A-Z Database
This was the title of a book written by Anita Loos in 1925. It was made into a movie in 1953, starring Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell and Charles Coburn...
A first class university degree, from rhyming slang, Geoff Hurst/first, student witticism from the 1980s. Geoff Hurst scored the winning goal when Eng...
Rhyming slang for draught, George Raft/draught, as in close the door, there’s a bit of a George Raft in here. It dates from the 1950s after the Americ...
To define or rig election districts so as to give one political party more representational seats by concentrating the voting strength of the oppositi...
A catchphrase, usually in the form of an exhortation, encouraging someone to take firmer control of a situation, or reality or life in general. It da...
see Handle
Exhortation to look at or listen to something, American slang dates from the early 20th century.
To get back on the horse, or get back in the saddle are idioms that mean to renew any endeavour after a setback. Its origin is obviously equestrian bu...
see Blood from a stone
see Cold feet
Get a move on, get started; its meaning is not a problem but its origin is debatable. For example, the OED dates the expression crack along, meaning t...
American black slang dates from the 1970s meaning to party or dance.
see Brass tacks
see Hot under the collar
This expression derives from a figurative use of the word froth as in frothing at the mouth meaning to get agitated and angry, dates from the late 17t...