A - Z Database
Southern African slang for people of coloured (mixed race) origin dates from the mid-20th century. Some sources maintain it was originally Afrikaans s...
Goggles in the sense of protective eyewear dates from the early 18th century, and derives from goggle meaning to stare or squint, which dates from The...
see For a song
Performing forcefully and vigorously at great speed, in this context dates from the early 20th century and was associated with horseracing. Blowing gr...
This expression, a modern version of the expression going great guns and which means performing vigorously with great gusto and speed was prompted by...
see Hell’s bells
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
see Midas touch
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...
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...
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...