earth (redirected from brought back down to earth)

an earth mother

a woman who has children and who has a natural ability as a mother. My older sister's a real earth mother. She has four kids and she's completely happy to stay at home all day with them.

See also: mother

be the salt of the earth

if someone is the salt of the earth, they are a very good and honest person. His mother's the salt of the earth. She'd give you her last penny.

See also: salt

bring someone (back) down to earth

come (back) down to earth (with a bang/bump/jolt) - to have to start dealing with the unpleasant or boring things that happen every day after a period of excitement and enjoyment. I had a huge pile of work waiting for me on my desk so that brought me back down to earth.

See also: bring, down

come (back) down to earth (with a bang/bump/jolt)

to have to start dealing with the unpleasant or boring things that happen every day after a period of excitement and enjoyment. We came down to earth with a bump when we got back from our holidays to find we had a burst pipe.

See also: come, down

disappear/vanish off the face of the earth (British, American & Australian, American)

to disappear completely. We lost contact with Ed after he left college - he just disappeared off the face of the earth.

See also: disappear, face, vanish

down-to-earth

down-to-earth people or ideas are practical and work well. David's very arty and a bit of a dreamer - Ruth's much more down-to-earth. I like her down-to-earth approach to problem-solving.

the earth moved (humorous)

something that you say to describe how good a sexual experience was. 'How was it for you?' 'Ooh, the earth moved!'. Did the earth move for you?

See also: move

the four corners of the earth/world

every part of the world. Wedding guests arrived from the four corners of the world.

See also: corner, four, world

go to earth (British & Australian)

to go away somewhere where people will not be able to find you. I'll go to earth in my uncle's holiday cottage until all the publicity has died down.

go to the ends of the earth

to do everything possible in order to achieve something. Some journalists would go to the ends of the earth to get a story. (often + to do something)

See also: end

[hardly/scarcely etc.] earth-shattering

not very surprising or shocking. We were all expecting the announcement. It wasn't exactly earth-shattering news.

See also: hardly

(a) hell on earth

if a place or a situation is hell on earth, it is extremely unpleasant. Soldiers who survived the war in the jungle described it as hell on earth.

See also: hell

like nothing on earth

very strange. I don't know what instruments they play but it sounds like nothing on earth.

See also: like, nothing

move heaven and earth

to do everything you can to achieve something. I moved heaven and earth to get you that interview, and you didn't even bother to show up for it! (usually + to do something)

See also: heaven, move

promise (someone) the moon (British, American & Australian, British & Australian)

to promise something impossible. He had promised her the earth but five years later they were still living in the same small house.

See also: moon, promise

run someone to earth (British & Australian)

to find someone after searching for them. The film star was run to earth by reporters in an exclusive golf complex.

See also: run

the scum of the earth (very informal)

if a group of people are the scum of the earth, they are the worst type of people. People who abuse children are the scum of the earth.

---

back to earth

returning to a more usual condition. I was excited to get the job, but I came back to earth pretty quickly when I realized that I would have to move.

Usage notes: used with verbs like bring, come, and drop

See also: back

follow you to the ends of the earth

as far as possible. You cannot leave me because I will follow you to the ends of the earth.

See also: end, follow

the four corners of the earth

every part of the world. The giant company plans to bring coffee and soft drinks to the four corners of the earth.

to the four winds

See also: corner, four

go to the ends of the earth

to do as much as possible. Most people would go to the ends of the earth to make sure their child had the best possible doctor.

See also: end

heaven on earth

something extremely good. Brian's parties are heaven on earth — the food is marvelous and the company is terrific.

See also: heaven

hell on earthSee at: a hell of a someone/something

See also: hell

move heaven and earth (to do something)

to do everything possible to achieve a result. I have instructed police to move heaven and earth to find whoever is responsible for this terrible crime.

See also: heaven, move

move heaven and earth (to do something)See at: heaven forbid

See also: heaven, move

off the face of the earth

completely gone. I enjoy boxing but wouldn't miss it if it dropped off the face of the earth tomorrow.

Usage notes: most often used with the verbs drop, disappear, and wipe

See also: face

on earth

in any conditions. What on earth makes you say that? Why on earth would she ask you to join them? How on earth did you survive the heat? Who on earth would want to collect rocks? Where on earth could Casey have learned such behavior?

Usage notes: used to express great surprise that something could happen or exist

on the face of the earth

existing. He is probably the nicest man on the face of the earth.

See also: face

the salt of the earth

the best people. Farmers were described as the best, the salt of the earth, particularly when their products were needed to feed the army.

Etymology: based on the high value salt had in the past, and used in the Bible

See also: salt