burning

your ears must be burning

something that you say to someone who is being talked about. All that talk about William - his ears must have been burning.

See also: ear, must

have something burning a hole in your pocket (humorous)

if someone has money burning a hole in their pocket, they want to spend it as soon as possible. I had a fifty dollar bill that was burning a hole in my pocket, so I figured I'd go out and have a really good time.

See also: hole, pocket

keep the home fires burning

to keep your home pleasant and in good order while people who usually live with you are away, especially at war. They relied on their wives and sweethearts to keep the home fires burning when they marched off to war.

See also: fire, home, keep

Were your ears burning?

your ears must be burning - something that you say to someone who is being talked about. Were your ears burning? We were just talking about you.

See also: ear

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burning the midnight oil

working very long hours, often into the night. What doctors do know is that burning the midnight oil is bad for your health.

Etymology: from the use of oil to provide light before the invention of electricity

See also: midnight, oil