English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
CULINARY ENGLISH IDIOMS
She is a brilliant teacher and she knows her ~onion~ (nonstandard).
She is a brilliant teacher and she knows her onions (standard).
She couldn’t finish the task; she is ~in soup~ (nonstandard).
She couldn’t finish the task; she is in the soup (standard). If you say that someone is in the soup, you mean they are in trouble.
She got herself ~in stew~ over nothing (nonstandard).
She got herself ~in the stew~ over nothing (nonstandard).
She got herself in a stew over nothing (standard). If someone is in a stew, that person is in a difficult situation that causes them to feel worried or upset.
GAB
“In the soup” and “In a stew.” English and its inconsistencies. Thank you, Dr GAB.