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
Going for a song

see For a song


Going great guns

Performing forcefully and vigorously at great speed, in this context dates from the early 20th century and was associated with horseracing. Blowing gr...

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Going like a Boeing

This expression, a modern version of the expression going great guns and which means performing vigorously with great gusto and speed was prompted by...

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Going like the clappers (of hell)

see Hell’s bells


Going to hell in a hand basket/handcart

This expression means to be on a course for disaster and is of American origin from the mid-19th century. There are connotations and allusions to crim...

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Gold-digger

In the sense of a woman who associates with men for financial gain dates from the early 20th century. The story that it derives from digging up corpse...

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Golden handshake

Sum of money, usually generous, given to an employee either on retirement or in recognition of long and excellent service, dates from the mid-1950s; o...

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Golden parachute

Generous severance agreement in the event of enforced dismissal resulting from a merger or takeover dates from the late 1970s, thought to have been fi...

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Golden rule

There are many golden or fundamental rules in all sorts of endeavours that should never be broken, or so the saying goes, and this general meaning of...

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Golden touch

see Midas touch


Golf

Golf is not an acronym as bogus etymology on the internet would have us believe. The game was invented in Scotland and the word entered the English la...

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Golliwog

Coined by Florence Upton (1873-1922) an American-born illustrator and writer of children’s books living in London. In 1895, her book The Adventures of...

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Golly

Mild expression of surprise, American, dates from the mid-19th century and derives from a euphemism for God. It is also a British word, short for goll...

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Gone fishing

American expression from the 1940s meaning unavailable, made popular by the duet sung by Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong in the song Gone Fishing (195...

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Gone for a Burton

This was originally RAF slang for dead or presumed dead and dates from c. 1940. No one is quite sure of the origin. A Google search for its origin wil...

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