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
Trifecta

A trifecta is a bet in horse racing that predicts the first three horses that cross the finishing line in the correct order. The word was first used i...

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Trip the light fantastic

Although the expression is used less and less these days, it was once a popular expression when ballroom was the principal form of dancing. 'Trip the...

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Trolley

see Off one’s rocker/trolley


Trooper

These days, calling someone a trooper or behaving like a trooper is generally complimentary, except, of course, if someone happens to be swearing like...

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Trouble and strife

Trouble and strife is British jocular rhyming slang for one’s wife, trouble and strife/wife, dates from the early 20th century. See also Duchess of Fi...

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Trouser snake

Australian slang for penis dates from the mid-20th century, sometimes appears as one-eyed trouser snake, for obvious reasons.


True as Bob

This expression is a euphemism for true as God and dates from the early 20th century.


True blue

True blue has become a metaphor for loyal and steadfast without any connection to the colour blue per se. True blue dates in this sense of being loyal...

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True colours

To show one's true colours is to reveal what one is really like, to uncover one's real character or intentions, good or bad. It derives from the days...

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Trump

As in a game of cards, the word trump is an alternative form, a corruption really, of the word ‘triumph’ and dates from the early 1500s. It derives fr...

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Truth is stranger than fiction

This saying, which means that things that happen in real life are often more bizarre than anything that could be imagined, has achieved proverbial sta...

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Try

Why a touchdown in rugby is called a try goes back to when the game of rugby was evolving during the 19th century. The first focus then was on the kic...

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Try to teach your grandmother to suck eggs

see Teach your grandmother how to suck eggs


Tuckered out

Tucker is a colloquial American word that means to grow weary or tired. Its origin is unknown and dates from c. 1839.


Tuesday

see Days of the week


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