FOR BLONDS ONLY: John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 - 92) Poet, writer, abolitionist and politician. His most famous poem was Snowbound (1866.)

I SHALL RETURN---A person has been wrongfully dismissed but will return.---Defiant parting shot of General Douglas MacArthur in March 1942 when he was ordered to leave the Philippines by President Franklin Roosevelt. MacArthur did indeed return to the Philippines in 1944.

I WAS BORN AT NIGHT, BUT NOT LAST NIGHT---I may be a little naive but not totally gullible.

I WASN'T BORN YESTERDAY---I have some experience.

I WILL BEAT YOU LIKE A RED HEADED STEP CHILD---For centuries the red haired have been popularly held to be unreliable, deceitful and quick tempered. From the tradition that Judas had red hair. The fat of a dead red haired person used to be in demand as an ingredient for poisons.---Chapman "Flattery like the plague, strikes into the brain of man, and rageth in his entrails when he can, worse than the poison of a red hair'd man. I feel like a stepchild. Said by one who is being left out of the fun or getting none of the tidbits. Stepchildren are proverbially treated by the step-parent with somewhat less consideration than their own children.

I WON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER---I insist.

I WOULD RATHER HAVE A BOTTLE IN FRONT OF ME THAN A FRONTAL LOBOTOMY---(1596). Knack to Know an Honest Man. "The prouerbe is true that I tell to you, tis better to be dronken and drowsy, than hunger starued and lowsie."

I WOULD RATHER TAKE A BEATING---Some things you dread to do.---"I would rather take a beating than go see my mother-in-law."---Ray (1670). "Better to be beaten than be in bad company."

I WOULDN'T GIVE YOU A NICKEL FOR A DEATH BED REPENTANCE---Doesn't mean very much.---Lattimer (1639). Works. "Late repentance is seldom true."

I WOULDN'T TOUCH THAT WITH A TEN FOOT POLE

I WOULDN'T TRUST HIM AS FAR AS I COULD THROW HIM---Untrustworthy.---Harington (1618). Epigrams. "That he might scant trust him so farre as throw him."

I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN HIS SHOES---I wouldn't want to be in that situation.

I'M FROM MISSOURI; YOU'VE GOT TO SHOW ME---I don't believe you; prove it to me.---Willard Duncan Vandiver (1899.) (Speech at a naval banquet in Philadelphia.) "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I'm from Missouri. You've got to show me.

I'M GETTING NOWHERE FAST---Doing a lot and acomplishing nothing.

IDLE HANDS ARE THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND---Ray (1678). "An idle brain is the devils workshop." R. Kingston (1709). Adoph. Curiosa. "An idle person tempts the devil to tempt him." Vulldf (1732). "If the devil catch a man idle, he'll set him at work."

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY AGAIN---Don't give up easily, keep trying.---Thomas H. Palmer (1840.) Teachers Manual.

IF BETTER WHEELBARROWS ARE BUILT, BUICK WILL BUILD THEM.---My father was a mechanic and he liked Buicks. As far as I know this was an original of his.

IF FROGS HAD WINGS, THEY WOULDN'T BUMP THEIR ASS---You're just indulging in wishful thinking.---Listed: H. L. Mencken (1942.) Dictionary of Quotations.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT---It is pointless to try and fix something that already works.

IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK, WALKS LIKE A DUCK, AND QUACKS LIKE A DUCK, IT'S A DUCK---The outward appearance and behavior of a person provides such obvious evidence of his nature that it's silly to inquire further.---Joseph McCarthy (1950.)

IF I'VE TOLD YOU ONCE, I'VE TOLD YOU A THOUSAND TIMES---You are not paying attention; I mean what I say; stop ignoring me.

IF MY AUNT HAD BEEN A MAN SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN MY UNCLE---Ray (1813).

IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT---You should acknowledge or accept a remark or a situation that applies to you.---John Ozell (1714). Moliere. "If the cap fits, put it on."

IF WORSE COMES TO WORSE---If things get really bad.---"If worse comes to worse you can always stay here."---(1597). Discouerie of Knights of th Poste.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO WALK ON ICE, YOU MAY AS WELL DANCE

IF YOU CAN'T BEAT THEM, JOIN THEM

IF YOU CAN'T FIND TIME TO DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FIND THE TIME TO DO IT AGAIN---Howell (1659). Proverbs. "A work ill done must be done twice."

IF YOU CAN'T IMPRESS THEM WITH YOUR INTELLIGENCE, BAFFLE THEM WITH YOUR BULL SHIT

IF YOU CAN'T RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS, STAY ON THE PORCH

IF YOU CAN'T SAY SOMETHING NICE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL

IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN

IF YOU DON'T BEND YOU ARE GOING TO BREAK---Be more flexible.---Chaucer (1573). "The yerde (twig) is hat that howan wole and winde than that that brest (breaks).

IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE WELL YOU HAVE TO DO IT YOURSELF---Others who would do a job for you are less likely to care about the results as you do.---Aesop (1692). "He that would be sure to have his business well done, must either do it himself, or see the doing of it."

IF YOU WANT TO DANCE YOU MUST PAY THE FIDDLER---You must pay for what you get or do.---(1681). Roxbury Ballads.

IF YOU LAY DOWN WITH DOGS YOU'LL GET UP WITH FLEAS---If you associate with unsavory characters some of it is bound to rub off on you.---Florio (1578). First Fruites. "He who lies down with dogs will rise with fleas."

IF YOU THROW ENOUGH SHIT AGAINST THE WALL, SOME OF IT IS BOUND TO STICK---If you bullshit enough somebody is going to believe some of it.---T. Hall (1660). Funebria Flore. "If you throw enough dirt against the wall, some of it is bound to stick."

IF YOU WON'T LISTEN YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO FEEL---Take advise from your elders.---My father really liked to use this one for some reason. Sir Richard Whittington (1669)). Politeuphuia. "He that refuseth to buy council cheap, shall buy repentance dear."

IF YOU'RE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION, YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM---Anyone who doesn't take direct action to make things better is just an obstacle to changing the status quo.---Buel Gallagher (1964.)

IF YOU'VE SEEN ONE, YOU'VE SEEN THEM ALL---They all look alike; no real difference.---Spiro T. Agnew (1960's.)

IF WE DON'T LEARN FROM HISTORY, WE ARE DESTINED TO REPEAT IT

IF WISHES WERE HORSES BEGGARS WOULD RIDE---You cannot wish it and make it so.

IGNORANCE IS BLISS---If you are unaware of a situation you can't worry about it; not knowing you can blindly walk into a situation with a smile on your face.---Burton (1621). Melancholy. "Your ignorance is the mother of your devotion to me."

IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE---A person who commits a crime is considered guilty even if he was unaware that his act was illegal.---Ignorantia juris neminem excusat. (Ignorance of the law excuses no one.) St. German (1530.) Dialogues in English.

ILL GOTTEN GAIN---Something obtained illegally or by trickery.---(1630). Roxbury Ballads. "Ill gotten goods never doe thrive."

new! I'LL BE A MONKEY'S UNCLE---Suprise; skepticism.---Became popular about the time of the famous Scopes trial in Dayton, Tennessee, (1925.) Also referred to as the "monkey trial". Teacher John T. Scopes was put on trial for teaching the theory of evolution in the school.---The subject matter was Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species. (1859.) in which he set forth his theory of evolution.---The saying came about because of the supposed link between monkey and man.

IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY---A person imitating your behavior is more flattering than telling you.---Colton (1820). Lacon.

IN A COON'S AGE---A long time.---"I Haven't seen Jerry in a coon's age."---Literal origin unclear.---William T. Thompson (1843). Major Jones's Courtship. "Mary soon got over her scare, but the way she's mad at cousin Pete won't wear off for a coon's age."

IN A COUNTRY OF BLIND, THE ONE-EYED MAN IS KING---Among incompetents, even mediocrity passes for brilliance.---John Skelton (1522.) Why Come Ye Nat To Courte?

IN A NUTSHELL---Concise, contained in a small space---"I like the way you explained it, that's it in a nutshell"---Earliest notation was by Pliny in his "Natural History" about 2,000 years ago, "the Iliad had been copied in such a minute script that the entire work could be contained in a walnut shell." In (1590) Peter Bales in England actually wrote a Bible small enough to fit in a walnut shell.---William Freke (1693). Select Essays. "Can we reduce the schoolmen to a nut shell?"

IN A PICKLE---In trouble.---"You are in a pickle now."---Pickle was the brine or vinegar used to preserve the pickle. John Fox (1585). Sermon: "In this pickle lyeth man by nature, that is , all wee that be Adams children."

IN A PIG'S EYE---Never; highly unlikely.---David Locke (1872). "A poetickal cotashun which wuz, 'Kum wun, him all, this rock shel fly from its firm base, in a pig's eye.'"

IN A RUT---Adhering to a routine that one should try to get out of.---"John, you really need to get out of this rut you've gotten into."---In the horse and buggy days the dirt roads would get worn with ruts from the wagon wheels. Once you got your wagon wheels into these ruts it was very hard to get them out, you had to follow the same old path.---Thomas Carlyle (1839). Essay on Chartism. "Parliaments, lumbering along in their deep ruts of commonplace."

IN A WORD---A brief exclamation; short meaning.---"In a word, I quit!"---Shakespeare The Two Gentlemen of Verona. "His years but young, but his experience old; his head unmellow'd, but his judgement ripe; and, in a word, far beyond his worth comes all the praises that I now bestow......"

IN COLD BLOOD---Ruthless; without feeling.---"He killed those people in cold blood."---Hot blood is symbolic of anger, cold blood symbolizes a harmful action. Sir Francis Vere (1608). Commentaries. "A resolution framed in cold blood."

IN FOR A PENNY, IN FOR A POUND---Once you start something you may as well finish.---Edward Ravenscroft (1695.) Canterbury Guests. "Well, then o'er boots. And in for a Penny, in for a Pound."

IN HIS ELEMENT---In one's most favorable environment.---"He is really in his element when he works on his car."---Hugh Broughton (1599). "You are in for all day, it is your element."

IN HOT WATER---In trouble.---"The boy is in hot water now."---The Earl of Malmesbury thought it was a modern phrase in 1765, writing: "We are kept, to use the modern phrase, in hot water."

IN LIKE FLYNN---Errol Flynn was a notorious ladies man. His conquests were legendary. If you were able to seduce a lady you were in like Flynn.

IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER---Hear but not remember; not paying attention to what was said.---"When my mother in law speaks I let it go in one ear and out the other."---Chaucer (1374). Troilus and Criseyde. "Oon ere it herde, at tothir out it wente."

IN ONE FELL SWOOP---All at once; quickly; without mercy.---"My investments were doing well and in one fell swoop I was bankrupt."---A bird of prey swoops down quickly and gets it's victim. fell: cruel; deadly; fierce.

IN OVER ONE'S HEAD---Overextended; past one's ability.---"John is in over his head on this one."---Richard Baxter (1653). "That silly women shall be dipt over head in a gumble stool for scolding?"

IN THE BAG---Success is assured.---"Don't worry about the new contract, it is in the bag."---(1486). Book of St. Albans. "You must take a partrich in yowre bagge."

IN THE DOG HOUSE---In someone's bad graces, usually a man with his wife.---"I should have been home hours ago, I'll be in the dog house now."---James M. Barrie (1904). Peter Pan. Mr. Darling treats the family dog badly; the children are offended and run away. Mr. Darling lives in the dog's house as penance until they return.

IN THE GROOVE---Working or operating well.---"We are in the groove now, everything is working well."---When the needle on a record player stays in the groove and doesn't skip, the music plays well.

IN THE LAP OF LUXURY---Well off; in a cushy situation.---"He is living in the lap of luxury now."---Maria Edgeworth (1802). Moral Tales. "Brought up in the lap of luxury."

IN THE LONG RUN---Over a long period of time.---"In the long run I think you will be better off."---Oliver Cromwell (1656). In a speech: "They must end at the interest of the Cavalier at the long run."
IN THE OFFING---Something which is going to happen soon.---"I think we have a new deal in the offing."---The sea just off shore was referred to as the "Offing". A ship returning from sea was seen when it reached the offing, and would be in port soon.

IN THE PINK---In good health; in tip top condition.---"I am in the pink now."---Has had many meanings from one's health to being a fine example of something or the height of success.

IN THE SPRING A YOUNG MAN'S FANCY LIGHTLY TURNS TO THOUGHTS OF LOVE---Spring is the season of new growth between winter and summer, so, naturally, it is also the season for love.---Alfred Tennyson (1842.)

INDEPENDENT AS A HOG ON ICE---Self assured; cocky.---"He is like a hog on ice."---The heavy stone used in the game of curling. Once it is started down the ice, it's movements are quite independent. (1889). Century Dictionary. "Origin obscure; by some identified with hog (i.e. swine), as 'laggard stones that manifest a pig like indolence,' or it mighty be thought, in allusion to the helplessness of a hog on ice, there being in the United States an ironical smile, 'as independent as a hog on ice.' "Funk found that the expression was known in all the northern states form Maine to Illinois and in many southern states (sometimes as "pig" rather than hog).

INDIAN GIVER---One who gives something with conditions under which it can be reclaimed.---Because Columbus thought he had discovered a new passage to India, native Americans came to be called Indians. Many were peaceful, some were not. Frontiersmen who were at odds with the native Americans coined dozens of phrases that included the name of their foes. Anything substandard, undesirable, or troublesome was called "Indian". A person who gave a gift with conditions was ridiculed as an "Indian giver". Any admiration for whites who pillaged a continent and habitually broke treaties is gone, only the shame remains. The expression still exists today but it's negative reflection on the native Americans is far removed.

INSIDE TRACK---Position of advantage.---"I have made a proposal for the property and I think I have the inside track."---A race track expression. Obviously anyone running on the inside track travels a shorter distance than his competitors and has an advantage.

IS A DUCK WATERPROOF

new! ISH KABIBBLE---Yiddish term for a mischevious fellow.---I can remember my older brother using this term in reference to one of the mischevious neighborhood boys.---This was the nickname of the cornet player (Bogue) in the Kay Kiser band, they also had a nonsensical song by that name.

IT AIN'T FIT OUT FOR MAN OR BEAST---The weather is abominable.---W. C. Fields (1880 - 1946.) Movie The Fatal Glass of Beer.

IT AIN'T OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS---The outcome of any contest isn't known until the final results are in.---Origin unclear.

IT GOES IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER---It makes no impression; it is ignored.---"When Larry tells me something, I let it go in one ear and come out the other."---Chaucer (1385.)

IT DEPENDS ON WHOSE OX IS GETTING GORED---One's viewpoint may change when his or her interest is directly involved.---Noah Webster (1802). American Spelling Book. Fable: The Partial Judge. A farmer says to a lawyer: "One of your Oxen has been gored by an unlucky Bull of mine, and I should like to know how I am to make you reparation. The lawyer says he expects one of the farmer's oxen. Then the farmer says he has made a mistake, it is the lawyers bull that has killed the farmers ox. "Indeed!" says the lawyer, "that alters the case. I must enquire into the affair; and if ...." "And if!" said the farmer, "The business I find would have been concluded without an if, had you been as ready to do justice to others, as to exact it from them.

IT IS BETTER TO HAVE LOVED AND LOST, THAN NEVER TO HAVE LOVED AT ALL---The pleasures of love are greater than the pain of loss.---William Congreve (1700.) The Way of the World. "Say what you will, 'tis better to be left than never to have been loved."

IT IS A POOR WORKMAN WHO BLAMES HIS TOOLS---A poor workman will blame everything but himself.---D. Urfey (1696). Quixote. "Tis a ill workman that quarrels with his own tools."

IT IS AS BROAD AS IT IS LONG---It is the same either way.---Ray (1678).

IT IS BETTER TO LIGHT ONE CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS---Taking some positive action, however small, can help to dispel one's despair at the evils and injustice of this world.

IT IS EASIER TO GAIN FORGIVENESS THAN IT IS TO GET PERMISSION

IT IS GOOD TWO WAYS, GOOD FOR NOTHING AND NO GOOD---Something or someone is emphatically not good.---"That dog is good two ways, good for nothing and no good."---(variation) Swift (1738). Polite Conversation. "Which of the goods d'ye mean? good for something or good for nothing?

IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE---On who has acted in the same manner knows what to look for.

IT IS A DOG EAT DOG WORLD---Everyone is out for themselves.---Spurgeon (1869). John Ploughman. "Dog won't eat dog, but men eat each other up like cannibals."

IT IS A DOG'S LIFE---Simple routine and mostly easy.---"He leads a dog's life."---Torriano (1666). Piazza Univ. "Hunger and ease is a dogs life."

IT IS ALWAYS DARKEST BEFORE DAWN---When things are at their worst, they must get better.---Fuller (1650). Pisgah Sight. "The darkest hour is before the dawn."

IT IS AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NO GOOD

IT IS AS EASY AS FALLING OFF A LOG---Very easy; nothing to it.---M. Kennedy (1924). Constant Nymph. "They'd find it as easy as falling off a log, you see!"

IT IS BETTER TO BE THOUGHT FOOLISH THAN TO OPEN ONE'S MOUTH AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT

IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE---(1493). Dives and Pauper. "It is more blissful to giue than to take."

IT IS BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS---Taking some positive action, however small, can help to dispel one's despair at the evils and injustice of this world.

IT IS BETTER TO SWEAT IN PEACE THAN BLEED IN WAR

IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN IT IS TO RECEIVE---By sharing with others, a charitable person gains more than is given, because the spiritual benefits of unselfishness vastly outweigh the value of mere material possessions.

IT IS NOT OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS---The contest is never over until the very end.---Several variations to this: Originally: The opera ain't over till the fat lady sings. Church ain't out till the fat lady sings. The fat lady has sung.

IT IS NOT THE FALL THAT KILLS YOU IT IS THE SUDDEN STOP

IT IS NOT WHETHER YOU WIN OR LOOSE, IT'S HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME

IT IS THE PITS---It is bad or unpleasant.---"I hate this, it's the pits."---True meaning of pits lost. The logical meaning would have to do with a pit, something deep and dark, not very pleasant.

IT ISN'T AS BIG AS A BEE'S KNEE---Very small.---(1789). Notes and Queries. "It cannot be as big as a bee's knee."

IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK---You will not get something if you don't ask.---G. Harvey (1852). Marginalia. "Ask much to have a little."

IT TAKES ALL KINDS---It takes all kinds of people the make the world.---"Jerry is really something isn't he, I guess it takes all kinds."---Jerold (1844). Story of Feather. "Well it takes all kinds to make a world.

IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO---Some things require the cooperation of two parties.---"He didn't get her pregnant all by himself, it takes two to tango."---(1920's) Pearl Baily (1952.) Song Takes Two to Tango.

IT WILL ALL COME OUT IN THE WASH---We will find out sooner or later.---"I know he is hiding something, but it will all come out in the wash."---Henry Festing Jones (1876). "As my cousin's laundress says, 'It will all come right in the wash.'"

IT'S A CATCH 22 SITUATION---It's a no-win situation: no matter what you do, you lose.---Joseph Heller (1961.) Catch-22 Novel about WWII. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions.....If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have too; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to.

IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE---One has achieved one's greatest wish.

IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE---It's work done not for profit or from necessity, but for the satisfaction of accomplishment.---"I am doing this for my own satisfaction, it's a labor of love."---Bible: I Thessalonians 1:3. "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love."

IT'S A SIGN OF THE TIMES---It's a characteristic feature of the present; it's a trend.---Usually used in a negative context about the morality of the times.---Bible: Matthew 16:2,3. "When it is evening, ye say, it will be fair weather, for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?"

IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NO GOOD---Someone is likely to capitalize on any given unwelcome or disastrous situation; one person's misfortune may turn out to be another's good luck.---Old naval proverb used to explain one's good luck at the expense of someone's misfortune.---John Heywood (1546.) Proverbs. "An ill wind that bloweth no man to good."

ITS DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN---Already seen; something you have seen, or feel you have seen before.---French deja vu meaning (Already seen.)---All over again added by Yogi Berra.

IT'S JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED---It is exactly what one needs or wants.---

IT'S LIKE OPENING A CAN OF WORMS---This is a highly problematical situation or complex problem.---"This situation has opened a whole new can of worms."---Anyone who has seen a can of worms used as bait for fishing can tell you what a tangled mess it becomes as the worms all bunch together.

IT'S NOT OVER TILL IT'S OVER---Never give up hope until the outcome is final.---Yogi Berra (1973.) Attributed to Yogi when he was managing the ragtag New Your Mets.

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW BUT WHO YOU KNOW---It is often better, or more advantageous to have good contacts than to have knowledge.---

IT'S NOT WORTH THE PAPER IT'S WRITTEN ON---It's worthless.---Johann Bernhard, Graf von Rechberg (1861.) In a dispatch concerning the recognition of Italy, wrote: "Guarantees which are not worth the paper they are written on."

IT'S THE GREATEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD---Brilliant idea; what a fine thing.---Substitutes for bread are: checkers, chopped liver, packaged bread, swinging doors, chewing gum, the hula hoop or the hamburger.---Carl Bernstein & Bob Woodward (1974.) All the President's Men. "Once during the Florida primary, Howard Hunt had some fliers printed saying that Mayor Lindsay, of New York, was having a meeting and there would be free beer. Howard handed these fliers out in the black areas, and of course there was no meeting or beer, so the blacks would come for their beer and leave hating Lindsay. Howard thought this was the greatest thing since Chinese checkers."

IT'S TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE---Said of an action that is neither adequate or timely enough to be effective.---Allan Nevins (1935.) Current History. Nevins argued that the rise of Nazism was a result of the West having offered Germany too little aid for reconstruction, "and that too late" policy should not be repeated.

IT'S TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING---In excess, even desirable things become burdensome.---"I would like to have another piece of that cake, but that would be too much of a good thing."---Shakespeare (1599.) As You Like It. "Rosalind: "Are you good?" Orlando: "I hope so." Rosalind: "Why, then, can one desire too much of a good thing."

new! I'VE BEEN TO TWO COUNTY FAIRS AND A HOG DENUTT'IN, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS---Astonishment at an event or happening.---I've been around some, and I have seen some unusual things, but this tops them all.

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