A-Z Database
This metaphor derives from the title of a song written by Ray Henderson and Lew Brown and performed by Ethel Merman in the musical Scandals in 1931. A...
This famous catchphrase is drawn from the movie Forrest Gump (1994). The lead character, a half-wit who turns up at critical moments in 20th century h...
Living the life of Reilly, means living an easy, affluent life. The evidence points to an expression of Irish-American origin dating from the late 19t...
A Life on the Ocean Wave written in 1847 by Epes Sargent (1813-1880) was the title of a popular 19th century American song that also became popular in...
Usually appears in the form of one of life’s little ironies and is now a cliché that refers to the minor problems or tribulations in life. It is also...
Usually in the form of ‘all part of life’s rich pageant’ and often used ironically to indicate that something is actually mundane or dull. Sometimes,...
A metaphor that a solution to a long, difficult task or problem is in sight, just like the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. The first citation...
A moment of inspiration, recognition or realisation, dates from the late 20th/early 21st century, chiefly US informal, derives from the allusion to a...
see Light/lit out
see Blue touch-paper
To light out meaning to leave or depart in a hurry, more common in the past tense e.g. “He lit out of here as fast as his legs could carry him” is US...
Lights meaning the lungs or offal of animals dates from the 1200s. See also According to one’s lights
This expression is a metaphor that describes the vacant look on a person’s face that indicates lack of awareness or lack of intelligence. It is origin...
see Blue-arsed fly
see Cat on hot bricks