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
Geez

This is simply an alternative form of Gee and an alternative spelling of Jeez, a minced oath for Jesus.


Gen

Information, the facts, originally British armed forces slang from c. 1940 derives from general information or perhaps genuine intelligence.


Genie is out of the bottle

Although the word 'genie' meaning a magical spirit that fulfils wishes or performs tasks, first entered the English language in 1702, according to The...

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Gentleman of leisure

Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations attributes 'gentleman of leisure' and its female corollary to Thorstein Veblen (1827-1929) the American economist and s...

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Gentlemen prefer blondes

This was the title of a book written by Anita Loos in 1925. It was made into a movie in 1953, starring Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell and Charles Coburn...

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Geoff Hurst

A first class university degree, from rhyming slang, Geoff Hurst/first, student witticism from the 1980s. Geoff Hurst scored the winning goal when Eng...

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George Raft

Rhyming slang for draught, George Raft/draught, as in close the door, there’s a bit of a George Raft in here. It dates from the 1950s after the Americ...

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Gerrymander/gerrymandering

To define or rig election districts so as to give one political party more representational seats by concentrating the voting strength of the oppositi...

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Get a grip

A catchphrase, usually in the form of an exhortation, encouraging someone to take firmer control of a situation, or reality or life in general. It da...

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Get a handle on something

see Handle


Get a load of this

Exhortation to look at or listen to something, American slang dates from the early 20th century.


Get blood from a stone

see Blood from a stone


Get cold feet

see Cold feet


Get cracking

Get a move on, get started; its meaning is not a problem but its origin is debatable. For example, the OED dates the expression crack along, meaning t...

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Get down

American black slang dates from the 1970s meaning to party or dance.


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