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WORDS & PHRASES
IN GENERAL USE WITH POSSIBLE RAILROAD ORIGIN
(Including common expressions that are actually railroad
metaphors.)
Many common English expressions are actually technical terms relating to older technology – but the origin is often forgotten as the meaning of the phrase evolves.
express, express line
make the grade
don't/to get sidetracked
on the wrong track
on the right track
living on the wrong side of the tracks
whistle stop tour
light at the end of the tunnel
keeping/staying on track
bells and whistles - "The Central Pacific company had thirty locomotives gayly decked ranged on the city front, and at the signal of a gun announcing the driving of the last spike on the road the locomotives opened a chorus of whistles, and all the bells and steam whistles in the city joined." May 10, 1869.
that's the ticket
chugging along
train wreck - as in, "This project is a train wreck"
freight train - as in, "He hits like a freight train"
end of the line - as in, "It's the end of the line for you"
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