Dressed up to the nines

This means to be dressed very smartly or extravagantly. But why 'to the nines?'

Many years ago, when Britain had Imperial currency - also called 'old money' which was in Pounds, shillings and pence, the expensive seats in a cinema or theatre were high up and cost ninepence. It was something special to go there and you needed to be dressed very smartly - up to the nines!

And, what more important theatrical occassion than the big speech from Hamlet!

Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted

This rather long worded idiom is not as difficult as it seems. Probably, the word, 'bolted' is unfamiliar. This means run away.

So in fact, it's very straightforward. There is no point taking action that is useless after an event has occured.

EG The horse has gone but we close the doors to stop him escaping. It's too late!

Over the moon

Over the moon.

This something of a cliché but at least this means it is in common usage. There is a fair chance that it originates from a ‘nonsense poem’ written by one of England’s most eccentric Victorian writers, Edward Lear.

Hey diddle, diddle
The cat and the fiddle
The cow jumped over the moon
The little dog laughed
To see such a thing
And the dish ran away with the spoon

These days, its use is much more ordinary and used to express great joy.

How do you feel about winning the league title?
Absolutely over the moon!