Idioms and Idiomatic expressions

Years ago I did an e-zine with a tip for improving interpreting, idiom, and suggested resource of the week. It had 52 entries, and was pretty popular for its time. I eventually gave up because it was so hard to keep coming up with every week. I put it together as a cd so if you want the whole thing sometime, just email me and ask for "tips and tricks". It is in html format so you can read it in any browser. This version has no video, although eventually we might redo it with suggested ways to sign the idioms.

What made me think of it? I was sitting in class today as an instructor spoke of greek mythology and "Achilles' Heel" came to mind:

Achilles Heel:
The one weak spot in an otherwise strong character or position. In Greek Mythology, Achilles was the most powerful of all the greek fighters at Troy. His mother was immortal and tried to pass that on to her son by dipping him into the River Styx (the sacred river by which all the gods swore). Where she held him by the heel was the only place not invulnerable and ultimately the source of the wound that killed him.
"She is quite a distance runner, but sprints are her achilles' heel."

I guess you can see I suggest WEAK as the sign. It doesn't seem to have as much color, but then there are ASL phrases that we don't do justice to as well.


Turn about is fair play. Proverb
It is fair for one to suffer whatever one has caused others to suffer.
So, you don't like being made fun of! Well, turnabout is fair play.

Again, one of those phrases that have one sign as a semantic equivalent (EQUAL) although, even with grammar markers and emphasis it seems to lack a little color.

Any other suggestions?

Both signs are available at the ASL Browser .