A-Z Database
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.
British slang for telephone dates from the 1920s, with reference to the earlier speaking tubes through which one had to blow to attract attention. For...
This describes a person who is boastful or who brags, an American expression that dates from the late 19th century.
US slang expression for fellatio. The expression is thought to date from the 1960s although the activity itself is probably a lot older.
Today, a bludger is chiefly Australian and New Zealand derogatory slang for someone who avoids work or does a bad job. It sometimes appears as a verb...
As a colour, blue has been associated with sadness and low spirits since the 14th century. This is thought to derive from a candle burning blue, which...
The origin of this phrase is Spanish from The Middle Ages when Spain was embroiled with its wars against the invading Moors. The Moors occupied certai...
Highly valued, an Americanism that has become part of Standard English dates from the 19th century when it originally referred to a highly valued poke...