Where does the expression “to set people together by the ears” come from and What does it mean?

where does the expression to set people together by the ears come from and what does it mean

The expression “to set people together by the ears” means to involve them in a quarrel; set them at variance; create among them. The original ears were those of quarrelsome animals, those of cats especially, which tore at each other’s ears when fighting. Thus Laurence Tomson in his translation (1579) of Calvin’s Sermons on the … Read more

What does the expression “full of prunes” (or beans) mean and Where does it originate?

what does the expression full of prunes or beans mean and where does it originate

The expression “full of prunes” means, peppy, lively, energetic, in high spirits, feeling one’s oats, rarin’ to go. “Beans” was the first, and was originally said of horses after a feeding of beans raised for fodder, “horse beans,” so called. Undoubtedly the spirited state of a bean-fed horse was observed in remote times, Romans also … Read more

What does the expression “to kick against the pricks” mean and Where does it come from?

what does the expression to kick against the pricks mean and where does it come from

The expression “to kick against the pricks” means to use vain efforts; be recalcitrant; knock one’s head against a wall; suffer from one’s own misdeeds; kick against thorns or spurs to one’s own hurt. Saul, later called Paul, on his way to Damascus from Jerusalem, where he had received letters authorizing him to arrest any … Read more

Where does the expression “like greased lightning” come from and What does it mean?

where does the expression like greased lightning come from and what does it mean

The expression “like greased lightning” means lickety-split; like a blue streak; like a bat out of hell; with extreme rapidity. Although this has the appearance of typical American exaggerated hyperbole, nevertheless the earliest printed record of use is in the Boston, Lincoln, and Louth Herald, published in Lincolnshire, England, the issue of January 15, 1833: … Read more

Where does the expression “Johnny come lately” originate and What does it mean?

where does the expression johnny come lately originate and what does it mean

The expression “Johnny come lately” means a newcomer; one recently arrived; an inexperienced person. Apparently this was originally, in the early quarter of the nineteenth century, the American sailor’s version of the British “Johnny Newcome,” any recruit aboard any of His Majesty’s vessels. Our earliest instance of usage appears in The Adventures of Harry Franco … Read more

Where does the phrase “three cheers and a tiger” come from and What does it mean?

where does the phrase three cheers and a tiger come from and what does it mean

The three cheers are self-explanatory, but why the “tiger”? It is, to be sure, a vociferous yell or howl added with utmost enthusiasm at the close of the cheering, perhaps emulating the roar or yowl of a genuine tiger. Well, here’s the story, retold from Bartlett’s Dictionary of Americanisms (1859): The Boston Light Infantry visited … Read more

What does the expression “on the cuff” mean and Where does it come from?

what does the expression on the cuff mean and where does it come from

The expression “on the cuff” means on credit. We surmise, but can’t prove, that this phrase and its interpretation originated in the barroom, the saloon of old. The bartender, short of convenient paper for keeping records of amounts due, but having starched white cuff and pencil handy, just wrote “John Jones-30” on his cuff, transferring … Read more

What does the phrase “I declare to Betsy” mean and Where does it come from?

what does the phrase i declare to betsy mean and where does it come from

The phrase “I declare to Betsy” is an exclamation expressing positive affirmation, surprise, close interest, or similar emotion; equivalent to “Well, I do declare,” etc. We are afraid that this Betsy, as also she of “Heavens to Betsy,” was a homeless waif of no particular parentage. Like Topsy, she just “growed.” “I declare to goodness,” … Read more

What does the expression “hanged, drawn, and quartered” mean and Where does it come from?

what does the expression hanged drawn and quartered mean and where does it come from

The expression “hanged, drawn, and quartered” means to be subjected to the direst penalty; originally a judgment rendered upon a criminal sentenced to death, but now often jocularly threatened to a person in mild reproof. The original sentence was anything but a joke. Prior to the fifteenth century it meant that the person so sentenced … Read more

What does the expression “to keep one’s eyes peeled” (or skinned) mean and Where does it originate?

what does the expression to keep ones eyes peeled or skinned mean and where does it originate

The expression “to keep one’s eyes peeled” means to be very observant or extremely alert; to keep a sharp lookout. No record of this American expression has been turned up earlier than 1833, but the fact that it then appeared in a newspaper (The Political Examiner, of Shelbyville, Kentucky) is a fair indication that it … Read more

What does the phrase “to be caught flat footed” mean and Where does it come from?

what does the phrase to be caught flat footed mean and where does it come from

In American usage, one is “caught flat-footed” when he is unprepared, asleep at the switch, inattentive, or surprised. Previously, we said that the expression probably arose from the American game of football, “for it applies most pertinently to the player who, having received the ball on a pass, is caught by an opposing player before … Read more

What does the phrase “anvil chorus” mean and Where does it come from?

what does the phrase anvil chorus mean and where does it come from

The collective critical comments of those opposing any measure, political or otherwise; as, “Any proposal made by Franklin Roosevelt met with a resounding anvil chorus of Republican senators.” The term has a musical background, referring originally to the cacophony of anvils or cymbals and timpani beaten rhythmically in the accompaniment of the so-called “Anvil Chorus,” … Read more

Where does the phrase “double entendre” come from and What does it mean in French?

where does the phrase double entendre come from and what does it mean in french

Those who use the term “double entendre” may find themselves scorned or held in ridicule by one who is really familiar with French. He will scoffingly say, “There is no such French expression. What you mean is ‘double entente.’” The latter is, in fact, present French usage, but, nevertheless, back in the seventeenth century, as … Read more

Where does the phrase “A number one” (A No. 1) originate and What does it mean?

where does the phrase a number one a no 1 originate and what does it mean

The phrase “A number one” means superior, first class, the best of its kind. An American nautical classification of British ancestry, both of which referred originally to sailing vessels. The British term, usually written “A 1,” was thus described in Lloyd’s Register: “The character A denotes new ships, or ships renewed or restored. The stores … Read more

What does the expression “cheek by jowl” mean and Where does it come from?

what does the expression cheek by jowl mean and where does it come from

In early usage, six hundred years ago, when anyone wanted to express close intimacy, he said (or wrote), “cheke bi cheke.” But some two centuries later someone thought it would be more picturesque to substitute the Frenchified “jowl”, variously written jowl, foul, joll, joie, geoul, chowl, for the second element, and this has been our … Read more

Where does the term “white collar worker” come from and What does it mean?

where does the term white collar worker come from and what does it mean

A white collar worker is anyone who performs non-manual labor; a professional person, such as lawyer, doctor, banker, clergyman, etc.; specifically, an office worker, rather than a shop worker. An anonymous newspaper columnist recently stated that the expression started “when medicine became a respected profession and doctors began to wear white collars as part of … Read more

Where does the term “Whig” come from and What does Whig mean?

where does the term whig come from and what does whig mean

All the Presbyterians of Scotland bound themselves by a covenant, in 1638, to resist all attempts to alter their form of worship and to maintain the Presbyterian doctrine as the sole religion of their country. This oath was taken because Charles I, king of England, was then employing every device to bring Scotland into the … Read more

Where does the term “toady” originate and What does toady mean?

where does the term toady originate and what does toady mean

The makers of nostrums still loudly proclaim and advertise the remarkable curative powers of their remedies, sometimes claiming that they will cure anything from falling hair to ingrown toenails. The charlatans and quacks of the seventeenth century were no less modest. In fact, they went further. It was sincerely, though mistakenly, believed at that time … Read more

Where does the word “tartar” come from and What does tartar mean?

where does the word tartar come from and what does tartar mean

Chief among the Mongols ruled over by Genghis Khan were the people known as Ta-ta Mongols. Through their warlike qualities they had extended his dominions, before his death in 1227, to embrace all China, had successfully invaded northern India and Persia, and had crossed the Caucasus Mountains, penetrating as far westward as the Volga and … Read more