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
Soft as a baby’s bottom

see Smooth as a baby’s bottom


Soft hearted

Tender hearted dates from the late 16th century. See also Soft on.


Soft in the head

A colloquialism for a weak or feeble-minded person dates from the mid-19th century.


Soft on

To be soft on someone is to be lenient or fond of them and dates from The Middle Ages.


Soft soap

To soft soap someone is to cajole or flatter and is a British colloquialism that dates from the early 19th century. It derives from the allusion of so...

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Soft spot

Soft spot can mean both a weakness and a source of affection, as in to attack a soft or weak spot or to have a soft spot for someone. Both usages are...

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Soft touch

see Touch


Soixante-neuf

Soixante-neuf is French for 69. The juxtaposition of these two numerals signifies sexual activity between two people who stimulate each other’s genita...

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Sold a pup

see Bought/sold a pup


Sold down the river

see Sell down the river


Soldier on

To soldier on means to persevere steadfastly, like a good soldier is supposed to do, and dates from the 1950s.


Some are born great

see Greatness


Somersault

This word has been in the language from the early 1500s and is borrowed from the Old French sombresault from sombre meaning over and sault meaning to...

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Something is rotten in the State of Denmark

This quotation from Shakespeare’s Hamlet Act I, Scene IV, is often used as a general metaphor for governmental or commercial corruption.


Something new out of Africa

see Always something new out of Africa


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