A-Z Database

A-Z Database

All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Mull over

This sense of mull means to work over mentally, think through or cogitate and is originally an American colloquialism dates from the late 19th century...

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Mum’s the word

'Mum's the word' usually said in a conspiratorial tone of voice, meaning that what has just been said or revealed to you by another person is confiden...

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Mumbo jumbo

Mumbo jumbo means nonsense or gibberish, especially that which is connected to primitive religious rituals and dates from the early 18th century. It i...

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Mums and Dads

Rhyming slang for cricket pads, Mums and Dads/pads, dates from the mid-20th century. Recently used by retired cricketer, now commentator, Nasser Husse...

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Munt

Chiefly white Zimbabwean slang for a Black African dates from the mid-20th century, and derives from the Matabele word umuntu meaning people.


Murder of crows

Murder has been a collective noun for crows since the 15th century due to the superstitious association of crows with death because of course they fee...

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Mush

Mush is Standard English, probably a variation of mash, for any soft or pulpy food and is first cited in this sense from the early 19th century, altho...

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Mustapha

British armed services jocular slang as in Mustapha drink or Mustapha crap (must have a) dates from the 1930s and derives from the popular Arab name.


Muti/muthi

South African informal for medicine derives from the Zulu umuthi for medicine and dates from at least the 19th century.


Mutt

US slang for a stupid, ignorant blunderer, an abbreviation of muttonhead, dates from 1910. Again, originating from America, it can also mean a small d...

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Mutt ‘n Jeff

Rhyming slang for deaf, Mutt and Jeff/deaf, dates from the 1940s, derives from the comic strip characters Mutt and Jeff created by Bud Fisher in 1907.


Mutton dressed as lamb

A derogatory metaphor for an older woman trying to dress and act younger dates in this form from the early 19th century but is preceded by a slightly...

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Muttonhead/mutton headed

A dull-witted stupid person, derives from the well-known stupidity of sheep and dates from the late 18th/early 19th century.


My arse

Vulgar expression of surprise or disbelief, dates from the late 19th century. Some sources maintain that my aunt is the genteel version.


My aunt

Mild expression of surprise that dates from the late 19th century. Some sources maintain it is a polite form of my arse, which is much older. Sometime...

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