Negative

  • Go Off the Rails

    Meaning “To go off the rails” means to stop behaving or progressing as expected and begin heading in a troublesome or uncontrolled direction. It can describe a plan that starts falling apart, a situation that becomes chaotic, or a person whose behavior becomes increasingly reckless or irresponsible. The expression comes from the image of a…

  • Snake Oil Salesman

    Meaning A “snake oil salesman” is someone who tries to persuade people to buy something that is useless, ineffective, or far less valuable than they claim. The expression is used for a person who makes impressive promises without having anything substantial to back them up. The phrase comes from the old practice of selling so-called…