A message from the artist, John Monteiro (IG: @john_monteiro_fine_art | johnmonteirofineart.art)
“Thank you for viewing my work. What you are seeing is the culmination of seventy years of practice, determination and focus. Not being able to afford a full time art school education, I had to settle for evening, Saturday and summer classes. I also readily accepted the tutelage from friends that did have degrees in fine art, while supporting myself with full time employment. This made it all the more rewarding when my work was recognized and purchased by serious collectors. I didn’t need much coaxing when told to continue pouring my very being into my work. That drive was inherently born within me. When starting a large, detailed pen and ink drawing or scratchboard etching, my spirit is elevated to a point that I just want to burst with joy and laughter. A challenge I know I’m going to win. These pieces of art are for your personal enjoyment. Each drawing is copy written so I ask that you please not take photos or touch them. For information on obtaining reproductions please visit johnmonteirofineart.art“
Are you in-store, looking up at the beautiful artwork and thinking…is this a game? It is! Artphrazeology is a concept created by John Monteiro that incorporates well-known turns-of-phrase into his gorgeous artistic style. Each drawing is numbered – take your guesses then flip over to the answer key in the next tab to review. Enjoy!
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Let her rip
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Driving while black
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Never look a gift horse in the mouth
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Barking up the wrong tree
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Board to death
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Jumping the gun
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The jig is up
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Loose cannon
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Making a scene
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You drive me nuts
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Head over heels
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Par for the course
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Goodie two shoes
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It’s not brain surgery
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It’s written all over your face
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Back to square one
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Everything but the kitchen sink
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Hang in there
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Brownie points
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Lickity split
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Fit as a fiddle
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Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
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Takes two to tango
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What am I chopped liver?
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A shot in the dark
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Close but no cigar
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Booze cruise
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Read em and weep
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Stool pigeon
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Age before beauty
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Scott free
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Quality time
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Cat got your tongue
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Blonde bomb shell
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Dropping like flies
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Diamond in the rough
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In a pickle
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Loose lips sink ships
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Money doesn’t grow on trees
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Dime a dozen
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Cup of Joe
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Surfing the net
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Square meal
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Neck n neck
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Right out of the gate
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Down for the count
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Never harm a fly
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Apple a day keeps the doctor away
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Like father like son
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Quick on the draw
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Fender bender
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Every cloud has a silver lining
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A house divided against itself cannot stand
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Bats in your belfry
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Up in arms
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Snake in the grass
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Couch potato
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Roll with the punches
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I heard it through the grape vine
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Making a mountain out of a mole hill
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Fight fire with fire
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Tough pill to swallow
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Chip on your shoulder
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Back seat driver
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Curiosity killed the cat
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Fair in square
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Beating around the bush
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Bone dry
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Crying over spilled milk
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Right under your nose
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Mind reader
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Jack of all trades master of none
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Wild goose chase
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Playing the race card
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Reap what you sew
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Elephant in the room
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Pipe down
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Throw in the towel
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Chick flick
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Ring any bells
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Out on a limb
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Nip n tuck
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I smell a rat
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Hitting the hay
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Happy as a clam
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Ace in the hole
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Keep your eyes peeled
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Son of a gun
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Cold turkey
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Between a rock and a hard place
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Sleep tight
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Ships passing in the night
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Two down one to go
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End of story
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Basket case
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Two’s company three’s a crowd
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Knuckle down
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One sandwich short of a picnic
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Piece of cake
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Spill the beans
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Air kiss
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Spelling bee
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Slap you silly
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My cup runneth over
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I’ll eat my hat
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A baker’s dozen
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Snug as a bug in a rug
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Five o’clock shadow
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On cloud nine
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Hitting below the belt
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There’s no I in team
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Tongue in cheek
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An arm and a leg
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Three sheets to the wind
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Lame duck
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Making ends meet