Have you ever thought “plants” can be used practically in daily English? These plant-related phrases may have figurative meanings that differ from their literal definitions. Let’s learn them together!

 

1. Seed money (initial funding for startups)

Seed money means initial funding for startups used for the initial expenses of a startup before opening.

  • We need some seed money to kickstart our campaign.

 

2. Watch grass grow (very boring)

Grass grows slowly, and watching it grow with no changes can be very boring and tedious. Therefore, ‘watching grass grow’ can be used to describe something as boring and lacking in excitement.

  • There was no doubt about the result in this football game, it was like watching grass grow.

 

3. Come up roses (things are developing smoothly)

Come up roses means things are developing smoothly or have good results, just like a rose blooming. It can be used to describe the smooth development and a successful outcome of something.

  • The project had a lot of problems at the beginning, but in the end, everything came up roses, and it all went so smoothly.

 

4. Root and branch (Solve a problem thoroughly)

Root and branch mean to solve a problem from the root and thoroughly, rather than just patching up.

  • This plan needs to be redesigned root and branch, or it won’t achieve our goals.

 

5. Take a leaf out of somebody’s book (emulate someone)

Take a leaf out of somebody’s book means to tear out a page from someone’s book, indicating that you can copy or learn from the useful information written in someone’s book, which means that you can emulate someone.

  • If you want to be successful, take a leaf out of Bill Gate’s book and work hard.