A-Z Database
An extremely detailed verbal or written description of events, dates from the 1940s and derives from radio commentaries of boxing matches.
To be inconsistent with one’s words, feelings or support and therefore not to be trusted is a very old expression that dates from one of Aesop’s Fable...
This is a mild expression of surprise or perplexity rather than an injunction to perform fellatio. It dates from the early 19th century and is probabl...
see Mind-blowing
To blow one’s own trumpet is to act in a boastful, self-promoting manner. Although the earliest citation for the exact phrasing is not much before the...
Lose one’s temper, American slang, dates from the 19th century. The stack here is the smokestack or funnel on steamships. In the early days of steam,...
To have a good time unrestrained by pressure or responsibility; dates from the 19th century when steam-train and steamship operators would have to blo...
Derives from naval warfare in its literal sense during the early 19th century but acquired its figurative meaning of repudiate or destroy verbally dur...
To blow smoke up someone's ass/arse means to flatter, deceive, or lie to someone, and is originally American, dating from the 1940s. The core is to 'b...
This British slang expression from the early 19th century means to reveal information, usually of an incriminating nature and originated in the crimin...
Expose to public view, especially something scandalous or illegal dates from the late 19th/early 20th century, as does the opposite, to keep or put a...
To lay information, usually to the authorities, against someone, this figurative use dates from the early 20th century with allusion to police whistle...
see Blow one’s own trumpet
Lose one’s head or temper, American informal, dates from early 20th century and derives from the build-up and then forceful release of steam pressure,...
As in the expression, “Well I’ll be blowed!” is probably a euphemism for “I’ll be damned” dates from the early 19th century and is linked to blow me.