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A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English Eric Partridge Edited by Paul Beale Eighth Edition
ISBN 0-415-06568-2 (hb)
A Concise Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English Edited by Paul Beale Based on the work of Eric
Partridge ISBN 0-415-06352-3 (pb)
Origins: An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English Eric Partridge Fourth Edition ISBN 0-415-05077-4
(hb)
A Dictionary of Catch Phrases Eric Partridge Edited by Paul Beale Second Edition ISBN 0-415-05916-X
(pb)
A Dictionary of Clichés Eric Partridge Fifth Edition ISBN 0-415-06555-0 (pb)
Shakespeare’s Bawdy Eric Partridge Third Edition ISBN 0-415-05076-6 (pb)
Shorter Slang Dictionary Rosalind Fergusson From the work of Eric Partridge & Paul Beale ISBN
0-415-08866-6 (pb)
You Have a Point There Eric Partridge ISBN 0-415-05075-8 (pb)
Shorter Dictionary of Catch Phrases
Rosalind Fergusson
From the work of
Eric Partridge and Paul Beale
London and New York
First published 1994
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005.
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© Routledge 1994
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
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from the publishers.
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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
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ISBN 0-203-38012-6 Master e-book ISBN
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ISBN 0-415-10051-8 (Print Edition)
Foreword
This volume has been derived from the magisterial work of Eric Partridge and his collaborator and successor
Paul Beale. Most of the entries have been adapted from material in the second edition (1985) of the classic A
Dictionary of Catch Phrases, although articles have also been specially written for items that came into
currency in the 1990s.
The focus throughout is on expressions that are in current daily use, and familiar throughout most parts of
the English-speaking world. Items originating in Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New
Zealand are all to be found within these covers.
We at Routledge are proud to publish this companion volume to the Shorter Dictionary of Slang (1993)
as a tribute to Eric Partridge on the occasion of the centenary of his birth on 6 February 1894.
A
Abyssinia! a pun on ‘I’ll be seeing you!’. It probably predates the Abyssinian War of 1935–6 and may have
arisen from the British campaign of 1899 against the ‘Mad Mullah’ or from General Napier’s expedition of
1868. Similar puns include Alaska (=I’ll ask her) and Jamaica (=did you make her).
accidentally on purpose apparently accidental, but really—and often maliciously—on purpose. The phrase
has been used in the UK since around 1880 and in the USA since around 1885.
accidentswill happen in the best-regulatedfamiliessee
it happens in the best-regulated (or best of) families.
according to plan used ironically for anything, however trivial, that does not go according to plan. In
World War I communiqués the phrase was a frequent excuse for failure, e.g. an enforced retreat.
act to follow, a hard (or tough) refers to any outstanding performance or especially able person. It often
carries the implication ‘don’t blame me if I fail’. The phrase originated, probably before 1920, in
vaudeville, referring to an outstandingly successful act that might well cast a shadow over the following act.
act your age! don’t be childish!; act like an adult and use your intelligence! Adopted from the USA around
1920. See also be your age!; grow up!
against my religion, it’s see it’s against my religion.
age before beauty used jocularly when giving precedence or priority to an older person, as on entering a
room. The phrase originated in the late 19th century. There are a number of standard retorts, such as ‘no,
dust before the broom’ and the classic ‘pearls before swine’, attributed to the US writer Dorothy Parker.
age of miracles is not past, the a delighted exclamation of surprise at a gratifyingly unexpected
occurrence. In its original opposite form the age of miracles is past, the phrase was used contentiously by
freethinkers during the 18th century, challengingly by agnostics during the 19th century and by most cynics
and sceptics in the 20th century.
aha, me proud beauty! means ‘now I’ve got you where I want you!’ The phrase originated in melodrama,
traditionally addressed by the villain to a hapless and helpless female, in the late 19th century. Since the
1920s or earlier it has been chiefly used for comic effect.
ain’t nobody here but us chickens! (, there) used on occasions when unexpectedly few people are present,
or as a warning that others had better stay away. The phrase originated in the USA in the late 19th century
and was adopted in the UK around 1950. It was based on a story about a chicken-thief surprised by the
owner, who calls ‘Anybody there?’ and is greeted by this reply. Several variations of this story exist, and
the line subsequently became the chorus of a popular song. The phrase was revived in the 1980s in the UK
television comedy series, Nightingales.
ain’t you got no homes to go to? see time, gentlemen, please….
Alaska see Abyssinia!
2
alive and well and living in… a slogan or response, as in God is alive and well and living in Hampstead; ‘I
haven’t seen old Jack for years—he must be dead by now.’ ‘No, he’s alive and well and living in
Manchester.’ The phrase may date back to the early 20th century. In the late 1960s it was used in the tide of
the show Jacques Brel is alive and well and living in Paris.
all ashore that’s (or as is) going ashore! used e.g. by the driver of a car hastening the passengers, or rather
the passengers’ friends, who are taking too long to say goodbye. In its original nautical context the phrase
probably dates back to the days of the earliest scheduled passenger liners.
all bitter and twisted applied to somebody who is badly warped by life’s mishaps, e.g. a man psychologically
scarred by wartime experiences. The phrase is sometimes used compassionately, but more often
unthinkingly and insensitively.
all chiefs and no Indians applied to any concern or establishment that seems to be management-heavy.
Since around 1950. The phrase probably originated in the USA, together with the variant too many chiefs
and not enough Indians.
all clever stuff see it’s all clever stuff, y’know.
all contributions gratefully received (, however small) a request for or response to the donation of
anything, not necessarily money, as in ‘I’ve only got half a cheese sandwich left, but you’re welcome to that
if you want it.’ ‘All contributions gratefully received—thanks!’ Since around 1925.
all day! said in response to such questions as ‘It’s Wednesday (or the 25th) today, isn’t it?’ The phrase is
also added to the reply to such questions as ‘What day is it today?’ or ‘What’s the date?’, as in it’s Friday, all
day! Since around 1890 or earlier.
all done with mirrors (, it’s) applied to anything that seems very clever or extremely ingenious. Since the
late 19th century. The phrase occurs in Noël Coward’s Private Lives (1930): ‘Death’s very laughable, such
a cunning little mystery. All done with mirrors.’ It originally referred to the mirrors used in stage illusions
and conjuring tricks, such as Pepper’s Ghost. Variants include all done with pieces of string, a possible
allusion to the contraptions designed by W.Heath Robinson, and (in US usage) all done with a simple twist
of the wrist.
all dressed up and no place (or nowhere) to go originated in the song ‘When You’re All Dressed Up and
Have No Place to Go’, popularized around 1914–15 by the US comedian Raymond Hitchcock.
all dressed up like a Christmas tree wearing one’s best clothes; flashily dressed or overdressed. Since the
late 19th century. There are numerous variants of the phrase, including all dressed up like a pox-doctor’s
clerk (since around 1870) and (all) dressed (or done) up like a dog’s dinner (since around 1925). The variant
all dressed up like a ham bone, dating from around 1850 but virtually obsolete by 1970, probably referred to
the paper frill used to decorate a joint of ham on the bone when it was brought to table.
all good clean fun see it’s all good clean fun
all hands on deck! a rallying call for assistance, as in come on, all hands on deck—let’s get this mess
cleared up! Of nautical origin.
all human life is there! popularized as an advertising slogan for the News of the World in the late 1950s.
The phrase originated in Henry James’s Madonna of the Future (1879): ‘Cats and monkeys—monkeys and
cats—all human life is there!’
all I know is what I read in the papers popularized by the US actor and humorist Will Rogers in the
1920s. The phrase has a number of possible interpretations or implications: ‘it must be true, I read it in the
newspaper’; ‘it’s not my opinion, I read it in the newspaper’; ‘I have no other source of information’; ‘I’m
just an average citizen, not a political analyst’; ‘I’m not particularly well-read’; etc.
3
all mouth and trousers applied to a loud-mouthed person who makes empty boasts, threats, etc., as in take
no notice of him: he’s all mouth and trousers. Since the mid-20th century; possibly a euphemistic variant of
the earlier phrase all prick and breeches. See also all piss and wind.
all my eye and Betty Martin! that is utter nonsense! Since the 18th century. The identity of Betty Martin
has been the subject of much discussion. Partridge suspects that she was a ‘character’ of the lusty London of
the 1770s, and that no record of her exists other than in this catch phrase. More erudite but less probable
explanations suggest that the phrase is a corruption of the invocation O mihi, beate Martine (to St Martin of
Tours) or O mihi, Britomartis (to the tutelary goddess of Crete).
all my own work used jocularly or ironically, especially in an ironically self-deprecatory manner. From
around 1920. The phrase probably originated in the drawings and paintings displayed by pavement artists.
all over bar the shouting (, it’s) it is (virtually) finished or decided; there is only the official announcement
to come. Since 1842 or earlier. The word but (or except) is sometimes substituted for bar, especially in US
usage and in early British usage.
all over the place like a mad woman’s shit describes a state of complete untidiness or confusion. Chiefly
used in Australia in the later 20th century. The word knitting (or custard) is sometimes politely substituted
for shit.
all part of life’s rich pattern (, it’s) an ironically resigned, yet far from submissive, reflection upon the
vicissitudes of life. The phrase may have originated as it’s all part of life’s rich pageant, used by the British
writer and entertainer Arthur Marshall in the monologue ‘The Games Mistress’ (1937) and further
popularized by Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau in the film A Shot in the Dark (1964). Other variants
substitute tapestry or fabric for pattern.
all part of the service see it’s all (or just) part of the service.
all piss and wind applied contemptuously to somebody who is given to much talk (especially boasting) and
little, if any, performance. The phrase originated in the 18th-century simile like the barber’s cat, all wind
and piss, which has the 20th-century variants all wind (or crumbs) and piss like the bottom of a baby’s pram
and all wind and no piss (or water), meaning ‘all talk and no action’. See also all mouth and trousers.
all present and correct! all in order. From the phrase used by a sergeant-major reporting on a parade to the
officer in charge.
all right for some! (, it’s) some people have all the luck! An expression of (often jocular) disgrundement.
20th century.
all right on the night see it’ll be all right on the night.
all-singing, all-dancing applied to computers and other machines or systems that have the full range of
additions, elaborations, modifications, etc. (These additions are often referred to as bells and whistles.)
Since around 1970.
all systems go a statement of preparedness for an endeavour, as in it’s all systems go here. The phrase was
popularized worldwide in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when it was used as a statement of readiness for
launching a spacecraft.
although (or though) I says it as shouldn’t appended to a remark. The phrase dates back at least to the
early 17th century, being used in Beaumont and Fletcher’s Wit at Several Weapons: ‘Though I say it that
should not say it.’ The more grammatical form although I say it who (or that) shouldn’t is a less frequent
variant in modern usage.
always read the small print in business and legal matters, make absolutely sure you know what you’re
letting yourself in for. Since around 1955. The phrase may be used figuratively or literally, referring to print
so small that you risk severe eyestrain if you read it carefully, and bankruptcy if you don’t.
4
and a merry Christmas to you too! thank you for nothing! Addressed ironically to somebody who has
deliberately or inadvertently done something annoying or unhelpful. Since around 1930. The phrase is also
used in the sense of ‘the same to you with knobs on!’ (see same to you…).
and all that and all such things. The phrase was in Standard English before 1929, when Robert Graves’s
Goodbye to All That was published; it became a catch phrase after the publication of W.C.Sellar andR.
J.Yeatman’s comic history of England, 1066 and All That, in 1930.
and don’t you forget it! an admonitory intensifier, as in I’m the boss around here, and don’t you forget it!
(The word it usually refers to something that is unpleasant and quite unforgettable.) Adopted from the USA
around 1890.
and how! intensifies or indicates emphatic agreement with what has just been said. Used in the USA from
around 1925; adopted in the UK during the 1930s. Possibly a translation of the phrase e come! used by the
large Italian population of the USA.
and I don’t mean maybe adds force or emphasis to what has gone before. The phrase has been used in the
USA since around 1920, popularized by the song that begins ‘Yes, sir, that’s my baby,/No, sir, don’t mean
maybe’, by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn.
and like it! used in response to or anticipation of a complaint about something unwanted or unpleasant, as
in the flight is fully booked: you’ll have to take the ferry and like it! ‘She wants smoked salmon in her
sandwiches.’ ‘Too bad—she can have fish paste and like it!’ The phrase may have originated in the armed
forces during World War I, with reference to an awkward or unwanted job.
and no mistake without any doubt; an expression of affirmation, as in this is an embarrassing situation and
no mistake. From around 1810.
and now for something completely different a catch phrase of the television series Monty Python’s Flying
Circus (first broadcast in 1969 in the UK), satirizing the use of such phrases in broadcasting to link two
dissimilar programmes, magazine items, news items, etc. The phrase was also used as the title of the first
Monty Python film (1971).
and so to bed a quotation from Samuel Pepys’s Diary of 1660 that became a catch phrase in the 19th
century. The phrase was further popularized in 1926 by James Bernard Fagan’s comedy And So to Bed,
subtitled ‘An Adventure with Pepys’.
and so we say farewell a phrase originally used at the end of B-grade film travelogues. It is satirically
repeated (usually in a mock-American accent) in parodies of such films, notably Peter Sellers’ skit that ends
‘and so we say “farewell” to Bal-ham, gateway to the South!’, a recording of which helped to popularize the
phrase in the late 1950s.
and that ain’t hay! that’s a lot of money!, as in they offered him $5000, and that ain’t hay! Used in the
USA since the 1940s or earlier.
and that’s flat! used to emphasize a preceding remark, especially a refusal or final decision, as in I’m not
coming with you, and that’s flat! British usage of the phrase is long established—it occurs as early as
Shakespeare.
and that’s your lot! that’s all you’re going to receive, so don’t expect any more! Since around 1920.
and the band played on things went on as usual. From the refrain of the song ‘The Band Played On’, with
lyrics by John F.Palmer, published in New York in 1895.
and the rest! said with trenchant sarcasm, in response to a gross understatement or the omission of
something significant, as in ‘It’ll only cost you a tenner.’ ‘And the rest!’ Since around 1860.
and then some and even more, as in we need to work 24 hours a day and then some. The phrase entered
British usage from the USA around 1913, but it may have originated in the Scottish phrase and some, which
dates back to the 18th century or earlier.
5
and very nice too! see very nice too!
angle of dangle is inversely proportional to the heat of the meat, the a catch phrase among better-
educated National Servicemen of the 1950s, axiomatic for the degree of male sexual excitement.
another day, another dollar said at the end of a hard working day (referring to the day that has just
passed) or at the end of a bad day (referring to a hoped-for better day tomorrow). Used in the USA from
around 1910 and in the UK since the late 1940s. The US poet Ogden Nash used the phrase punningly in his
verse ‘A Man Can Complain, Can’t He’ (A Lament for Those Who Think Old): ‘I’m old too soon, yet
young too long;/Could Swift himself have planned it droller?/Timor vitae conturbat me;/Another day, another
dolor.’
another fine mess you’ve gotten me into! (, here’s) a catch phrase of the Laurel and Hardy films, one of
which bore the tide Another Fine Mess. The phrase was Oliver Hardy’s standing reproach to his duller-
witted partner Stan Laurel. A catch phrase of the 1930s and 1940s, it came back into general use when the
films were shown on television. In British usage gotten is sometimes replaced by got.
answer is a lemon, the a derisive non-reply to a query, or a refusal of a request. The phrase originated in
the USA, where one of the slang senses of lemon is ‘a sharp verbal thrust, criticism, or retort’, and was adopted
in the UK around 1919. Other explanations of the origin of the phrase refer to the sourness or acidity of a
lemon, the low-scoring lemons of a fruit machine, or the slang use of the word with reference to anything
defective or undesirable.
answer is in the plural and they bounce, the a jocularly polite way of saying ‘balls!’, meaning
‘nonsense!’. The phrase is often attributed to the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, who is said to have
used it before a Royal Commission, but he may have been quoting an already established catch phrase (if, in
fact, he ever used the phrase at all).
any colour you like, so long as it’s black applied to any situation of limited choice or Hobson’s choice, in
which you can take it or leave it. The phrase is based on a slogan of the Ford Motor Company, referring to
the (lack of) colour options for the Model T; it became a catch phrase in the UK in the late 1940s.
any complaints? a way of opening a conversation when there’s nothing else to say. The question was
originally asked by the orderly officer doing his meal-time rounds of the other ranks’ dining-hall; as a catch
phrase it is chiefly used by former members of the armed forces. Since World War II.
any joy? have you had (or did you have) any luck? The phrase has been used in the USA since around 1930
and in the UK since the 1940s or earlier. Similarly, the phrase no joy is used to report a lack of success or
satisfaction.
any more for any more? does anybody (else) want a second helping?; does anybody else want to join in?;
etc. Since World War I.
anyone for tennis? used to initiate a conversation. Since around 1910. The phrase is stereotypical of social
comedies featuring the leisured classes, in which a young man or woman enters through the French
windows of a country house brandishing a tennis racket. Variants include tennis, anyone? and who’s for
tennis? None of these phrases has been found in the text of an actual play, although there are several near
misses, one of the earliest and closest occurring in George Bernard Shaw’s Misalliance (1914): ‘Anybody
on for a game of tennis?’
anyone’s bet (, it’s or that’s) nobody can say for certain. Since the early 1970s.
anything for a laugh a cliché that may be regarded as a catch phrase when it is used with the implication of
going too far in a situation where laughter is inappropriate, as in I wouldn’t risk it but you know him—he’ll
do anything for a laugh. Since around 1945.
6
anything goes! anything is permissible; do as you please. Used in the USA from around 1930, the phrase
was popularized by the Cole Porter song and musical comedy Anything Goes (1934), and was soon adopted
in the UK.
anything that can go wrong will go wrong a summary of Murphy’s law, also known (in the UK since
around 1970) as Sod’s law. This principle is also expressed in the form if anything can go wrong, it will,
sometimes with the rider and if it can’t go wrong, it might. Possibly of US origin, since around 1950. The
best-known illustration of the law is that bread always falls on its buttered side, a phenomenon observed as
early as the 19th century, when Tom Hood the Younger wrote: ‘I never nursed a dear gazelle,/To glad me with
its dappled hide,/But when it came to know me well/It fell upon the buttered side’ (a parody of Thomas
Moore’s famous quatrain from Lalla Rookh). This parody was echoed in 1884 in James Payn’s verse: ‘I never
had a piece of toast/Particularly long and wide/But fell upon the sanded floor/And always on the buttered
side.’
apples, she’s (or she’ll be) everything is (or will be) all right. Used in Australia since around 1950. The use
of the word apples in this context may be derived from the phrase apple-pie order or the phrase apples and
spice (Australian rhyming slang for ‘nice’). See also she’s right!
are there any more at home like you? addressed to an attractive girl or young woman. 20th century. From
the musical comedy Floradora (first performed in 1900), which contained the song ‘Tell me, pretty maiden,
are there any more at home like you?’
are we downhearted? a cry of encouragement, to which the usual answer is ‘no!’ (but sometimes, jocularly,
‘yes!’). The phrase is political in origin (from around 1906) and did not achieve the status of a true catch
phrase until World War I.
are you a man or a mouse? addressed to a timorous person. Adopted from the USA around 1945. There
are a number of standard ripostes, such as ‘squeak, squeak!’ and ‘a man: my wife’s frightened of mice’.
are you kidding? are you joking?; surely you’re not serious? Since around 1945, probably of US origin.
See also you’re joking!
are you sitting comfortably? (Then I’ll begin) the introductory line of the children’s radio programme
Listen with Mother, used by Julia Lang at the beginning of the first broadcast (in January 1950 in the UK)
and retained by popular demand. It became a catch phrase of the 1950s–60s and is still heard from time to
time.
are you trying to tell me something? a response to a vague or indirect hint (or, ironically, to a clear and
unambiguous hint). Probably of US origin; used in the UK since around 1965. See also
I guess you’re trying to tell me something.
are you with me? do you understand?; do you follow me? Since around 1920. In modern usage the phrase
is often shortened to with me?; the corresponding phrase with you! means ‘I understand’. An advertising
campaign of the 1970s by the Woolwich Building Society gave rise to the jocular reply no, I’m with the
Woolwich, now rather dated.
aren’t we all? suggests that an attribute, condition, etc., is common to all or most people, as in ‘I’m an
abject coward.’ ‘Aren’t we all?’ Since around 1918 or earlier. Variants for use in other contexts include
don’t we all? and doesn’t everyone ?
aren’t you (or I) the lucky one! see lucky one!, aren’t you (or I) the.
aren’t you the one! an expression of quizzical or rueful admiration. Used in the USA since around 1942
and in the UK in the later 20th century. See also you are a one!
arm and a leg, an refers to an exorbitant price or charge, as in it’ll cost you an arm and a leg. Adopted from
the USA, where the phrase has been in general use since the 1940s or earlier. A cartoon on the cover of
7
Time Out in 1982 showed a would-be traveller on the London Underground, where the fares had just been
raised enormously, offering his sawn-off arm and leg at the ticket window.
as camp as a row of tents see camp as a row of tents.
as clear as mud see clear as mud.
as happy (or lucky) as a bastard on Father’s Day see happy as a bastard on Father’s Day.
as happy as a pig in shit see happy as a pig in shit.
as I live and breathe indicates confidence, assurance or certainty; often used to emphasize (the truth of) an
assertion, or as an exclamation of surprise, as in she’s guilty, as I live and breathe, Mr Frobisher, as I live
and breathe! Variants of the phrase date from around 1645.
as I used to was a jocular variant of ‘as I used to be’, as in I’m not so fit as I used to was. 20th century.
as if I cared! a catch phrase of the character Sam Fairfechan (played by Hugh Morton) in the radio series
ITMA (It’s That Man Again), first broadcast in 1939 in the UK. The phrase was usually preceded by the
polite inquiry ‘Good morning, how are you today?’
as large as life and twice as natural see large as life and twice as natural.
as much chance as a snowball in hell see snowball’s chance in hell, a
as nutty as a fruitcake see nutty as a fruitcake.
asoldas my tongueandalittleolder thanmyteethsee
old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth.
as queer as Dick’s hatband see queer as Dick’s hatband.
as soft as shit and twice as nasty see soft as shit and twice as nasty, as.
as the actress said to the bishop a sexual innuendo added to an innocent remark, creating a double
entendre, as in it’s too stiff for me to manage it, as the actress said to the bishop. Where appropriate, the
variant as the bishop said to the actress is used instead, as in I can’t keep this up for long, as the bishop said
to the actress. The phrase probably dates back to Edwardian times.
as thick as two short planks see thick as two short planks.
ask a silly question and you’ll get a silly answer said in response to such a question or answer, or as a
truculent justification for having given a silly answer to a (debatably) silly question; sometimes shortened to
ask a silly question! Since the late or mid-19th century. The phrase may have evolved from the proverb ask
no questions and you’ll be told no lies.
ass in a sling, have (or get) (one’s) to be in (or get into) deep trouble or difficulties, as in don’t get your ass
in a sling. Used in the USA since the 1930s or earlier and in the UK in the later 20th century.
at least she won’t die wondering see she’ll die wondering.
attaboy! an exclamation of warm approval or great admiration, e.g. for something exceptionally well done.
Adopted from the USA around 1918. This one-word catch phrase is a contraction of that’s the boy! The
feminine form attagirl! is less frequent. See also that’s my boy!
aw shucks! an expression of embarrassment; used in jocular imitation of a US or Canadian yokel. Since
around 1910. The word shucks is probably a euphemism for shit.
B
back to square one let’s start again from the very beginning, often through reluctant necessity; also used by
those who find themselves back at the very beginning, having made no net progress. The origin of the
phrase (in January 1927) is said to be the former BBC method of dividing the football pitch into squares for
radio commentary purposes. However, the commentators themselves may have taken the phrase from such
games as snakes and ladders, where an unlucky throw of the dice may take a player back to the first square
of the board, or from the game of hopscotch, in which a grid of squares similar to that superimposed on the
football pitch is used.
back to the drawing-board! refers to the thorough reappraisal required when a complicated project ends in
failure; also used in the sense of ‘let’s get back to work’. The phrase probably originated in a famous
cartoon of World War II, by Peter Arno of the The New Yorker: the cartoon depicted an aircraft exploding
on the ground, watched by its designer (with a roll of technical drawings under his arm) saying ‘Ah well,
back to the old drawing-board.’
back to the grindstone! it’s time to resume work (after a break). Often preceded by Oh, well. The phrase
probably derives from the expression keep one’s (or someone else’s) nose to the grindstone, meaning to be,
or to force someone else to be, continually engaged in hard and monotonous work, used since around 1830.
ball game, it’s a different (or whole new) the situation has entirely changed; it’s a completely different
situation. The phrase has been used in the USA since the 1930s or earlier and had been adopted in the UK
by the early 1970s.
balloon goes up, the refers to the moment when something of great importance takes place (or is scheduled
to take place), as in the balloon goes up at three o’clock, what time does the balloon go up? In its original
military context (from around 1915) the phrase referred to the beginning of a major offensive; in civilian
usage (since around 1919) it may refer to the chief event of a show, festival, etc., or to a moment of crisis or
trouble.
band played on, the see and the band played on.
bang, bang, you’re dead! a children’s catch phrase used in games of cowboys and Indians, soldiers,
gangsters, etc., particularly when playing with toy or make-believe guns. It gained popularity after World War
II.
bang to rights refers to ‘a fair cop’—a justifiable arrest for an obvious crime, as in to be caught bang to
rights. The phrase has been used in the underworld since before 1930 and has been in general slang usage
since around 1950.
bangs like a shithouse door (, she) she copulates vigorously, noisily and almost ferociously. Used in
Australia since around 1930. A variant of the phrase has rat in place of door.
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be a devil! an (often ironic) invitation to somebody to be audacious, generous, etc., for once, as in go on, be
a devil and buy yourself a beer! Since around 1945.
be an angel! please do me a favour, as in be an angel and fetch my handbag for me. Mainly used by middle-
class women; since around 1930 or earlier.
be good!—and if you can’t be good, be careful! jocular valedictory advice; an extension of the catch
phrase be good! The phrase may be further extended with…—and if you can’t be careful, get married! (or
buy a pram! or (in the USA) be sanitary! or name it after me!). It probably originated as the title of a song
in the early 20th century. (According to a correspondent to the Sunday Times, the Latin phrase sinon caste,
tamen caute, which may be rendered ‘If not chastely, yet cautiously’, was used by Italian priests in the 13th
century.) See also don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!
be my guest! said with benevolent generosity to somebody who wishes to take something, borrow
something, do something, etc., as in ‘May I use your phone?’ ‘Be my guest!’ Since around 1950. The phrase
is virtually synonymous with feel free! It is sometimes used in place of ‘You’re welcome!’, acknowledging
an expression of gratitude.
be seeing you! goodbye (for now). A very common non-final valediction since the mid-1940s. The phrase
is short for I’ll be seeing you (see also Abyssinia!), and is sometimes shortened to see you!
be your age! stop being childish!; act like an adult! Adopted from the USA around 1934. See also
act your age!; grow up!
beats working (, it or that) a jocular comment on a job that is easy or enjoyable, or one that requires very
little exertion. Used in the USA from the late 1940s and subsequently adopted in the UK
because it’s there an apparently foolish reason for an apparently foolish act; the alleged response of the
mountaineer George Leigh Mallory when asked in 1923 why he wanted to climb Mount Everest. Mallory
failed in his attempt and the phrase was re-popularized by Edmund Hillary, who conquered Everest in 1953.
because the higher the fewer a meaningless response to the meaningless question why is a mouse when it
spins? Since around 1900. Other examples of deliberate non sequiturs include which would you rather, or
go fishing? and the question-and-answer ‘What’s the difference between a chicken?’ ‘One of its legs is both
the same.’
been and gone and done it, I’ve (or you’ve, he’s, she’s, etc.) a jocular, sometimes rueful, emphatic form
of ‘I’ve (or you’ve etc.) done it’, as in well, I’ve been and gone and done it—we got married last week; now
you’ve been and gone and done it, you clumsy oaf! Late 19th–20th centuries.
bee’s knees, the the very peak of perfection; the ultimate in beauty, desirability, etc., as in she thinks she’s
the bee’s knees. The phrase originated in the US around 1925 and was adopted in the UK around 1930.
believe it or not! it may sound incredible, but it is true none the less. From 1918 the phrase was popularized
in the USA (and subsequently in the UK and elsewhere) as the title of a long-running series of newspaper
cartoons by Robert Leroy Ripley, depicting strange-but-true facts and phenomena.
believe you me! used for emphasis, as in believe you me, it was hard work! A catch phrase of the 20th
century. See also you better believe it!
bells and whistles see all singing, all dancing.
best thing since sliced bread, the an expression of wholehearted appreciation, often applied to a useful
novelty. Used in the UK since around 1950 or earlier. The phrase may have originated in the USA, in the
form the greatest thing since sliced bread. It is sometimes used ironically by those who despise sliced bread
as inferior convenience food.
better out than in! said by (or to) the perpetrator of a loud fart or burp. Since around 1920. An older
version, better an empty house than a bad tenant, dates from the late 19th century and originated in an 18th-
century proverb; this longer form is much rarer in modern usage.
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better than a dig (or poke) in the eye with a blunt (or burnt) stick applied stoically to something that is
better than nothing, or enthusiastically to something that is very much better than nothing. The phrase and
most of its variants (see below) probably originated in the late 19th century. Variants include better than a kick
in the pants, better than a slap in the belly (or face) with a wet fish (or lettuce), and better than sleeping with
a dead policeman.
between a rock and a hard place between Scylla and Charybdis; in a situation where the avoidance of one
problem or danger leads to another. Since the 1950s or earlier.
Beulah, peel me a grape see peel me a grape.
BFN see ta-ta for now!
Big Brother is watching you! a monitory, indeed minatory, catch phrase applied to any instance of
centralized bureaucratic control or government surveillance that is considered to be a curtailment of personal
freedom and privacy. The phrase originated in George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), where
it is a slogan of the totalitarian state of which Big Brother is the sinister omnipotent leader, ‘watching’ the
citizens through posters and telescreens in every public and private place.
big conk: big cock implies that a man with a large nose has a large penis. The phrase may date back to the
early 19th century. The phrase a long nose is a lady’s liking is an allusive variant. Feminine variants include
big conk: big cunt and large mouth: large cunt.
big deal! used to deflate the pretensions, enthusiasm, etc., of the person addressed, as in ‘My brother’s just
bought a Ferrari.’ ‘Big deal!’ Of US origin; used in the UK since the early 1950s.
bigger they are, the harder they fall, the indicates a fearless defiance of one’s superiors. Late 19th–20th
centuries. The phrase was popularized by the boxer Bob Fitzsimmons, who is said to have used it on the eve
of his fight with James J.Jeffries, a much bigger man.
bird is flown, the signifies that a prisoner has escaped from jail or that a criminal has left his hiding-place.
An underworld catch phrase of the 19th century, from around 1810.
bless his (or her or their) little cotton socks! a jocular benediction or benevolent expression of gratitude or
admiration (especially of a baby, child, or pet animal), as in bless their little cotton socks—they’ve left every
thing ready for us! Since the mid-20th century. An earlier form of the phrase, bless your little cotton socks!,
meaning ‘thank you!’, dates from around 1905.
blind Freddie could see that (, even) any fool could see that. Used in Australia since the 1930s. Blind
Freddie is glossed in G.A.Wilkes’s Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms as ‘an imaginary figure
representing the highest degree of disability or incompetence and so used as a standard of comparison’.
blinded with science a catch phrase of Australia and New Zealand, celebrating the victory of intelligence
over mere physical strength. Late 19th–20th centuries. The phrase originated in the sport of boxing around
1880, when boxers using more scientific techniques began to defeat those relying on brute force. It is
believed to have given rise to the verbal idiom to blind (sb) with science, meaning ‘to explain something in
very technical language, so as to discourage (sb) from asking further questions’.
Bob’s your uncle! all will be well; it’s as simple as that, as in you just press this switch, and Bob’s your
uncle! Since around 1890. According to folk etymology, the origin of the phrase lies in the open and
unashamed nepotism practised by some British prime minister or other politician (such as the promotion of
Balfour by his uncle Robert, Lord Salisbury). A longer variant of the phrase adds…and Fanny’s your aunt!
brass-monkey weather see cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.
break a leg! good luck! Chiefly used in the theatre, where it is traditionally addressed to an actor about to
go on stage on the opening night of a play or show. (According to superstition, one should not say the words
‘good luck!’, to avoid tempting the gods.) The phrase probably originated in the early 20th century, perhaps
as a translation of the German phrase Hals-und Beinbruch, meaning ‘break your neck and leg’, also used in
11
aviation to wish a pilot well. (Most scholars and theatrical people dismiss the anecdotal origin dating from
1865, when the actor John Wilkes Booth is alleged to have jumped onto the stage and broken his leg
immediately after assassinating Abraham Lincoln.)
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed alert and ready for anything. Possibly of US origin; since 1933 or earlier.
From the apparent alertness of squirrels and other such quadrupeds.
bring on the dancing girls! let’s do something more entertaining or exciting. Used in the USA before 1920
and in the UK since the 1920s. The phrase was originally the stock impresario’s cliché during Broadway
musical rehearsals; it is also associated with Oriental potentates, bored with their guests, ordering the
dancers to appear.
brute force and ignorance used in connection with the repair or operation of things mechanical, especially
those that are stubbornly resistant to more sophisticated techniques, as in we got the engine running by brute
force and ignorance. The phrase is sometimes found in the extended form brute force and bloody ignorance.
buck stops here, the the evasion of responsibility ends at this point; a sign that appeared on the desk of
Harry S Truman at some stage during his presidency of the USA (1945–53). From the practice of passing
the buck (in the idiomatic sense of the phrase) until it reaches the person who must shoulder the
responsibility.
built like a brick shithouse applied to a very well-built person, male or female. The phrase has been in use
since the early 20th century.
bully for you! a mocking or ironic expression of admiration or congratulation, as in ‘I won first prize.’
‘Bully for you!’ The phrase has been used in the UK since around 1870, originally as an expression of
genuine admiration or congratulation; the mocking or ironic overtones developed in the latter half of the
20th century.
business as usual carrying on with one’s business, everyday activities, etc., despite difficulty or danger;
sometimes applied derisively or censoriously to an attitude of blind complacency. A catch phrase of World
War I, it was used in a famous speech by Winston Churchill on 9 November 1914, traditionally quoted as:
‘The maxim of the British people is “Business as usual”.’
by guess and by God by guesswork rather than logical thought or methodical reasoning, and therefore
unlikely to succeed except by divine intervention, as in to navigate by guess and by God. 20th century.
bye for now! see ta-ta for now!
C
camp as a row of tents (, as) spectacularly histrionic and affected in gesture, speech, manner, movement,
etc.; also applied to a blatantly homosexual male. A pun on the noun camp and the slang adjective camp,
meaning ‘homosexual’ or ‘excessively affected or theatrical in speech or manner’.
can do yes, I can do it; yes, all right. The phrase originated in pidgin English of the mid-19th century and
was widely used by the armed forces. It is also used as a question, can do?, meaning ‘can you do it?’, to
which the reply may be can do! See also no can do.
can of worms see that’s another can of worms.
can you beat that? can you better that (for impudence, excellence, unexpectedness, etc.)?, as in she asked
me for her old job back—can you beat that? 20th century; probably adopted from the USA.
can’t be bad! an expression of approbation or congratulation, as in ‘He gets £800 a week for about ten
hours’ work!’ ‘Can’t be bad!’ The use of the phrase may have been influenced by the Beatles song ‘She
loves you…and you know that can’t be bad.’
can’t complain see fair to middling.
can’t tell shit from Shinola (, he) applied to an ignorant or stupid person. The phrase was originally
(before 1930) used in the US armed forces: Shinola was the brand of boot polish issued to the men.
captain is at home, the a euphemistic reference to a woman who is having her period. The phrase
originated in the mid-18th century. Perhaps from a pun on catamenia, menstruation. Variants include the
cardinal is come, from the colour red associated with a cardinal, and my (or her) country cousins have come.
The latter phrase exists in a variety of forms, with friends, relations, aunt, grandmother, etc., in place of
country cousins. All these phrases were (virtually) obsolete by the mid-20th century.
carrying all before her applied to a woman who either has a very large bust or is rather prominently
pregnant. From around 1920.
casting nasturtiums a deliberate malapropism, with nasturtiums in place of aspersions, as in are you
casting nasturtiums? 20th century.
cat got your tongue? see has the cat got your tongue?
cat in hell’s chance, not a see not a cat in hell’s chance.
cat laugh, enough to (or it would) make a see enough to make a cat laugh.
chalk it up to experience! there’s nothing to be done about it (a mistake or mishap) except learn from it.
From the beginning of the 20th century or earlier. The metaphor is probably derived from the practice of
chalking up debts, etc., on a slate.
chance would be a fine thing! I only wish I had the opportunity!; you are unlikely to get the opportunity,
and wouldn’t know what to do with it if you did! The phrase is often used jocularly in sexual contexts, as in
‘She would never be unfaithful to her husband.’ ‘Chance would be a fine thing!’ The phrase may date back
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to the 17th century; an early 20th-century example of usage occurs in William Stanley Houghton’s play
Hindle Wakes (1912).
charge like the Light Brigade (, they) their prices or charges are very high. Since around 1955. A (chiefly
Australian) variant of the phrase has a wounded bull in place of the Light Brigade.
cheap and cheerful applied to something that is cheap and inferior, but nevertheless serves its purpose
adequately, as in we bought a cheap and cheerful carpet for the children’s playroom. The phrase is not as
deprecating as cheap and nasty. Possibly since around 1950.
cheap at half the price (, it would be) it’s very good value, a very reasonable price; said by the seller or
the buyer. The phrase dates from 1920 at the latest, perhaps from as early as 1890. It is one of those
intensely idiomatic phrases that are taken for granted yet prove impossible to analyse or explain: the
accepted interpretation would make more sense if twice were substituted for half. Kingsley Amis wrote in
the Observer, 4 September 1977: ‘I think it’s an ironical inversion of the salesman’s claim, “cheap at double
the price”, and means what it says, it would be cheap at half the price, i.e. it’s bloody expensive.’
cheeky monkey! usually addressed to a child or young adult, especially male. The phrase was already well
established in northern English usage when it was popularized by the comedian Al Read in the 1950s.
cheer up: it may never happen see don’t worry: it may never happen.
chips are down, the the situation is both grave and urgent; the time has come when a fateful decision must
be made, as in when the chips are down,…. Of US origin, the phrase probably originated before World War
I. The word chips refers to the counters used in poker and other games of chance.
chocks away! get on with the job! The phrase originated in the RAF around 1920, with the literal meaning
of ‘remove the wooden chocks and let the planes get off the ground’. It may be applied to the first run of
anything mechanical.
Christmas comes but once a year—thank God! said by those who hate to see what the profiteers have
made of Christmas, or who simply dislike or resent the expense and excess involved. (The cliché Christmas
comes but once a year is used to justify such expense or excess.) That the phrase dates from around 1945
may surprise those who feel that the commercialization of Christmas is a more recent phenomenon.
cinch, it’s (or that’s) a it’s a certainty; that’s dead easy. Used in the USA since 1900 at the latest and in the
UK since the late 1930s or earlier. From the cinch (meaning ‘girth’) of a saddle, which holds it firmly and
securely in position.
clear as mud (, as) as clear as muddy water, i.e. not at all clear; an ironic or jocular simile, as in ‘Is that
quite clear to you now?’ ‘Yes, as clear as mud!’ Since around 1820 or earlier.
clever chaps (or devils) these Chinese! see damned clever these Chinese!
close, but no cigar (, it was) a US catch phrase used chiefly in sporting contexts. Since around 1930.
Perhaps from the practice of presenting a cigar to the winner of some minor competition.
close your eyes and think of England! jocular advice to a girl or young woman on her wedding night, or
on any occasion when sexual intercourse is considered to be a duty rather than a pleasure; also jocularly
addressed to a reluctant participant (of either sex) in any activity. A variant has shut in place of close. The
phrase originated in the late 19th century, when it was probably used in more literal contexts by Britons
living abroad in unpleasant conditions. See also lie back and enjoy it!
cloth ears, he (or she) has he (or she) does not hear, listen or respond; often applied to those who pretend
not to hear what they do not wish to hear. 20th century; of Cockney origin. From caps with heavy ear-flaps.
cloud nine, on see on cloud nine.
cobblers! see that’s a load of old cobblers!
cold as a witch’s tit (, as) extremely cold. Used in the USA since the 1930s or earlier, and occasionally in
the UK. The phrase also exists in the intensified form colder than a witch’s tit.
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cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey refers to extremely cold weather. (In polite company,
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