For the Birds

Context #1 – Roommates watching TV at home

Vanessa: This new TV show was supposed to be so good, but it's really boring and confusing. I have no idea what's going on.

Brad: Yes, this show is definitely for the birds. Why don't we change the channel?

Vanessa: I agree. Even reruns of old shows are better than this!

Context #2 – Two friends at a party

Sami:  Hey, Petra! How are you?

Petra: OK, I guess. I hardly know anyone here.

Sami: Yeah, me too. I thought Brian invited a bunch of our friends?

Petra: I don't see anyone. Plus, these snacks suck. A few carrot sticks and sparkling water? Seriously? This isn't supposed to be a health club, it's a party!

Sami: I know. And this live band is terrible. They are just making noise, not music.

Petra: You know what? This party is for the birds. Let's get out of here and go some place fun!

Sami: Great idea! Let's go.

Click to listen to the idiom now

Meaning: “For the birds” means that something is worthless or undesirable. In Context 1, the new TV show is terrible and not even worth watching, so they decide to change the channel. In Context 2, the party doesn't have good food, music, or people they know, so it is no good. Petra and Sami finally decide to leave.

Check out the following video that is literally "For the Birds!"

http://languagesystems.edu/

 

To Buy the Farm

Context #1 – Two friends talking

Victoria: Did you hear the news?

Brandon: No, what happened?

Victoria: Do you know that older man who lives down the street from us?

Brandon: Oh, yes. I do.

Victoria: Well, he bought the farm yesterday.

Brandon: Really? But he was only 87 and in good shape.

Victoria: I know! And I've heard he would go skydiving twice a week.

Brandon: So he bought it while skydiving? .

Victoria: No, he was fine after skydiving yesterday. He came home, ate dinner, and then went to bed. It happened in his sleep.

Listen how to pronounce the idiom now

Context #2 – Talking about a movie

Sal:  That movie was so violent! It's like everyone bought the farm at the end.

Patty: Well, it was a war movie.

Sal: Yeah, I guess so.

Patty: It really shouldn't have surprised anyone when most of the characters bought it. That's just the way it goes.

Sal: Well, it's depressing. Why don't we go see a comedy next time?

Patty: Sound good to me.

Meaning: “To buy the farm” or “to buy it” means to die or be killed. It's usually used in the past tense (bought the farm) and it is sometimes used without “farm” (bought it). In Context 1, the older man dies in his sleep with no visible cause. In Context 2, many of the people in the war movie are killed in combat, so it is a violent film.

http://languagesystems.edu/