backwards idioms

---

The court is at your ball

All the important people have gathered at your party, as opposed to anyone else's. You might as well take advantage of the fact that they're here.

Too much broth spoils the cooks

They spend all their time tasting the broth instead of cooking! We really should order less broth next time.

Get the horse, Charley

I need you to go pick up our Very Important Guest. Yes, you know the one.

China in a bull shop

Well, I was very happy to find Grandma's favorite teacup at the bull shop, but I really meant to buy a bull. And Charley, you really shouldn't have left it there.

Bananas are driving me

they're all I've had to eat today.

The oyster is your world

Sir, is it that you like oysters, in general? or one that you like one particular oyster? Oh I see, you actually modeled your home off of oysters…oh! you've brought some here to show everyone. Wait, we could use some oysters for the stew, would you mind bringing those over to the kitchen?

A teacup in a tempest

you did what with Grandma's favorite teacup? as if the bull shop wasn't enough?

i told a little bird

it was me. that's why Grandma knows. i'm sorry…

Favor the curry

I think I probably meant "flavor the curry," hopefully the cooks get around to that.

The cat killed Curiosity

You're telling me your cat killed a Mars rover…sir, I could believe the oyster house, but I'm not sure about this one. No, no, no disrespect, we very much appreciate the donation of oysters. Yes, of course they will be in the stew.

Add fire to the fuel

Oh, thank goodness, we needed to start cooking for the very important people at this party.

(keeping) tabs on the pick-up

Charley, where's the Very Important Guest? Yes, I know it's Grandma, but that doesn't mean you can just leave her there…

Pan's in the flash

oh no the pan's been hit by lightning! that is really very bad, is the curry ruined? please tell me the curry isn't ruined…

Wolf who cried

boy, that grandma tasted real good! (but that had nothing to do with the cooks, because the food still isn't done)

Barrel of the bottom

i don't even know what this could possibly mean.

Storm up (to) a cook

Is the food done yet? I pay you to make food for the very important people at this party. Didn't you hear? The court is at my ball!

By the teeth of my skin

which i think are nails — this was definitely a nail-biter — we somehow made it work.

Least but not last

the curry is done. it tastes terrible (burnt, on account of the lightning), but it isn't last because the stew isn't done.

In water, hot

are the oysters and everything else in the stew. Thanks to the cooks and all the ado, now the court has something to do.