A - Z Database
Old fogey, sometimes spelt 'fogy', meaning an excessively old-fashioned, staid person dates from 1780, according to the OED. 'Fogy' did appear a few y...
Old fashioned, passé, outdated, dates from the early 20th century when hats were a strong statement of fashion. Therefore, an old hat was more than li...
This means wise or clever beyond one’s years and the source is Shakespeare Merchant of Venice (1597), Act IV, Scene I, “I never knew so young a body w...
This has been a nickname (no connection or pun) for the Devil since the 17th century but the origin or association with the name Nick remains unknown....
An old wives’ tale is a widely held belief that has been proved to be apocryphal or incorrect, of the kind told by garrulous old women. Although it ap...
see World’s oldest profession
A ruse or ploy so hackneyed that it should not deceive anyone, the expression dates from the early 19th century. Book here is used in the sense of a b...
As in expressions like to extend/offer/give the olive branch, it means to make peace or end conflicts and differences of opinion. The olive branch or...
An ombudsman is an official appointed to investigate complaints from individuals against maladministration by public bodies or authorities. According...
To be on a hiding to nothing is one of those ambiguous expressions that can mean one of two things. It can mean a pointless exercise where there is no...
see Out on a limb
see Shoestring
This expression describes a desperate, dire situation where one can only rely on hope and prayer. It was coined by American songwriter, Harold Adamson...
see Stand on hollow/shaky ground
This appears to be a uniquely South African expression, an affirmative response to a question like, “I’m off to the pub, are you on? Response, “I’m on...