send (a) mixed message(s)
To communicate something that has, or seems to have, multiple, ambiguous, or contradictory meanings. My ex-girlfriend has accused me of sending mixed messages about our relationship, as if I'm hinting that I want to get back together with her. I just think it sends something of a mixed message to be advertising a new production assistant position right after we went through a round of layoffs.
send (a) mixed signal(s)
To communicate something that has, or seems to have, multiple, ambiguous, or contradictory meanings. My ex-girlfriend has accused me of sending mixed signals about our relationship, as if I'm hinting I want to get back together with her. I just think it sends something of a mixed signal to be advertising a new production assistant position right after we went through a round of layoffs.
send a shiver down (someone's) spine
To cause an intense feeling of excitement, exhilaration, nervousness, or fear in someone. The way that sonata swells always sends a shiver down my spine. It sent a shiver down my spine when Dorothy gave me such an amorous look. Can we get out of here? This creepy old house is sending a shiver down my spine!
send a shiver up (someone's) spine
To cause an intense feeling of excitement, exhilaration, nervousness, or fear in someone. The way that sonata swells always sends a shiver up my spine. It sent a shiver up my spine when Dorothy gave me such an amorous look. Can we get out of here? This creepy old house is sending a shiver up my spine!
send shivers up (someone's) spine
To cause an intense feeling of excitement, exhilaration, nervousness, or fear in someone. The way that sonata swells always sends shivers up my spine. It sent shivers up my spine when Dorothy gave me such an amorous look. Can we get out of here? This creepy old house is sending shivers up my spine!
send a sow to Minerva
To try to teach someone who is smarter or more of an expert than oneself. The phrase presents the ridiculous image of Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, being taught by a pig. Is he really explaining his songwriting process, as if it's that complex, to a famous musician? Talk about sending a sow to Minerva!
send owls to Athens
To do or undertake something redundant, pointless, or futile. It refers to the city of Athens in the time of Ancient Greece, where silver coins were minted with the image of an owl (which were abundant in the city). Thus, to bring either owls or silver to Athens would be a useless venture. Creating a business to export olive oil to Italy is like sending owls to Athens! His plans to improve the economy by increasing taxes would simply be sending owls to Athens.
send the helve after the hatchet
To make hasty, careless decisions; to discard something after encountering a setback. The image alludes to throwing away the handle ("helve") of a hatchet after the blade has broken off. Come on, I'm sure we can fix it—don't send the helve after the hatchet. My little brother always gives up at the slightest problem, no matter how many times we remind him not to send the helve after the hatchet.