Idioms in metric and imperial

Andrew Patterson · Post by **Andrew Patterson** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:12 am

There are lots of idioms and proverbs in English based on imperial measure such as
inch forward,
don't move an inch
miles out,
a miss is as good as a mile,
not quite sixteen ounces to the pound, etc

We also have a "mileometer" which measures distance in miles. "Kilometreometer" would just sound daft and "odometer" doesn't have the same acceptance.

Can anyone think of English idioms that use metric measure?

strider · Post by **strider** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 3:04 pm

Interesting topic!

You're right, there are many idioms using the imperial system. A couple that spring to mind are 'Give them an inch and they'll take a mile' and 'to go the extra mile'.

The only metric one I can think of is really an imperial one. 'It weighs a ton' could become 'it weighs a tonne' !

Andrew Patterson · Post by **Andrew Patterson** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:32 pm

I can only think of one metric one, "Dimmer than a 40 Watt lightbulb."

tigertiger · Post by **tigertiger** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:54 am

A litre bit of what you fancy does you good?

Andrew Patterson · Post by **Andrew Patterson** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:09 am

Well, yes, TigerTiger, there are a number of joke ones, which in any case people don't really use. You can find more of them at:

http://www.dozenalsociety.org.uk/metrix ... fined.html

It seems that SI prefixes lend themselves to expressions like "micro-technology" and "nano-technology", although microscopes were around before metric was invented and it's only later that very small began to define just how small.

There's also:
Microchip
Microprocessor
Megastore
Megadeath
Megabucks

"Mega-" is sometimes substituted for "very" in informal English and "k" for kila-/kilo- is often used to talk about money especially salaries.

I believe a "byte" is now SI and "half a byte" is a "nibble".

A bit '80s that one.

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:55 pm

The Rolling 6.35029318 Kilograms?