could someone tell me the meanings of these idioms?

Question

1) Slow boat to china.
2) Nose to the grindstone.
3) On pins and needles.
4) Pie in the sky.
5) Lay down the law.
6) Just what the doctor ordered.

Answer 1

1 To take a long time. If you were sailing to China (from Europe or America) on a slow boat it would take ages. This typified in the song 'I'd Like to Get You On a Slow Boat to China'.

2 To work hard. This comes from doing a job, such as grinding, where you would keep your nose close to the grindstone so as not to be distracted by external things.

3 To be edgy or jumpy. Imagine sitting down on a cushion filled with pins and needles.

4 Something that is nonsense as would be a pie floating in the sky.

5 To make commands or demands telling someone what to do or what not to do. Imagine a policeman telling you not to do something that was wrong. He would be laying down the law.

6 Something that does you good or that you enjoy. Likened to getting a cure from the doctor or a prescription for medicine that makes you better.

Answer 2

Slow boat to China is the name of an old song. "I'm going to get you, on a slow boat to China, all to myself alone. Get you and keep you, in my arms evermore. Leave all your lovers, waiting on a far-away shore. Out on the briny, with a moon big and shiny, etc.et.etc. Frank Sinatra sang it and it was a big hit.
Nose to the grindstone means just keep working until you finish. No distractions, no coffee breaks. Just keep working.
On pins and needles means you are anxious about something, waiting for something to happen.
Pie in the sky is like wishful thinking. It's someting that is never going to happen.
Lay down the law is what parents do when they get mad at you. They lay down the law - i.e., tell you what you can and can't do.
Just what the doctor ordered means that whatever the action is, it's exactly right.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

1. Taking a long time to reach a goal
2. Working really hard and long on something to get it done
3. Anxious
4. A dream-something that you wish for but is not attainable
5. Become stricter, make the rules known and enforce them
6. Just what you needed not just medicine but something that makes you feel better