Meaning: alkaline earth

n.
any of the bivalent metals of group II of the periodic table (calcium or strontium or barium or magnesium or beryllium)

earth Idiom, Proverb

come down to earth

be realistic, get your head out of the clouds If she'd come down to earth, if she'd stop dreaming about fame, she could pass her exams.

down-to-earth

sensible and practical Her mother is a very down-to-earth person.

move heaven and earth

try every way, do everything one can I will move heaven and earth to help you get a job with our company.

salt of the earth

"common people; honest, hard-working people" The Swensons are plain, decent people - salt of the earth, eh.

in the on earth

at all；ever；of all possible things 究竟
Who in the world is that fellow？那人究竟是谁？
Where in the world did you find that necklace？你究竟是在哪儿发现这根项链的？
He didn't understand what on earth the teacher meant．他不能理解老师究竟说了些什么。

in the world earth

in the world/on earth

on earth

1． in the world在世界上
Honolulu boasts that it has the best weather on earth．檀香山以气候最佳夸称于世。
They consider themselves the wisest men on earth．他们自认为是世上最聪明的人。
2．ever究竟
Where on earth did you find that cap？你究竟在哪儿找到那顶帽子的？
How on earth did you manage to do that？你究竟是怎样设法做那件事的？

run to earth

hunt to its hiding place， home，starting point or origin追根究底；追查到底
All the men who helped to run to earth the criminals were richly rewarded．所有协助追查罪犯的人都获重赏。
The book was out of print but he eventually ran it to earth at a secondhand bookshop．那本书绝版了，但他终于在一家旧书店里买到了。

run to earth/ground

to the ends of the earth

Idiom(s): to the ends of the earth

Theme: LOCATION

to the remotest and most inaccessible points on the earth.
• I'll pursue him to the ends of the earth.
• We've explored almost the whole world. We've traveled to the ends of the earth trying to learn about our world.

move heaven and earth to

Idiom(s): move heaven and earth to do sth

Theme: EFFORT

to make a major effort to do something. (Fixed order.)
• “I’ll move heaven and earth to be with you, Mary," said Bill.
• I had to move heaven and earth to get there on time.
• Your father and I had to move heaven and earth to pay for your braces and your college bills, and what thanks do we get?

like nothing on earth

Idiom(s): like nothing on earth

Theme: UNUSUAL

very unusual; otherworldly.
• The new car models look like nothing on earth this year.
• This cake is so good! It's like nothing on earth!

all over the earth

Idiom(s): all over the earth AND all over the world

Theme: EVERYWHERE

everywhere.
• Grass grows all over the earth.
• It's the same way all over the world.

Four corners of the earth

If something goes to, or comes from, the four corners of the earth, it goes or comes absolutely everywhere.

Home and hearth

'Home and hearth' is an idiom evoking warmth and security.

It cost the earth

If something costs the earth, it is very expensive indeed.

come back to earth|come|come down to earth|earth

v. phr. To return to the real world; stop imagining or dreaming; think and behave as usual. After Jane met the movie star it was hard for her to come back to earth. Bill was sitting and daydreaming so his mother told him to come down to earth and to do his homework.
Compare: COME TO ONE'S SENSES, DOWN-TO-EARTH.
Antonym: IN THE CLOUDS.

down-to-earth|down|earth

adj. Showing good sense; practical. The committee's first plan for the party was too fancy, but the second was more down-to-earth. Mr. Jenkins never seems to know what is happening around him, but his wife is friendly and down-to-earth.
Compare: COME BACK TO EARTH.

move heaven and earth|earth|heaven|move

v. phr. To try every way; do everything you can. Joe moved heaven and earth to be sent to Washington.
Compare: LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.

salt of the earth|earth|salt

n. phr., informal One who helps to make society good and wholesome; a basically good or valuable person. Everyone here considers Syd and Susan the salt of the earth because they are so generous.

down to earth

down to earth
Back to reality. For example, It's time the employees were brought down to earth concerning the budget. P.G. Wodehouse had this idiom in Very Good, Jeeves! (1930): “I had for some little time been living . . . in another world. I now came down to earth with a bang.” [Late 1920s]
1) Also, down-to-earth. Realistic or interested in everyday occurrences, as in She is a very down-to-earth person, not at all involved with the glamour of Hollywood. [1930s]

earth

earth
see down to earth; ends of the earth, the; four corners of the earth, the; move heaven and earth; not have an earthly chance; on earth; run to earth; salt of the earth, the.

ends of the earth, the

ends of the earth, the
The utmost limit, as in She would go to the ends of the earth for him. This usage was once literal (referring to the farthest reaches of the planet) but now is used only figuratively.

four corners of the earth, the

four corners of the earth, the
The far ends of the world; all parts of the world. For example, Athletes came from the four corners of the earth to compete in the Olympics. This expression appeared in the Bible (Isaiah 11:12): “And gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Although the idea that the earth is a flat plane with actual corners has long been discarded, the term has survived.

not have an earthly chance

not have an earthly chance
Also, stand no earthly chance. Have no chance whatever, as in She doesn't have an earthly chance of getting into medical school, or Bill stands no earthly chance of winning the lottery. The use of no earthly in the sense of “no conceivable” dates from the mid-1700s.

salt of the earth, the

salt of the earth, the
The best or noblest of their kind, as in These campers are the salt of the earth. This metaphoric term was used by Jesus for those who were persecuted for being loyal to him (Matthew 5:13) and has been repeated ever since.