A-Z Database
Rigmarole is a lengthy, complicated and often unnecessary procedure or it can mean a long rambling discourse. Its origin goes back to a medieval game...
At first glance, ring down the curtain appears to be a mistake. Should it not be bring down the curtain? Apparently not. Ring down the curtain dates f...
Ring rust or rustiness, or to be ring rusty, is a metaphor for a state of mental or physical unpreparedness, in the sense that one is not up to the re...
This expression now means to employ alternative methods and originates from the ancient custom of bell ringing when different peals of the bells indic...
A ring-fence is an enclosure that completely surrounds an estate, a farm or a piece of ground. It is also used as a verb and first dates in this liter...
Ring and ring piece are British low colloquialisms for the anus and date from the late 19th century.
see Dead ringer
Derogatory term for a troublemaker or instigator of some reprehensible act or deed and dates from the early 16th century. Ring has been a collective n...
The expression is of course figurative in the sense that when something rings a bell it awakens a memory. Most etymological sources maintain this expr...
A rip-off is a swindle or an over-charge and is an Americanism from c.1967 but ‘to rip’ meaning to steal or rob was earlier American slang from the la...
A well-worn expression where old age is described as ripe i.e. having reached full maturity, is one of the oldest clichés in the English language dati...
Ripper is a modern Australian colloquialism (c. 1970s) for something excellent or exceptional. Derives from the earlier English slang expression, ripp...
Originally, the North American version of snorter, meaning something extraordinary, striking or spectacular. But why 'rip'? 'Rip' was added to snorter...
The metaphor of time as a river was coined by Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) Meditations IV, “Time is a sort of river of passing events.”
The concept behind this proverb meaning that good intentions on their own are not enough to avoid trouble or even damnation, is very old, but is thoug...