"Horse and Rabbit Stew" Related to a situation that consists both pleasant and unpleasant things where the unpleasant predominates. Rabbit is an excellent choice for stew because it is soft and delicate meat and pleasant to eat. However horse meat is not suitable for stew, it is the opposite and would dominate the taste and structure of the dish. Example: It is a bit like a horse and rabbit stew, with perceived discrepancies. "Sands of time" Related to the hourglass, a timing instrument consisting of two glass chambers connected vertically by a narrow passage which allows sand to trickle from the upper part to the lower by means of gravity. The amount of sand determines the amount of time that passes as the chamber is emptied. The image of the sand being emptied in the hourglass creates a visual metaphor for the limited duration of the days of our lives. Example: My only enemy is the sands of time. The best way to understand idioms is to find the origin of it. Hope this helps!