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
Ring down the curtain

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...

Read More


Ring rust/rustiness/rusty

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...

Read More


Ring the changes

This expression now means to employ alternative methods and originates from the ancient custom of bell ringing when different peals of the bells indic...

Read More


Ring-fence

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...

Read More


Ring/ring piece

Ring and ring piece are British low colloquialisms for the anus and date from the late 19th century.


Ringer

see Dead ringer


Ringleader

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...

Read More


Rings a bell

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...

Read More


Rip-off

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...

Read More


Ripe old age

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...

Read More


Ripper/ripping

Ripper is a modern Australian colloquialism (c. 1970s) for something excellent or exceptional. Derives from the earlier English slang expression, ripp...

Read More


Ripsnorter

Originally, the American version of the British colloquial snorter, which means something extraordinary, striking or spectacular. It dates from the mi...

Read More


River of time

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.”


Road to hell is paved with good intentions

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...

Read More


Rob Peter to pay Paul

Means take from one and give to another but its origin remains a mystery. The story that funds were taken from the parish of St Peter, Westminster Abb...

Read More


back to top