English Idioms

Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms

Shifting sands

Meaning

The idiom "shifting sands" refers to something that is constantly changing, unstable, or difficult to predict or control. It can also indicate uncertainty or ambiguity in a situation.

Usage

  • "The politician's stance on the issue has been shifting sands lately, making it hard for anyone to predict where they stand." (literal)
  • "I've been struggling to keep up with the ever-shifting sands of technology." (figurative)
  • "The market is unpredictable and the company's profits are shifting sands." (literal)
  • "We can't predict what the future holds, it's like walking on shifting sands." (figurative)
  • "Our plans have been derailed by unexpected events that have caused our path to shift from solid ground to shifting sands." (literal)

Roots and History

The idiom "shifting sands" is believed to have originated in ancient times when sand was used as a currency or medium of exchange. The value of the sand could shift depending on the availability and quality of the sand, making it difficult for people to predict or control. Over time, the phrase has come to be associated with anything that is constantly changing or unstable. It has been used in literature, poetry, and art to convey a sense of uncertainty or ambiguity.

Synonyms in English

  • "slippery ground"
  • "changing tides"
  • "unsettled waters"
  • "fluid circumstances"
  • "in flux"

Synonyms in other languages

  • French: "la mer qui bouge" (literally "moving sea") - used to convey a sense of change and instability in a situation or relationship
  • Spanish: "las aguas sucias" (literally "dirty waters") - used to describe situations that are difficult to predict or control
  • German: "die schwankende Erde" (literally "the fluctuating earth") - used to convey a sense of instability and change in the world around us
  • Russian: "корыто поверхностной воды" (literally "the surface of the water") - used to describe situations that are constantly changing and unpredictable
  • Arabic: "الرسول العمير والدندان التجاوز مع الخبيط الغلي" (literally "The messenger of the emperor and the people who walk on shifting sands") - used to describe situations that are constantly changing and unstable, as well as those that are difficult to predict or control.

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