A-Z Database
Glad rags are party or special occasion clothes, with the obvious connotation of happy enjoyable occasions, originally an Americanism that dates from...
To have a glass jaw or chin is an expression usually used in boxing to describe a boxer who is particularly vulnerable to blows aimed at his jaw or ch...
The term global village is attributed to the Canadian writer and communication theorist Marshal McLuhan (1911-1980) in his book The Gutenberg Galaxy p...
A metaphor that means one is ready to dispense harsh treatment or criticism dates from the late 19th century with the allusion to bare-knuckle pugilis...
To go south appears to be of American origin and means to deteriorate or decline as in sales, stock markets, value of assets etc. It seems to have der...
See Bundle
This is the famous catchphrase spoken by Clint Eastwood’s character, Police Inspector ‘Dirty Harry’ Callahan, in the movie Sudden Impact (1983). Calla...
see Banana/bananas
If something goes begging or a-begging it means that something or other is available, but generally not taken up. In other words, it is begging to be...
see Belly-up
An American catchphrase that means to make an all-out effort or none at all. The exact origin is not known but the sports of trick skiing and surfing...
see Bust/busted/bust up
To let something go by the board is to finish with it or let it pass or go, as in to throw overboard. It was originally a nautical expression dating f...
see Cap in hand
see Lead balloon