A-Z Database
This expression is from the 16th century and describes a harmless, timid person. It is sometimes expressed as would not say ‘shoo’ to a goose. Apparen...
see Cup of tea
As a general rule, no one tolerates fools and, ethically speaking, this general rule might not appear to be very Christian. The source, nonetheless, i...
see Have not the foggiest idea/notion
If someone is not the full shilling it means they are mentally deficient or not the genuine article. It is a British colloquialism that dates from the...
see Toffee
Mostly appears in this negative form and means not to be taken lightly or not to be treated with scorn. It first appears in a play by the English dram...
see Die wondering
This expression dates from the 19th century and means that someone or something is so unappealing that one would not go anywhere near them. A barge po...
see Not touch with a barge pole
See Turn a hair
see Brass farthing
see Not give/worth a continental
Chaucer in Troilus and Criseyde c. 1380 wrote, “Such arguments … nat worth a bene.” Therefore, beans have been viewed as worthless for centuries. Fast...
see Red cent