A-Z Database
For centuries, taking one’s hat off in the presence of someone was a sign of respect but it was only from the mid-19th century that the expression bec...
Means to reprimand or call someone to task, and derives from the literal, medieval treatment of heretics. If they survived such treatment unscathed, t...
see Bash/bash on
A beef is an argument or disagreement with someone and is an Americanism that dates from the 19th century and has connections to beefy meaning burly t...
see Cadenza
see Foot in the door
Have a strong intention to say or to do something; the expression dates from the early 1500s.
In the sense of an injunction to lighten up or go easy dates from the early 20th century.
see Take or have a leak
To have a monkey on one’s back is to have a very irritating, ongoing problem. The expression dates from the mid-19th century when it originally meant...
To be mad or insane is the opposite of having one’s head screwed on the right way, both metaphors date from the late 18th/early 19th century, hence, s...
see Sweet tooth
see Catch/have a tiger by the tail
see At full tilt
see Axe to grind