A-Z Database
A metaphor for misfortune from at least the 17th century. See also Cry over spilt milk
As in putting a fresh spin on something. means putting a new interpretation on an event or a state of affairs, dates from the 1980s. See also Spin doc...
To spin a yarn means to tell a story and dates in this sense from the early 19th century. For centuries before this, of course, spinning yarn simply m...
This expression for a professional publicist, usually employed by senior politicians, is from America c. 1984 when it appeared in a New York Times art...
Means that good intentions are often undermined by poor performance, the source is the New Testament Matthew 26:40 “The spirit is indeed willing, but...
Originally a British phrase describing a basic, low class tavern where sawdust was strewn on the floor to soak up both spillages and spitting of patro...
Strictly speaking, 'spitting image' should never appear with this spelling because it is a corruption of 'spit and image'. If the expression is said q...
This well-known phrase describes British foreign policy following the Napoleonic Wars, and during the rest of the 19th century. It was coined by the C...
During the 17th century, this became a standard order in the Royal Navy for an extra ration of rum to be issued to the crew for any job well done, a v...
This hyperbolic metaphor for laughing very heartily, as if one’s sides were splitting, dates from the late 17th/early 18th century. Side splitting lau...
This is a metaphor for arguing in a futile manner over trivial and fine distinctions. With modern laser technology, hair can now be split but it was t...
To put a spoke in someone’s wheel is to hinder or thwart someone’s plans or progress and this figurative use of the expression dates from c. 1854. Bef...
Spook meaning a ghost dates from 1801, according The Oxford English Dictionary, and derives from Dutch and German. Spook meaning to frighten suddenly,...
Named after the Reverend, Dr William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930) lecturer and later Dean of New College, Oxford, is the, usually unintentional, tran...
Spot cash meaning ready money dates from the late 19th century. Spot on meaning completely or accurately dates from the 1920s although Eric Partridge...