A-Z Database
This phrase was coined by John Donne in Devotions written in 1623. The full quotation is, “Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in man...
From at least The Middle Ages, this was the common expression for the fruit eaten by Adam and Eve in spite of the warning from God not to do so. Refer...
An obvious, predetermined outcome; this common everyday phrase is attributed to Shakespeare in Othello c. 1604, Act III, Scene III, “But this denoted...
Coined by Shakespeare in As You Like It (c.1598) Act IV, Scene I, line 151. Rosalind says, “Now tell me how long you would have her, after you have po...
British informal for to pay out or give over dates from the early 19th century and derives from the manual labour of working with an agricultural or g...
The expression, white man, speak with forked tongue is generally acknowledged as an anonymous Hollywood scriptwriter’s coinage from the early 20th cen...
This word, which is a shortening of fourteen nights dates back to before the 12th century and reflects the old Germanic custom of counting in nights i...
This ancient proverb is found in the writings of Terence (c.190-159 BC) and in Virgil (70-19 BC) Aeneid, Book X, “Audentes fortuna iuvat.” Latin for f...
Take a short nap usually in the daytime; dates from the early 19th century but why forty winks? No special reason except that forty has frequently bee...
see Never foul one's own nest
see Cry foul
see Would not be caught, found or seen dead
If someone or something is found wanting it means deficient or lacking the ability to achieve the required standard or result. This usage of wanting d...
The expression "four corners of the Earth" is mentioned in the Bible, in Revelation twice, 7:1 and 20:7, and also in Isaiah 11: 12, and Ezekiel 7:2. T...
see Monkeys wedding