A - Z Database
To come home with flying colours alludes to the centuries-old Royal Navy practice of returning to home ports after being victorious in battle. They wo...
This figurative expression meaning to return to the fold as in a place of warmth, safety and shelter gained currency during the 1960s with the publica...
Usually used in the form of an exclamation and means, don’t exaggerate or don’t tell lies and generally expresses incredulity. It dates in this sense...
see Skeleton in the cupboard
This expression has nothing to do with discreet orgasms. It has rather been associated with police procedure since the late 19th/early 20th century bu...
Usually appears in the form of don’t come the old soldier with me and is a dismissive response to some attempted dodge or deceit perpetrated by the pa...
Raw prawn is an Australian metaphor for an innocent or novice, particular a raw recruit in the armed forces, whence this expression is thought to deri...
see Crunch
In the sense of join in, take part or become involved in something dates in this sense from the mid-20th century and is still one of the most often he...
see Brick wall
Come through in a triumphant, winning way derives from playing cards where trumps are a suit of cards designated as having a higher value than other s...
Come through difficulties unscathed dates from the late 19th/early 20th century.
see By/to/within a hair’s breadth
see By/to/within a hair’s breadth
Means almost or very nearly and dates from the early 16th century. During The Middle Ages, an ace or one was the lowest score one could throw with a d...