Trees in English Expressions and Sayings

Ask any English speaker who loves their language, and they’ll admit that learning English is an ongoing process which lasts a lifetime. I am well over 70, and still finding new phrases and sayings which fill me with wonder and pleasure, and being reminded of old ones which define situations so well.

So who is this page for? It’s for everyone who wants to be reminded of English expressions and proverbs, be they native English speakers or those learning English as a second language. You may or may not learn something new but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the ride.

The photographs might help you to remember the phrases, by acting as a sort of cue. If it seems like hard work learning lists of English sayings, I hope that my series of articles on this subject will make the job a little pleasanter. All English speakers use an enormous number of metaphors without really thinking about it, because it's so ingrained into their psyche from an early age.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree means that children and family members turn out to be like their parents and close family.

E.g. "Jack's father has a mean streak - that's not surprising, because Jack is a bit mean too - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree".

This has precisely the same meaning as the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

And leading on from this, there is another expression about acorns, which is not surprising, really, as the mighty oak tree is almost symbolic of the English countryside:

Great oaks from little acorns grow means that even the most complex or important things start from modest beginnings.

e.g. "Microsoft started as a small 2-man organization, but look at it now - great oaks from little acorns grow."

But the meaning is the same and the expressions are entirely interchangeable.

Root and Branch means very thoroughly.

e.g. "The failings of the police investigation must be looked into, and the officers responsible should be weeded out, root and branch."

Barking up the wrong tree means having a mistaken belief about something.

e.g. "If you think I'm going to run around cleaning up after you and your friends, you're barking up the wrong tree, because I'm not."

Can't see the wood for the trees means concentrating on the particulars and small details rather than seeing the whole picture.

e.g. "All this management-speak and ticking boxes is actually holding up teachers and stopping them from doing their job teaching - sometimes management can't see the wood for the trees."

An old chestnut means a story or joke which has become stale because it has been repeated too often.

e.g.Comedian: "Why did the lobster blush?

Because it saw the salad dressing"

Member of Audience: "Oh, not that joke again - it's such an old chestnut!"

To beat about the bush means to avoid saying something in a straightforward way, for fear it might cause offence.

e.g. "I'm not going to beat about the bush - quite frankly I hate this job, and I'm leaving at the end of the month"

To nip something in the bud means to stop something before it grows too big or out of control.

e.g. "If those stories about Fred get out, he'll be ruined, so let's nip them in the bud."

or

"If your dog shows aggressive behaviour, you must nip it in the bud or it might bite someone."