RTFM

(Internet slang, Unix, vulgar) Initialism of read the fucking man page.


gangway

From Middle English gangway, from Old English gangweġ (“passageway; thoroughfare”), equivalent to gang + way. Related to Dutch gang (“hallway”) and Norwegian gang (“hallway”).

jet bridge

enclosed corridor between an airport and plane

A temporary passageway, such as one made of planks.

木板道

temporary plank bridge, path, or passageway

(nautical) A passage along either side of a ship's upper deck.

(Chicago) The narrow space between two buildings or houses, used to access the backyard/alleyway from the front.


hold it

en-verb

hold it (third-person singular simple present holds it, present participle holding it, simple past and past participle held it)

holds it (present singular third-person)
holding it (participle present)
held it (participle past)
held it (past)

Hold it. What did you say his name was?


shut up

Shut up! We're sick of your whining!

(highly impolite, dismissal) Stop talking, crying, etc.

highly impolite; dismissal; highly impolite; dismissal

šuti!

(more polite than "začepi", but still impolite: )


talk to the hand

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-talk to the hand.wav

Oh honey, talk to the hand, the ears ain't listening!

1997, Todd Graff, The Beautician and the Beast, spoken by Joy Miller:

Tommy showed Tony the palm of his hand. ‘Tell it to the ’and ’cos the face ain't listening.’

2002, Ben Elton, High Society, Random House, published 2012, →ISBN, page 172:

(colloquial, US, African-American Vernacular, chiefly sarcastic) Used to dismiss another person's argument by indicating that one is not prepared to hear or read anything further from that person. It is often used while simultaneously holding up the hand with the palm facing the speaker.


talk to the hand

talk to the hand (third-person singular simple present talks to the hand, present participle talking to the hand, simple past and past participle talked to the hand)

talks to the hand (present singular third-person)
talking to the hand (participle present)
talked to the hand (participle past)
talked to the hand (past)

Girl, you can talk to the hand 'cause I ain't listenin' no more.

Of all the hand gestures used by Men and women, "talking to the hand” is a gesture that should be exclusively used by women. There isn't anything Manly by making somebody "talk to the hand."

2012, Joseph Greene, The ComMANdments; The Official Guide Book to Man Rules, page 161:

After his initial reaction and suggestion that she go write a song based on talking to the hand, she played him what she'd come up with, and he responded with his typically laconic "cool," suggesting they put some hand claps here and there and perhaps a minor chord in the verse to make it a bit jangly.

2016, Donald Brackett, Back to Black: Amy Winehouse's Only Masterpiece:

Canceling someone started out in the same way that talking to the hand did, a joke.

2022, Kelly Mitchell, Clap if You Can Hear Me:

别烦，我不听

used to dismiss another person's argument

talk to the hand 'cause the face ain't listening


never mind

They wouldn't go near that place, never mind spending an entire day there.

It’s remarkable that this game could have been even better than it was. The U.S. has rarely outplayed any opponent in its modern era of World Cup games, never mind a superpower that won its opener 6-2 over Iran.

25 November 2022, Jonathan Tannenwald, “U.S. dominates England for long stretches, but plays to 0-0 tie at World Cup”, in The Philadeplhia Inquirer:

laat maar

I was wrong; I withdraw my previous statement


open sesame

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Antoine Galland
One Thousand and One Nights

From its use in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, translating French Sésame, ouvre-toi in Antoine Galland's version of the Ali Baba story in the One Thousand and One Nights, possibly based on an oral Arabic source.
Not, as some have purported, a corruption of Open, says me!.


take it easy

take it easy (third-person singular simple present takes it easy, present participle taking it easy, simple past took it easy, past participle taken it easy)

takes it easy (present singular third-person)
taking it easy (participle present)
took it easy (past)
taken it easy (participle past)

desc

→ Finnish: ottaa iisisti (partial calque)

I'm going to stay home Saturday and take it easy.

Take it easy, it's just a game!


take it easy

I'm going home now. Take it easy.


hold the phone

en-verb

hold the phone (third-person singular simple present holds the phone, present participle holding the phone, simple past and past participle held the phone)

holds the phone (present singular third-person)
holding the phone (participle present)
held the phone (participle past)
held the phone (past)

They asked me to hold the phone while they went to look up the answer.

To hold; to wait for someone at the other end of a telephone connection.


fuck you

desc

→ Mandarin: 法克魷 /法克鱿 (fǎkèyóu, “fuck you”)

Fuck you—I’m not giving you any!

You’ve done enough to ruin our outing, so fuck you!

(idiomatic, offensive, dismissal, vulgar) Go away, go to hell!


don't hold your breath

Suggesting that if one were to hold one's breath while waiting for the expected event, one would die before it happened

- The government says it's going to introduce free meals for all schoolchildren.
- Huh, don't hold your breath.

Don't hold your breath and don't jump to conclusions, but there is likely to be an announcement about the future of the railways in the next few weeks - [...].

2021 February 24, Christian Wolmar, “Franchising still exists - under tight Departmental control”, in RAIL, number 925, page 48:

(idiomatic, imperative) Don't wait. Said cynically to suggest that what has just been mentioned is unlikely to happen soon or at all.

держи́ карма́н ши́ре /lit: hold your pocket wider/

раскати́л губу́ /lit: you've unrolled your lip/


come again

"Who says he did?" / "Aubry." / "Yeah? A guy in for murder? Come again." / "Glad to. Beebe says so too."

1955, Rex Stout, "When a Man Murders...", in Three Witnesses, October 1994 Bantam edition, page 120

Vincent: A "please" would be nice. / The Wolf: Come again? / Vincent: I said a "please" would be nice. / The Wolf: Get it straight, Buster. I'm not here to say "please". I'm here to tell you what to do.

(idiomatic, informal, by ellipsis) A polite formula used when one has not heard or understood what has been said, or to indicate surprise.

(idiomatic) Used as a polite farewell to a visitor, inviting a return visit.


stop the presses

en-verb

stop the presses (third-person singular simple present stops the presses, present participle stopping the presses, simple past and past participle stopped the presses)

stops the presses (present singular third-person)
stopping the presses (participle present)
stopped the presses (participle past)
stopped the presses (past)

Originally referred to delaying the printing of a newspaper in order to change its content to accommodate the inclusion of late-breaking news.

(idiomatic) An exclamation used to introduce especially new, important, surprising, or recent developments.


stop press

From stop the presses, US newspaper-printing jargon.

stop-press when used as a noun in attribution

1989, Textual Introduction to The Anatomy of Melancholy, Robert Burton http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=C64iQVqCm3MC&pg=RA1-PR51&lpg=RA1-PR51&sig=JpcrTaGG5EdPxJjr2U8VwuilsEw
Three of the errata corrections had already been made as stop-press corrections …

Faked Stop Press! announcements in newspapers. A valuable trick because it can always be claimed that the announcement was ‘hushed up’. It is also easy to fake the printing of the Stop Press.

2002, Russell Miller, Behind the Lines http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=iAtuxaBlfRkC&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&sig=erWM7_pq0H8pCDJnv5W4-5bxlv0

2005, Mary Norway, The Sinn Fein Rebellion As I Saw It, http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=kdp6DLzb6KcC&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&sig=TWkyRKxWPtmbwiGPh_BvuIQNwlA
Another lady thought she would drive a lesson home, so she said: “But you said it was a ‘Stop press,’ and you knew it was not.”
“It is, miss, but sure they hadn’t time to print the ‘stop press’ on it!!”
(“Stop press” is the latest news, usually printed on the back of the paper.)

STOP PRESS: As this issue of RAIL went to press, the RMT announced that it too would be taking strike action on the Tube on March 15

2023 March 8, “Tube drivers announce "first day of action"”, in RAIL, number 978, page 11:

(UK, journalism) The event or news article important enough to delay or interrupt the print, or require a reprint, of a publication, particularly of a newspaper edition.


stop press

stop press (third-person singular simple present stops press, present participle stopping press, simple past and past participle stopped press)

stops press (present singular third-person)
stopping press (participle present)
stopped press (participle past)
stopped press (past)

(UK) Used to announce an event or news article important enough to delay or interrupt the print, or require a reprint, of publication, particularly of a newspaper edition.

(idiomatic, UK) Used to grab attention, implying importance, news-worthiness, etc.


ask my arse

(idiomatic, slang, vulgar, obsolete) A common reply to any question; once common at court and among sailors, under the name of "selling bargains".


to thine own self be true

From a monologue delivered by the character Polonius in Act I Scene III of Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

This aboue all, to thy owne ſelfe be true,
And it muſt follow as the night the day,
Thou canſt not then be falſe to any one, […]

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shake-speare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and Iohn Trundell, published 1603, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], signatures C2, recto – C2, verso:

"To thine own self be true," I saw, was what produced vitality, confidence, and genuine expression in one's interpersonal relations.

1977, Robert P Marinelli, Arthur E. Dell Orto, editors, The Psychological and Social Impact of Physical Disability, Springer Publishing Co., →ISBN, page 306:

Know thyself. To thine own self be true. For the man or woman who can confront the demon within, there is a hopeful prognosis.

1986 August, Gary Diedrichs, “Bewitched”, in Orange Coast:

Several of these women said simply, "to each her own," while others like Sue were only slighty more verbose: "Each of us has a right and a responsibility 'to thine own self be true.' Another person's sexual preference is not my business or concern."

1995, Paula C. Rust, Bisexuality and the Challenge to Lesbian Politics: Sex, Loyalty, and Revolution, New York University Press, published 1995, →ISBN, page 51:

"To thine own self be true" whatever the consequences was taken as the principle of true freedom and humanity by the romantics.

2004, James M. Morris, Andrea L. Kross, Historical Dictionary of Utopianism, Scarecrow Press, published 2004, →ISBN, page 262:

As Shakespeare wrote, "To thine own self be true," at least according to what kind of person you believe yourself to be.

2012, Mark D. White, “The Sound and the Fury Behind 'One More Day'”, in Jonathan J. Sanford, editor, Spider-Man and Philosophy: The Web of Inquiry, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 241:

Be yourself; be true to yourself; do not engage in self-deception.


MYOB

Why don't you MYOB? My marital status is no concern of yours.

mind your own business
mind one's own business#English


join the club

You're getting poor response times? Join the club!

(idiomatic) An expression of sympathy for a shared experience.


tell me about it

"I guess it's a lot of work for a cop to juggle personal relationships." / "Tell me about it."

1996, J. D. Robb, Immortal in Death, page 183:

"Go sit with him. I think he's a little depressed. It's not easy to grow old." / "Tell me about it."

2007, Daniel Silva, The Secret Servant, page 364:

"We're on the Air Force family planning routine. Mitch's been out of town so much we haven't even had a chance to try and get pregnant." / "Tell me about it."

2008, Sara Rosett, Staying Home Is a Killer, page 90:

Used to express agreement and sympathy with the previous speaker’s statement.

分かる (わかる, wakaru, literally “(I/we) understand”)


fire at will

All cruisers, fire at will! Burn their mongrel hides!

2007 September 25, Bungie, Halo 3, spoken by Rtas 'Vadum (Robert Davi), Microsoft Game Studios, Xbox 360, level/area: The Ark:

(military) Fire when ready. A command that allows troops to use weapons at their discretion and choose their own targets, allowing the individual soldier a greater freedom of timing the shot with target movement and similar.


pardon my French

pardon my French (third-person singular simple present pardons my French, present participle pardoning my French, simple past and past participle pardoned my French)

pardons my French (present singular third-person)
pardoning my French (participle present)
pardoned my French (participle past)
pardoned my French (past)

/ˌpɑːdn̩ maɪ ˈfɹɛnt͡ʃ/

From the use of French to mean “vulgar language”, ostensibly because the words used are not in English.

That computer is a worthless piece of shit, if you’ll pardon my French.

'Have you been in England long?' / 'A damned sight too long—if you'll pardon my French,' she answered.

1960, Diana Holman-Hunt, chapter 6, in My Grandmothers and I, London: Hamish Hamilton, published 1988, →ISBN, page 162:

Pardon my French, but Cameron is so tight that if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass, in two weeks you'd have a diamond.

1986 June 11, John Hughes, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, spoken by Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick):

Look, now it's the dolly, not Parton / But pardon my French / Give no fucks about no nigga / Give no fucks about no bitch

2018 July 16, “Check”, in The Vault, performed by Kash Doll [pseudonym; Arkeisha Antoinette Knight]:

(intransitive, idiomatic, often humorous) To excuse the speaker's frankness of expression or profanity.

لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِي

to excuse the speaker’s frankness of expression or profanity

lā tuʔāḵiḏnī


FGI

(Internet slang, vulgar) Initialism of fucking Google it.


knock oneself out

knock oneself out (third-person singular simple present knocks oneself out, present participle knocking oneself out, simple past and past participle knocked oneself out)

knocks oneself out (present singular third-person)
knocking oneself out (participle present)
knocked oneself out (participle past)
knocked oneself out (past)

"These cookies are my favorite! Can I have some?" "Sure, knock yourself out." (i.e., have as many as you want)

(sarcastically, indicating lack of interest) "I'm going to the store." / "Knock yourself out."

(idiomatic, informal) To go ahead; to do as one pleases; to enjoy oneself; to endeavor very hard at a task.


don't knock yourself out

I'll get round to it soonish. — Well, don't knock yourself out!

(idiomatic, ironic) Don't overexert yourself (in doing something that does not require much effort).


make hay while the sun shines

make<,,made> hay while the sun shine<,~s,shone>

make hay while the sun shines (third-person singular simple present makes hay while the sun shines, present participle making hay while the sun shines, simple past and past participle made hay while the sun shone)

makes hay while the sun shines (present singular third-person)
making hay while the sun shines (participle present)
made hay while the sun shone (participle past)
made hay while the sun shone (past)

Hay harvest can be spoiled by wet weather. It is important that farmers seize the opportunity of dry weather for haymaking tasks (cutting, drying, gathering). Especially in medieval times, when forecasting the weather several days in advance was more difficult, it was all the more vital. Attested since 1546, originally a Tudor expression, and used figuratively since 1673.

(literal, agriculture) To make hay during favourable (dry) weather.


stone the crows

Originally Australian English of 1910s, "referring to the former occupation of watching over cornfields and stoning crows that attempt to plunder the crop."

“Why, stone the crows! I′ll look yous up,” sez ′e. / “I need some friends: I ain′t got wife nor chick.”

1924, C. J. Dennis, “Rose Of Spadgers”, in Sentimental Bloke and Other Verses, published 1988, page 86:

The he pinched himself to make sure he was really awake, "Stone the crows!" he said softly. "Stone the crows!"

1971, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 141:

So I says to meself: stone the crows, I′m a doomed man, might as well shoot through. It was cyclone time, see, and there′s been flash floods and this rock as big as a house has gone.

1988, Janette Turner Hospital, Charades, page 63:

‘Stone the crows,’ I whispered in sheer relief.

2008, Norman Jorgensen, Jack′s Island, ReadHowYouWant, published 2011, page 170:

(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, colloquial) Generalized expression of surprise or amazement, or just for emphasis.


knock on wood

I do a lot of walking, and I have never had any knee problems yet, knock on wood.

(idiomatic, US, Philippines) Hopefully; a self-directive to undertake the customary action to ward off bad luck.

hopefully; used when undertaking such a customary action

أَمْسِكْ الْخَشَبَ (ʔamsik al-ḵašaba, literally “seize wood”)

(Lebanon) دُقَّ عَالْخَشَبَ (duqqa ʕālḵašaba, literally “knock on wood”)

大吉利是 (daai⁶ gat¹ lai⁶ si⁶, literally “lucky lucky”)

syv-ni-tretten; while physically knocking under a table or on wood

χτύπα ξύλο (chtýpa xýlo, literally “knock on wood”)

בלי עין הרע (bli 'áyin hará', literally “without the evil eye”)

מלח מים (mélakh máyim, literally “salt, water”)

שום בצל (shum batzál, literally “garlic, onion”)

桑原桑原 (くわばらくわばら, kuwabara kuwabara, literally “mulberry field mulberry field”)

بزن به تخته (bezan be taxta, literally “knock on the table”)

چشم بد دور (češm-e bad dur, literally “far [be] the evil eye”)


touch wood

And the reds are going to avoid relegation this year, touch wood.

If it′s ever me (Jesus Christ, touch wood!), I don′t want you bringing me flowers.

1988, Janette Turner Hospital, chapter I, in Charades, page 314:

The English press has been very good to me, touch wood.

2008 March, Anna Friel with Deanna Kizis (interviewer), “A Conversation with: Anna Friel”, in Women′s Health, page 88:

I know I have my faults and one of them is my impatience and I also cannot tolerate people who are ill, mainly because I am so very rarely ill—“Touch wood,” I said out loud and touched my head at the same time.

2009, Lee Hobin, chapter I, in The Male Survival Guide to Pregnancy, page 59:

(idiomatic, UK, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India) Hopefully; said while touching something wooden, to avert superstitious bad luck from what has just been said.


let sleeping dogs lie

let sleeping dogs lie (third-person singular simple present lets sleeping dogs lie, present participle letting sleeping dogs lie, simple past and past participle let sleeping dogs lie)

lets sleeping dogs lie (present singular third-person)
letting sleeping dogs lie (participle present)
let sleeping dogs lie (participle past)
let sleeping dogs lie (past)

Eventually, they decided it would be best to let sleeping dogs lie and not discuss the matter any further.

But, leaving novelists alone, on the whole we find in real life that if speech is silvern, silence is essentially golden, and that more harm is done by saying too much than by saying too little; above all, that infinite mischief arises by not letting sleeping dogs lie.

1868 August 29, “Sleeping Dogs”, in The Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science, and Art, volume 26, number 670, page 287:

Sometimes you just had to let stuff go. Endlessly rehashing old hurts just made things worse. It was far better, I'd learned, to let sleeping dogs lie.

2016, Helene Becker, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, Orca Book Publishers, →ISBN, page 217:

Crystal might have said that those perfect lips were zipped, but the kidnappers had no way of knowing that. Should he let sleeping dogs lie?

2019, Kate Atkinson, Big Sky, →ISBN, page 261:

(idiomatic) To leave things as they are; especially, to avoid restarting or rekindling an old argument; to leave disagreements in the past.

il ne faut pas réveiller le chat qui dort

触らぬ神に祟りなし (さわらぬかみにたたりなし, sawaranu kami ni tatari nashi, literally “if you don't touch a deity, it will not curse you”)

no marear la perdiz dejar las cosas tranquilas


get out of here

Get out of here and don't come back!

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see get, out of, here.


make it snappy

make it snappy (third-person singular simple present makes it snappy, present participle making it snappy, simple past and past participle made it snappy)

makes it snappy (present singular third-person)
making it snappy (participle present)
made it snappy (participle past)
made it snappy (past)

Bring me a coffee, and make it snappy!

"Here's your shirt," said Slippery. "Make it snappy, we're late."

(idiomatic, often imperative) To do something quickly; to be quick about something.


head

don't count your chickens before they're hatched

First attested in English in Thomas Howell's 1570 New Sonnets and Pretty Pamphlets in the couplet "Counte not thy Chickens that vnhatched be, / Waye wordes as winde, till thou finde certaintee", possibly deriving from similar medieval and early modern Latin fables and maxims.

[...] Make Fools believe in their fore-seeing / Of things before they are in Being; / To swallow Gudgeons ere th' are catch'd, / And count their Chickens ere th' are hatch'd, [...]

[1663 (indicated as 1664), [Samuel Butler], “The Second Part of Hudibras. Canto III.”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 175:

don't sell the skin till you have caught the bear

don't count your chickens before they hatch

don't count your chickens before the eggs have hatched

don't count your chicks before they hatch

don't count your chicks before they're hatched

One should not depend upon a favorable (and typically overoptimistic) outcome to one's plans until it is certain to occur.

one should not depend upon a favorable outcome to one's plans until it is certain to occur

moenie die beer se vel verkoop voordat hy geskiet is nie

lā taštarī s-samaka wahuwa fī l-baḥri bali ntaẓir ḥattā yuṣṭāda

لَا تَشْتَرِي ٱلسَّمَكَ وَهُوَ فِي ٱلْبَحْرِ بَلِ ٱنْتَظِرْ حَتَّى يُصْطَادَ

no diguis blat fins que no sigui al sac i ben lligat

de huid niet verkopen voor de beer geschoten is

la manĝota fiŝo estas ankoraŭ en la rivero

älä nylje karhua ennen kuin se on kaadettu

il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué

no stâ vendi le piel dal ors prime di vêlu copât

man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben

man soll das Fell des Bären nicht verteilen, bevor er erlegt ist

ekki er sopið kálið þó í ausuna sé komið

non dire gatto se non ce l'hai nel sacco

ahakoa iti te koutu whenua e kore e taea te parepare

não conte com o ovo antes da galinha botar

не говори́ «гоп», пока́ не перепры́гнешь

na h-abair diug a choidhche ris an eun gus an dig e às an ugh

dèan fanaid air do sheann-bhrògan nuair a gheibh thu do bhrògan ùra

no vendas la piel del oso antes de cazarlo

sälj inte skinnet innan björnen är skjuten

ālu lēdu, cūlu lēdu, koḍuku pēru sōmaliṅgamu

ఆలు లేదు, చూలు లేదు, కొడుకు పేరు సోమలింగము

xvalý denʹ uvéčeri, a žyttjá péred smértju

хвали́ день уве́чері, а життя́ пе́ред сме́ртю

i n' fåt nén vinde l' oû k' est co e cou del poye


excuse me

请阁讲一摆

pháiⁿ-sè, chhiáⁿ koh kóng chi̍t-pái / phái-sè, chhiáⁿ koh kóng chi̍t-pái

什物？

sím-mi̍h? / sím-mi? / sím-mih? / sīm-mi̍h? / sám-mi̍h?

It was so hot I took off my clothes and sat by the window to cool off.
Excuse me?

(Canada, US) Said, as though as a request to repeat information, in order to indicate disbelief or indignation.


pull the other one, it's got bells on

En-us-pull the other one, it's got bells on.oga

As an extension of the phrase pull someone's leg—now that you've pulled one leg, pull the other one.

Is he going to study integrals? Pull the other one, it's got bells on—he can't even do basic multiplication.

(UK, idiomatic, humorous) Expresses disbelief.

pull the other one, it's got brass bells on


go ahead

en-verb

go ahead (third-person singular simple present goes ahead, present participle going ahead, simple past went ahead, past participle gone ahead)

goes ahead (present singular third-person)
going ahead (participle present)
went ahead (past)
gone ahead (participle past)

/ˌɡəʊ əˈhɛd/

/ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/

/ˌɡəʉ əˈhɛd/

/ˌɡɐʉ əˈhɛd/

I went ahead with my plan.

In the meantime, strikes already planned for NR are to go ahead, despite an offer being put to RMT members in an electronic ballot that was due to close on December 12 (after this issue of RAIL went to press).

2022 December 14, Mel Holley, “Network News: Strikes go on as RMT rejects RDG's "detrimental" offer”, in RAIL, number 972, page 8:

Go ahead and eat without me. I expect to be very late.

“Tom Sawyer, I want to ask you some questions.” “Go ahead,” he says, and I see Jim chirk up to listen.

1894, Mark Twain, chapter 12, in Tom Sawyer Abroad:

(imperative) Used to grant permission for or to give endorsement of a suggestion or proposal.

siuthadaibh

this defective verb only has imperative forms

Bravo Six Actual, this is Bravo Six Four. Go ahead, over.

(procedure word, military) To send communication over the radio.


keep it real

keep it real (third-person singular simple present keeps it real, present participle keeping it real, simple past and past participle kept it real)

keeps it real (present singular third-person)
keeping it real (participle present)
kept it real (participle past)
kept it real (past)

A: I'm out, bro. B: Keep it real, son.

(idiomatic, colloquial) In the imperative, an exhortation used as a departing salutation.


go figure

/ɡoʊ ˈfɪɡjɚ/

The car wouldn't start yesterday no matter what I did, but today it works just fine. Go figure.

Expresses perplexity, puzzlement, or surprise (as if telling somebody to try to make sense of the situation).


be my guest

If you want to give it a try, be my guest!

If you want to think you're smart because you and your stupid family elected to live in a cesspool...Hey, be my guest, ASSHOLE!

2001 July 10, Robert Chin, “Re: Manila Girl in Chitown”, in soc.culture.filipino (Usenet):

Lai: Can I leave?
 Frank: Be my guest.

2002 October 11, Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen, The Transporter, 20th Century Fox:

(idiomatic) Do as you wish; go ahead; help yourself; go for it!


feel free

feel free (third-person singular simple present feels free, present participle feeling free, simple past and past participle felt free)

feels free (present singular third-person)
feeling free (participle present)
felt free (participle past)
felt free (past)

ご遠慮なく...してください

ごえんりょなく...してください

The co-pilot didn't feel free to speak up to the pilot in the cockpit.

(idiomatic, with to-infinitive) To feel able without giving offense.

While you're babysitting, feel free to open anything in the spirit cupboard.

(as imperative, with to-infinitive) You have my permission.

"Can I take a look at the draft you've prepared?" / "Feel free."

(as imperative, in response) You have my permission.


STFW

(Internet slang, derogatory, vulgar) Initialism of search the fucking Web.


tell it to Sweeney

"Tell it to Sweeney! (The Stuyvesants will understand.)” was an advertisement for the New York (NY) Daily News, first appearing in August 1922. The Daily News positioned itself as the newspaper of the average working man—such as the Irish “Sweeney.” The name “Stuyvesant” was used to represent blue bloods. Thus, if you advertise in the Daily News and reach the Sweeneys of New York City, the Stuyvesants will also get the message.

(idiomatic, dated, colloquial) I do not believe what you said.


tell it to the marines

Unknown, with many apocryphal suggestions.

William. No palaver! tell it to the marines. What, tacking and double tacking! Come to what you want to say at once.

I don’t believe the story you have been telling me, either, and think it far more likely that you are hiding from justice on account of some devil’s work you have been engaged in. Bah! Tell your story to the marines!

1868 February, Caroline M. Sawyer, “The Jester of Durano; Or, The Times of Old”, in The Ladies’ Repository, a Universalist Monthly Magazine for the Home Circle, volume XXXIX, Boston, Mass.: The Universalist Publishing House, page 128:

(idiomatic, colloquial) I do not believe what you said.


en-proverb

if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen

Attributed to Harry S. Truman, coined in a July 1942 newspaper.

If you cannot handle the pressure, you should not remain in a position where you have to deal with it.

唔好戴咁大顶帽

Don't wear such a big hat if you don't have such a big head.

mou⁵ gam³ daai⁶ go³ tau⁴, m⁴ hou² daai³ gam³ daai⁶ deng² mou⁶⁻²

别揽瓷器活

if you don't have a diamond, stay out of porcelain business.

the one who enters the game should not leave the game

joka leikkiin ryhtyy, se leikin kestäköön

wenn du die Hitze nicht verträgst, geh nicht in die Küche

절이 싫으면 중이 떠나야 한다 (jeor-i sireumyeon jung-i tteonaya handa, literally “If the monk hates the monastery, he should leave”)

den som er med på leken, må tåle steken

those who are in on the game, must be able to handle the heat

волко́в боя́ться — в лес не ходи́ть (volkóv bojátʹsja — v les ne xodítʹ) (if you are afraid of wolves, don't go to the woods)

si no puedes aguantar el calor, sal de la cocina


if you can't beat them, join them

GWM seeks gay female for liberal marriage. If you can't beat them, join them!

1985 August 24, “Will You Marry Me? (personal advertisement)”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 7, page 17:

If one's adversaries are stronger, it is better to join their side.

如果打不過他們，就加入他們 /如果打不过他们

if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side

ne móžešʹ pobítʹ, prisojedinjájsja k nim

не мо́жешь поби́ть, присоединя́йся к ним

с волка́ми жить — по-во́лчьи выть (s volkámi žitʹ — po-vólčʹi vytʹ) (to live amongst wolves, you should howl like a wolf)

si no puedes contra el enemigo, únete a él


come on

→ Portuguese: camone

Come on, George! You can win!

Synonym of let's go, a cheer or expression of support, encouragement, &c.


get real

en-verb

get real (third-person singular simple present gets real, present participle getting real, simple past got real, past participle gotten real or got real)

gets real (present singular third-person)
getting real (participle present)
got real (past)
gotten real (participle past)
got real (participle past)

let's get real

Some fans are asking what this plot twist might mean for the next sequel, but let's get real: there's probably not going to be another sequel in this movie franchise, if the viewership stays so low.

He finally got real and stopped going on about how his side gig was going to make him rich.

To stop pretending or dreaming; to start facing up to some aspect of reality (usually, an unpleasant one).


exit stage left

exit stage left (third-person singular simple present exits stage left, present participle exiting stage left, simple past and past participle exited stage left)

exits stage left (present singular third-person)
exiting stage left (participle present)
exited stage left (participle past)
exited stage left (past)

From the direction in theatrical scripts: "Exit stage left", marking the disappearance of a character from the stage in the normal manner.

1998: C.M. from Manitowac, WI, Mike and Carrie https://web.archive.org/web/20041227101650/http://www.baileydoginc.com/mcangels/magconnect/march17.html
DAYS teased us with Mike and Carrie all through Carrie and Austin's honeymoon, and continues to tease us today as the newlyweds settle into everyday life. Austin better exit stage left soon, and give Carrie and Mike a chance for love.

"Bears are at their most dangerous when taken by surprise... If you do happen to come across one, you should exit stage left at normal pace (you won't outrun a bear) and without your picnic basket.".

2004, Setsunai, chapter IV, in On Gaien Higashi Dori: The Bells:

To exit or disappear in a quiet, non-dramatic fashion, making way for more interesting events.

don't let the door hit you on the way out


pray tell

From pray (“ask (politely)”) + tell (“explain”).

Pray tell us, how will they fare while you are away?

(archaic) Please explain (something the requester does not yet understand).


pardon me

anteeksi

polite expression to get someone to repeat

Pardon me for stepping on your foot.

Pardon me, but that is not true.

(idiomatic) Polite expression used to soften a contradiction.

valitettavasti

polite expression used to soften a contradiction

Pardon me?, I didn't hear you.

(idiomatic, Canada, US) Polite expression to ask someone to repeat an utterance.


don't mention it

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see don't, mention, it.


cheese it

Unknown, but lexicographer Eric Partridge speculated that it may be a corruption of cease. Originally thieves' cant.
In his Vocabulary of the Flash Language, author and former convict James Hardy Vaux (1782-?) defined cheese it as synonymous with stash it and stow it, all meaning to desist or leave off.

Cheese it, the coves are fly; be silent, the people understand our discourse.

1811, Francis Grose, Hewson Clarke, Lexicon Balatronicum:

[…] he holds earnest parley with some members of the upper gallery who are beguiling the time by pelting us with nut-shells, and broken pipes. Two or three 'hallos!' and 'now thens!' accompanied by a strong recommendation to 'cheese it' (i. e., act of cessation), cause these trifling annoyances to cease.

1859, George Augustus Henry Sala, “Strollers at Dumbledowndeary”, in Gaslight and Daylight, page 328:

The defence of Mr. Conover was so prompt and admirable that the conflict was protracted until the onlookers unselfishly gave the warning cry of "Cheese it—the cop!" The principals escaped easily by running through the nearest open doors into the communicating backyards at the rear of the houses.

1908, O. Henry, The Voice of the City, page 154:

Knowing that Bobbie would be on sentry-go made all the difference. Any gangster will tell you that the strain and anxiety of busting a safe are greatly diminished if you've a look-out man ready at any moment to say “Cheese it, the cops!”

1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter VIII:

(slang, dated, British) An imperative used as a warning to stop, hide, or flee


don't give up your day job

When the accounting department's barbershop quartet was warming up, the sales team was ribbing them, yelling, "Don't give up your day job!"

"I remember after the school was over," he said, "I went up to the instructor just completely wound up like: ‘O.K. man, how do I do this and become a real racecar driver? I want to quit my job and do this.’ . . . And he goes: ‘Other Sports Beckon. You suck. Don't give up your day job.’ "

2006 July 3, Viv Bernstein, “Said Makes His Case for Success in Nascar”, in New York Times, retrieved 2015-10-11:

(idiomatic, often humorous) Somewhat sarcastic but usually good-natured advice used to criticise a person's degree of talent (especially in music or other performing arts), implying that they are unlikely to be successful.


GIYF

Google is your friend
Google is your friend#English

(Internet slang, initialism, abbreviation, text messaging) Initialism of Google is your friend.

ggrks

ググれカス, gugure kasu, "Google it, you trash"


never change a running system

From the field of computing, likely from German never change a running system.

That is, applying a specialised new policy to only improve a temporary capacity extension may be unsuitable (“Never change a running system!”).

2007, Xing Zhou, Thomas Dreibholz, Erwin P. Rathgeb, “Improving the Load Balancing Performance of Reliable Server Pooling in Heterogeneous Capacity Environments”, in Serge Fdida, Kazunori Sugiura, editors, Sustainable Internet: Third Asian Internet Engineering Conference, AINTEC 2007 […], →ISBN, page 126:

This is the weakest point of the current practice: the deployment of complex systems on a heterogeneous, distributed platform is typically a nightmare, the required system-level testing is virtually unsupported, and maintenance and upgrading very often turn out to be extremely time consuming and expensive, de facto responsible for the slogan “never change a running system”.

2012, Tiziana Margaria, Bernhard Steffen, “Service-Orientation: Conquering Complexity with XMDD”, in Mike Hinchey, Lorcan Coyle, editors, Conquering Complexity, →ISBN, page 224:

“Never change a running system” is a widely used statement in software development, and it is also applicable when you consider moving your application to the cloud.

2019, Boris Scholl, Trent Swanson, Peter Jausovec, Cloud Native: Using Containers, Functions, and Data to Build Next-Generation Applications, →ISBN:

It’s not a coincidence that the following saying offers insight into the CIOs’ minds: ‘Never change a running system.’ However, just keeping the lights on seems to prevent innovation.

2021, Andreas Graesser, Escape the Change Dilemma: Transformation to a Smart Data-Driven World, →ISBN:

Do not change something while it is working (because there is a risk of breaking it).


don't take any wooden nickels

HELMER: What the hell, Nora? NORA: So long, Kid, don't take any wooden nickels!

Well, I only meant to write a line and I've written pages! Well, don't take any wooden nickels.

1917, William Ely Hill, Among Us Mortals: Pictures and Legends by W.E. Hill:

For conversation pieces . . . the whacky necklace called "Don't take any wooden nickels!" at $1.83 (designed by Martha Sleeper).

1938, "Macy's College Shop" [display advertisement], New York Times, 14 Aug, p. 19

H. T. Webster's comic strip, "The Timid Soul," in the Oakland Tribune of September 10, 1950 used the tendency to repeat worn phrases as the subject for the hero's good intentions. The following are recorded: . . . Don't take any wooden nickels.

1951 Jan, “Folklore in the News: Cliché Strip”, in Western Folklore, volume 10, number 1, page 84:

Don't take any wooden nickels
When you sell your soul
A devil of a time awaits you
When the party's over
You're on your own.

2000, Mark O. Everett (lyrics and music), “Wooden Nickels”, in Daisies of the Galaxy, performed by Eels:

(US, dated) One should not permit oneself to be cheated or duped; one should not be naive.


mind your own beeswax

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-mind your own beeswax.wav

Alteration of mind your own business. From the use of beeswax to cover blemishes in the 1800s.

Get back in the collar, and mind your own beeswax.

TRACY. (Rises) Mind your own beeswax, old Nosey Parker.

1939, Philip Barry, The Philadelphia Story: A Comedy in Three Acts, page 74:

“Say, how did he get all pink?”
“Aw, mind your own beeswax,” said Henry.

1950, Beverly Cleary, Henry Huggins, page 128:

“This has nothing to do with you, Kinsey, so mind your own beeswax.”

1995, Sue Grafton, L Is for Lawless, page 155:

mind your own business
mind your own business#English


say again

I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. Please say again?

(idiomatic, colloquial) "What did you say?" or "Repeat what you have said." A polite formula used when one has not heard or understood what has been said.


workers of the world, unite

Calque of German Proletarier aller Länder, vereinigt euch (literally “working men / proletarians of all countries, unite!”), a phrase which originates in the The Communist Manifesto and is one of the most famous rallying cries of communism.

clq

Laborers are encouraged to unionize or otherwise engage in collective action on a global scale in order to use the strength of their numbers to obtain better working conditions.

apʼroletʼarcʷa atʷʼəlakʷa zegʲə rĉʼə iqʼow, ŝʷĉejdəŝʷkʼəl

апролетарцәа атәылақәа зегьы рҿы иҟоу, шәҽеидышәкыл

proletarë të të gjitha vendeve, bashkohuni

bötə ildərźeñ proletariyźəre, berləşegeź

бөтә илдәрҙең пролетарийҙәре, берләшегеҙ

herrialde guztietako proletarioak, elkar zaitezte

proletárii ot vsíčki stráni, sǎedinjávajte se

пролета́рии от вси́чки стра́ни, съединя́вайте се

пролетариатторэ гэмгэнутэкин, ӄумэкэтгытык

пӗтӗм тӗнчери пролетарисем, пӗрлешӗр

pĕt̬ĕm t̬ĕnč̬eri prolet̬aris̬em, pĕrleš̬ĕr

kaikkien maiden proletaarit, liittykää yhteen

prolétaires de tous les pays, unissez-vous

e nā limhana o kēlā me kēia 'āina, e hui pū

барлык эллердин пролетарлары, бирлесиниз

barlyq elderdıñ proletarlary, bırıgıñder

барлық елдердің пролетарлары, бірігіңдер

bardık ölkölördün proletarları, birikkile

бардык өлкөлөрдүн пролетарлары, бириккиле

ຊົນຊັ້ນກຳມະຊີບທົ່ວໂລກ ຈົ່ງສາມັກຄີກັນ

son san kam ma sīp thūa lōk chong sā mak khī kan

пролете́ри од си́те зе́мји, обеди́нете се

bäri kırallardıñ proletarparı, birlesiñiz

баьри кыраллардынъ пролетарпары, бирлесинъиз

proletaris de totes los païses, unissètz-vos

proletariusze wszystkich krajów, łączcie się

пролетарҳои ҳамаи мамлакатҳо, як шавед

proletarho-yi hama-yi mamlakatho, yak šaved

barlıq illärneñ proletariyları, berläşegez

барлык илләрнең пролетарийлары, берләшегез

ชนชั้นกรรมาชีพทั่วโลก จงสามัคคีกัน

chon-chán gam-maa-chîip tûua lôok jong sǎa-mák-kii gan

bügü çurttarnıñ proletariyleri, kattıjıñar

бүгү чурттарның пролетарийлери, каттыжыңар

вань странаосысь пролетарийёс, огазеяське

барлиқ əллəр пролетарлири, бирлишиңлар

barliq əllər prolëtarliri, birlishinglar

proletaryer fun ale lender, fareynikt zikh

פּראָלעטאַריער פֿון אַלע לענדער, פֿאַראייניקט זיך

gyoengq bouxfouzcanj daengx seiqgyaiq, lienzhab hwnjdaeuj


give it up

en-verb

give it up (third-person singular simple present gives it up, present participle giving it up, simple past gave it up, past participle given it up)

gives it up (present singular third-person)
giving it up (participle present)
gave it up (past)
given it up (participle past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-give it up.wav

(intransitive, slang) To hand over or relinquish; to explain something or tell a secret.


don't pass go

From the board game Monopoly, in which a certain card ("Go directly to jail; do not pass go, do not collect $200") sends the player to the jail square without the usual traversal of the board.

As usual, this information was imparted to me with a blank stare, and dumped in my lap with an expression that said, "Don't pass Go, don't collect 200 dollars, go straight to jail!"

2001, Janice E. Hale, Learning While Black, page 126:

To say that somebody is obliged to do something without question.


don't look a gift horse in the mouth

en-au-don't look a gift horse in the mouth.ogg

Calque from Latin expressions such as equi dentes inspicere donati (“to inspect the teeth of a provided horse”) in St. Jerome's c. 400 Preface to the Commentaries of the Letter to the Ephesians (Commentariorum in Epistolam ad Ephesios Libri Tres), which designates it as a "common proverb" (vulgare proverbium). The ultimate referrent is inspection of horses' teeth as a way of ascertaining their age and value.

No man ought to looke a geuen hors in the mouth.

1546, John Heywood, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

He ne’er consider'd it, as loth
To look a Gift-horse in the mouth.

One should not unappreciatively question or inspect a gift too closely.

kalit të falur nuk i shikohen dhëmbët

a phrase referring to unappreciatively questioning of a gift or handout too closely

à cheval donné, on ne regarde pas la bouche

à cheval donné on ne regarde pas les dents

à cheval donné on ne regarde pas la bride

à cheval donné on ne regarde pas la denture

o cabalo regalado, cólleo con ollos pechados

a cabalo regalado no se lle mira o dente

einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul

einem geschenkten Gaul sieht man nicht ins Maul

einem geschenkten Gaul guckt man nicht ins Maul

tou charízane gáidaro kai ton koítaze sta dóntia

του χαρίζανε γάιδαρο και τον κοίταζε στα δόντια

engem geschenkte Gaul kuckt een net an d'Maul

darowanemu koniowi nie zagląda się w zęby

darowanemu koniowi w zęby się nie zagląda

darowanemu koniowi w zęby się nie patrzy

a caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes

a caballo regalado no le mires el diente

a caballo regalado, no le mires el dentado

a caballo regalado, no le mires el diente

a caballo regalado, no se le ve el colmillo

pāpamani pāta cīra istē gōḍa cāṭuku veḷḷi mūra vēsindaṭa

పాపమని పాత చీర ఇస్తే గోడ చాటుకు వెళ్ళి మూర వేసిందట

a geshenkt ferd kukt men nisht in di tseyner

אַ געשענקט פֿערד קוקט מען נישט אין די ציינער

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush


ready, set, go

On your mark, get set, go
on your mark, get set, go

bersedia, siap, ya

three-command start for any action or contest


ready, aim, fire

A sequence of commands used to order soldiers to carefully fire their weapons.


have fun

Used to wish somebody a good and enjoyable time when they are about to do something.

хорошо́ повесели́ться

жела́ю/жела́ем

хорошо́ провести́ вре́мя

жела́ю/жела́ем

до́бре повесели́тися

бажа́ю/бажа́ємо

до́бре провести́ ча́с

бажа́ю/бажа́ємо


ne'er cast a clout till May be out

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ne'er cast a clout till May be out.wav

Ne’er is a contraction of never; while clout is an archaic or dialectal word for a (worthless) piece of cloth or a rag, and is used to refer to clothing in a derogatory manner.

Leave not off a Clout, / Till May be out.

[1732, Thomas Fuller, compiler, Gnomologia: Adagies and Proverbs; Wise Sentences and Witty Sayings, Ancient and Modern, Foreign and British, London: […] B. Barker […]; and A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, […], →OCLC, paragraph 6193, page 276:

There is another ungracious rhyme about this favourite month of the poets— / Till May be out / Change na a clout: / That is, thin not your winter-clothing till the end of May—a good maxim if we are to put faith in the great father of modern medicine, [Herman] Boerhaave, who, on being consulted as to the proper time for putting off flannel, is said to have answered, "On Midsummer night, and—put it on again next morning!"

[1834 February 8, “Popular Rhymes. The Weather.”, in William Chambers, Robert Chambers, editors, Chambers’ Edinburgh Journal, volume III, number 106, Edinburgh: William and Robert Chambers, […]; [William Somerville] Orr and Smith, […], published 1835, →OCLC, page 16, column 2:

Of old it was said,— / "Ne'er cast a clout / Till May is out." / More recently the version is, / "No garment cast / Till May be past." / The advice is the same, but how different the style!

1849 May 4, “To Correspondents. [Poetry.]”, in The Liverpool Mercury, and Lancashire, Cheshire, and General Advertiser, volume XXXIX, number 2088, Liverpool: Thomas Rogerson, […], and John Smith, […], at the Mercury and General Printing Establishment, […], →OCLC, page 286:

The defenses against him [the month of March] should be more carefully watched than those of the depth of Winter. Fires are left to smolder down in the warmth of the day until the house is thoroughly chilled, and a sudden damp wind springs up in the afternoon and carries disease and death into the open windows. "Till May be out, Ne'er cast a clout," is counsel as good as homely.

[1875 March 9, “March”, in New-York Tribune, volume XXXIV, number 10,588, New York, N.Y.: [s.n.], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 6, column 5:

In this sense the Boeotian poetry may be taken to have its germ in maxims similar to our English / "Till May be out, ne'er cast a clout," / or / "A rainbow in the morning / Is the Shepherd's warning."

[1914, Hugh G[erard] Evelyn-White, “Introduction”, in Hesiod, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Hesiod: The Homeric Hymns and Homerica […] (Loeb Classical Library; no. 57), London: William Heinemann; New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Co., →OCLC, page xi:

Proverbs emphasise the protective function of clothes, which are valued more highly if they protect from heat or cold, rain or sun: […] It was better to wear too much than too little, and one should not be in too much of a hurry to shed one's winter clothes at the first sign of fine weather: ‘Ne’er cast a clout till May be out.’

1994, Daniel Roche, “Caring for Clothes: From Propriety to Cleanliness”, in Jean Birrell, transl., The Culture of Clothing: Dress and Fashion in the ‘Ancien Régime’ (Past and Present Publications), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, published 1999, →ISBN, part 3 (Producing, Selling and Stealing: The Distribution of Appearances), page 377:

The well-known phrase ‘Cast ne’er a clout [or ‘Ne’er cast a clout’] till May is out’ cautions people not to cast off their winter clothes until they are sure that summer is with us. In recent years it has been commonly stated that the phrase does not refer to the month of May but rather to the blossoming of the hawthorn, which in many parts is referred to as ‘may’, but many earlier references to the phrase make it perfectly clear that the month is what is meant. The saying was often extended to include other months, as in […] a rhyme printed in Notes & Queries in 1870 but claimed to be current in Yorkshire a hundred years before: / Don’t change a clout / Till May is out; / If you change in June / ’Twill be too soon.

2006, Steve Roud, “May”, in The English Year: A Month-by-month Guide to the Nation’s Customs and Festivals, from May Day to Mischief Night, paperback edition, London: Penguin Books, published 2008, →ISBN, pages 200–201:

May 31st is the day to look out and iron summer dresses, as our grandmothers used to say. / "Ne'er cast a clout / Till May be out."

2020, Elizabeth Wood, “May”, in Pancakes and Plum Pudding: A Pathway to the Past (Looking at Customs, Cooking, Saints’ Days and Superstitions), Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire: Matador, →ISBN, page 87:

(UK, dialectal) Do not change from winter clothes to summer clothes until June, as there is often a sudden cold snap in May.

do not change from winter clothes to summer clothes until June (many are not direct translations but convey a similar sentiment)

the weather at the end of March bodes the weather when May begins

mitä Mariana katolla, sitä vappuna vaolla

en avril ne te découvre pas d’un fil, en mai fais ce qu’il te plaît

april, aprilone, non mi rifai metter giù il pelliccione

aprile, non ti scoprire; maggio, adagio adagio; giugno, allarga il pugno

kwiecień plecień, bo przeplata trochę zimy, trochę lata

первая ла́сточка весны не делает (pervaja lástočka vesny ne delajet, literally “the first swallow does not mean spring has come”)

si quieres criarte gordito y sano, la ropa del invierno gasta en verano


JFGI

(Internet slang) Initialism of just fucking google it.


to arms

Used to order an attack, a summons to war or battle.


mind you

These shirts are very expensive. Mind you, they are excellent quality.

Mind you, it was not an outing I would recommend as relaxing.

1960 January, G. Freeman Allen, “"Condor"—British Railways' fastest freight train”, in Trains Illustrated, page 47:

Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days. There was a great deal of them, lavish both in material and in workmanship.

1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN:

(idiomatic, colloquial, chiefly UK) Used to introduce a qualification or contrastive statement, especially when toning down or rectifying

ceci dit

introducing a qualification or contrastive statement


don't quit your day job

don't give up your day job
don't give up your day job#English


never eat shredded wheat

From the initials of north, east, south and west.

Which sentence might help you remember that the points of the compass, listed clockwise, are north, east, south, and west? […] Never eat shredded wheat.

1990, McDougal, Littell English: Test Booklet, McDougal, Littell, →ISBN, page 92:

The directions are easy . . . North, east, south, west. ‘Never eat shredded wheat.’ That’s how I remember them. Just start at the top of the map and think ‘Never eat shredded wheat.’ The first letter in each word begins with the same letters as the directions.

2006, Peter D. Eckel, Toward Higher Ground: Reclaiming Public Confidence in a Competitive Environment, American Council on Education, page 291:

So we tried to work on that, how to remember that, and you know with your right hand and your left hand and never eat shredded wheat and all those little memory tricks.

2006, Mark Dennis Vagle, When Students Do Not Understand: Recognition and Response in the Action Present of Teaching, University of Minnesota, page 127:

If Lachemi was hiding somewhere it’d be in Ryerson’s equivalent of a sneaky labyrinth: Kerr Hall. You look around with a strong sense of direction. Maybe he’s perched on the shiny basketball court in the Kerr Hall gym. Or doing lab experiments in Kerr Hall south. O-or m-maybe he’s in a classroom in the basement of Kerr Hall E-e-east? West? Every hall starts to look the same. You desperately mutter, “Never eat shredded wheat,” whipping your head around. You check the compass on your phone and it’s going haywire.

2020 April 1, Andrea Josic, Nathaniel Crouch, Zachary Roman, “Help deliver a secret message to Rye’s president”, in The Eyeopener, volume 53, number 21, page 7:

Despite the compass part of the body art having been beautifully drawn, the large inking had quite a big mistake. / Never eat shredded wheat, right? One of the easy ways to remember the four directions… / Well it seems like someone may have missed that class in school as the tattoo artist mixed up the letters.

2022 June 14, Layla Nicholson, “People left in fits of giggles at 'idiotic' mistake on tattoo of compass”, in Daily Star, archived from the original on 2022-06-14:

I have no sense of direction… I mean literally none! If someone tells me it’s north I still have to do “never eat shredded wheat” in my head to work out where to point, and even then I’m still generally going the wrong way.

2023 May 24, Natalie Lewis, quotee, “My London: Natalie Lewis – PR Expert & Author”, in LDNFASHION, archived from the original on 2023-05-24:

(mnemonic) Used to learn the cardinal points.


have at you

Dark and sinister man, have at thee.

くだらん。 / どちらか正(ただ)しいか、 / 死(し)をもって解(わか)らせてやる。

1997 October 3 [1997 March 20], Konami, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, translation of 悪魔城ドラキュラX 月下の夜想曲, scene: intro:

Kudaran. / Dochira ka tadashii ka, / shi wo motte wakaraseteyaru.

(dated) An exclamation indicating that one is about to strike the person addressed, typically with a sword or other hand-held weapon.


stone me

Yesterday, Frears told the Guardian that he was surprised and honoured: "Stone me!" as Jim Broadbent said when he got his Oscar.".

2007 January 12, Simon Hattenstone, “First for UK directors as Frears heads Cannes jury”, in The Guardian:


believe you me

Derived from an archaic English sentence structure.

Well, sir, believe you me, I'll give that lassy as good a strapping as ever she got when she comes back.

1841, Caesar Otway, Sketches in Erris and Tyrawly, by the author of 'Sketches in Ireland ..., page 185:

But many a time, believe you me, I bought a rabbit from you, when I could put something else in the pot...

That's change, if you like to call it so. But the heart of things is just the same. Balzac stands for Paris, believe you me.

1877, Justin McCarthy, Miss Misanthrope: A Novel, page 21:

But, Sandy lad, believe you me, I loe ye like a brither!

1887, Alexander Wardrop, Mid-Cauther Fair: A Dramatic Pastoral : with Other Poems, Songs, and Prose, page 113:

"Believe you me," said Meldon, " she'll know how to manage him."

1912, George A. Birmingham, The Simpkins Plot, page 75:

Believe you me, if the people in this country think they’re going to be cheated, they’re going to be betrayed, then we will see political anger the likes of which none of us in our lifetimes have ever witnessed in this country.

2016 November 7, Stephen Castle, quoting Theresa May, “British Leader Stands Firm on Timetable for ‘Brexit’”, in The New York Times, page A6:

(idiomatic) An emphatic form of believe me: you (the subject) had better believe me (the speaker).


watch this space

A 19th century formula, originally placed by magazines in space which was reserved by an advertiser but for which no advertisement was ever submitted.

I fully intend to ask the talented Mr Peng to give me simplified instructions for making some of his fiery Hunan specialities; so watch this space.

1979 November 7, The Australian Women's Weekly, page 115, column 2:

"We all look forward to the next walk in 2013 which we all hope to be a bigger and better event - watch this space!"

2012 November 12, Torres News, Thursday Island, page 21, column 1:

(idiomatic) An indication that a development will follow.


one side

Probably short for "move to one side", that is to one side of a passageway.

[…] sign hung from the bronze knob, and it stated without equivocation that the Britannic Museum was "closed for repairs."
But the Inspector was made of stern stuff. He closed his right hand and with the resulting fist pounded formidably on the bronze.
[…] out popped the gargoylish head of a bulb-nosed old man.
"Hey!" snapped this apparition. "Can't you read English?"
"One side, brother," said the Inspector cheerfully. "We're in a hurry."
The doorman did not budge […]

1933, Barnaby Ross, Drury Lane's Last Case, March 1946 republication as by Ellery Queen, Little, Brown, page 45

“This is no time for sympathy,” I said. “Now one side or flipper off — I gotta go to work.”

1952, Cyril M. Kornbluth, Make Mine Mars:

"I'm late now, Fatty. C'mon. One side," Zooey said. A Philadelphia highboy had been moved out into the hall, and, together with Mrs. Glass's person, it blocked Zooey's passage.

(idiomatic) A direct, somewhat impolite demand to ask someone to move out of the way.


say what

(idiomatic, colloquial) What did you say?; Huh?; expresses incredulity.


don't let the bedbugs bite

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-don't let the bedbugs bite.wav

Sleep tight […] don’t let the bedbugs bite!

(colloquial, humorous) Used to wish a person a good night’s sleep.


come off it

Originally a British shortening of "come off the grass!", an older (originally American) phrase. Come off the grass!, which is roughly indicative of the speaker's disbelief, or that the speaker believes that the one being spoken to needs to face reality, is ultimately a play on the oft-seen phrase on signs in places such as public parks: "keep off the grass".

Come off it, mate! You can't be serious.

My palace spies have informed my that a certain tacky queen going by the pseudonym "Joey Ganimeed" has been presuming to offer you the 'facts of life' about gay existence (GCN, August 11, 1984). The next time you see him, tell him from me "Come off it, Mary."

1984 August 18, Gary Ralph, “Meow, Meow”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 6, page 5:

A feminist? Oh come off it! Why is Netflix idolising a porn star infamous for scenes of violence to women? [title]

2024 March 6, Philip Oltermann, “A feminist? Oh come off it! Why is Netflix idolising a porn star infamous for scenes of violence to women?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:


don't do anything I wouldn't do

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-don't do anything I wouldn't do.wav

(humorous) Behave properly; be well; said on parting


take it or leave it

That's the deal: take it or leave it.

Even when you are making your final offer, presenting the deal as a "take it or leave it" proposition is a mistake.

2007, Michael C. Donaldson, David Frohnmayer, Negotiating For Dummies, Published by For Dummies, page 169 http://books.google.com/books?id=41REtJoy8HMC&pg=RA1-PA69&dq=%22take+it+or+leave+it%22

(idiomatic) Denoting that a situation has to be accepted without change, or rejected outright.

lentejas, si quieres las comes y si no, las dejas

When it comes to eating steak, I could take it or leave it.

(idiomatic) Denoting that one does not care about or is unexcited for something.


scratch that

scratch that (third-person singular simple present scratches that, present participle scratching that, simple past and past participle scratched that)

scratches that (present singular third-person)
scratching that (participle present)
scratched that (participle past)
scratched that (past)

See scratch (“cross out, strike through”).

I'll have eggs and sausage. No, scratch that. I'll have eggs and bacon.

(slang, idiomatic, usually used imperatively) To disregard, omit, or ignore the previous statement.


excuse my French

excuse my French (third-person singular simple present excuses my French, present participle excusing my French, simple past and past participle excused my French)

excuses my French (present singular third-person)
excusing my French (participle present)
excused my French (participle past)
excused my French (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-excuse my French.wav

pardon my French
pardon my French#English


don't judge a book by its cover

you can't judge a book by its cover#English

Alternative form of you can't judge a book by its cover


praise the Lord

A present subjunctive clause inherited intact from a time when English was freely productive of them. It is semantically equivalent to praise be to God. The zero morph difference from the imperative form allows parsing as a command synchronically.

A phrase used to thank God by Christians.

cultural Christian
cultural Christian#English

Expression of thankful happiness; not always literally religious when used by cultural Christians, but not explicitly differentiable, thus ambiguous.

“There was a time when the homosexual demanded marriage,” he added with an exasperated chuckle. “Praise the Lord, that time is past. PRAISE THE LORD!” he commanded.

2021, Truscott Jones, chapter 1, in For the Common Good: What Happens When the Powerful Get Desperate?, Saint Petersburg, Fla.: BookLocker, →ISBN, page 8:

(UK, mildly blasphemous) Stereotypical exclamation used in mockery of Christianity.


head

if you want a thing done well, do it yourself

It is better to do something oneself than to rely on others to do it well.

on n’est jamais mieux servi que par soi-même

jesli xočešʹ sdelatʹ što-to xorošo, sdelaj eto sam.

если хочешь сделать что-то хорошо, сделай это сам.

if you want something done, do it yourself

if you want a thing done right, do it yourself

if you want it done right, do it yourself


never you mind

(idiomatic) Do not concern yourself with it; it is none of your business.


if it ain't broke, don't fix it

Attested since c. 1962, originally Southern United States English; popularized by T. Bert Lance in May 1977.

I know it’s an ugly-looking antenna, but it gets the job done, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

It is wise to leave something alone and to avoid attempting to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient (often with an implication that the attempted improvement is risky and might backfire).

जो चीज़ खराब नहीं है उसे ठीक ना करें

jo cīz kharāb nahī̃ hai use ṭhīk nā karẽ

角を矯めて牛を殺す

つのをためて うしをころす

не сломалось — не чини (ne slomalosʹ — ne čini)


don't drop the soap

From the exposure of one's buttocks when bending over in a male group shower, in reference to prison rape.

(idiomatic) Used as a mockery to someone who is about to be or should be confined in prison.


hello yourself, and see how you like it

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-hello yourself, and see how you like it.wav

Probably popularised by its occurrence in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876; see quotation).

Tom hailed the romantic outcast: “Hello, Huckleberry!” “Hello yourself, and see how you like it.”

1876, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter VI, in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Hartford, Conn.: The American Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 64:

(humorous) A response to being greeted with "hello".


don't ask, don't tell

(US) A policy of the U.S. military from 1993 to 2011, which barred openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual people from serving in the military, while also barring discrimination against closeted gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.

don't ask, don't tell, don't harass, don't pursue


CYLOR

Initialism of consult your local Orthodox rabbi.

(Judaism, Internet) Used to encourage the addressee to rely upon his rabbi's, rather than others', answers to questions of religious import.

RTFM

encouraging appeal to a specific better source


don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly

The instructor's concluding trope, “Don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly,” conveyed the sentiment that agents should not let their emotions get the better of them.

2016, Heith Copes, Mark R. Pogrebin, Voices from Criminal Justice:

He gave me a facial expression of recognition, '“Don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly”,' I finished with a smile.

2017, C. J. Michaels, Ladybug, page 240:

How do we, who have been the doers, step back and learn to accept or even ask for help of these who are new to caregiving? Don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly, they say.

2022, Dianne G. Poppert, Beyond Living Life Underneath: Reflections and Considerations:

(figurative) Do not rush impulsively into things or get carried away by your emotions.


make love, not war

desc

→ French: faites l’amour, pas la guerre (calque)

Originally coined by those who opposed the United States's involvement in the Vietnam War.

I want you to make love, not war / I know you've heard it before

1973, John Lennon (lyrics and music), “Mind Games”, in Mind Games:

A hippie anti-war slogan encouraging love and peace.


head

don't ask, don't tell, don't harass, don't pursue

don't ask, don't tell
don't ask, don't tell#English

Full name of the U.S. Military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy concerning the service of homosexuals in the military as defined in 10 USC § 654.


don't shit where you eat

The guiding principle is Don't shit where you eat. Office romances are always destructive of morale and objectivity.

1994 April 14, Nelson Navarro, “Ever faithful, ever true”, in Manila Standard, Philippines, retrieved 2011-08-12:

Limbaugh was scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the NAB convention in, of all places, Philadelphia, thus violating the cardinal law of the animal kingdom: Don't shit where you eat.

2003 October 8, Jonathan Valania, “Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Pussy”, in Philadelphia Weekly, retrieved 2011-08-12:

Mitchell refused to indulge in on-set romances with either gender. "You don't shit where you eat," he told me, plainly.

2006 September 19, Michael Musto, “NY Mirror”, in Village Voice, retrieved 2011-08-12:

(idiomatic, vulgar) One should not cause trouble in a place, group, or situation in which one regularly finds oneself, as it will likely backfire

nekálej do vlastního hnízda

One should not cause trouble in a place, group, etc. which one frequents

en puton ne kraĉu, ĉar vi trinki bezonos

don't spit into the well, you may have to drink (from it) one day

ne pljuj v kolódec, prigodítsja vodý napítʹsja

не плюй в коло́дец, пригоди́тся воды́ напи́ться


please speak more slowly

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-please speak more slowly.wav

Used to ask the interlocutor to speak more slowly.

har du mulighed for at tale lidt langsommere?

kan du vara så snäll och tala långsammare?


please say that again

Used as request for the interlocutor to repeat what he or she said previously.

هَلْ يُمْكِن أَنْ تُعِيدِي مِنْ فَضْلِكِ؟

Przepraszam, mógłby pan powtórzyć? Przepraszam, mogłaby pani powtórzyć? Mógłbyś powtórzyć? Mogłabyś powtórzyć?


please turn right

When giving directions to a person (for example, a taxi driver), indicates that he or she should turn right.


please turn left

When giving directions to a person (for example, a taxi driver), indicates that he or she should turn left.

左に曲がってください

ひだりにまがってください


stop the car

When giving directions to a person (for example, a taxi driver), indicates that he or she should stop the vehicle.


please repeat after me

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-please repeat after me.wav

A request for the interlocutor to repeat what the speaker says next. Often used in language training.


let me see

Now, let me see. When did you want the appointment?

Let me see. What should I make for dinner tonight?

(set phrase) Used as a filled pause to indicating thinking or pondering, not inviting hearer to participate.

Let me see if I can find that book for you.

Let me see if this microphone works.

Used when pondering the results of an action one is doing, or to politely ask for permission to do something

Let me see if I understood you correctly.

Let me see if I have this straight.

(by extension) Used to indicate incredulity; wait a minute; hold on

[…] Eric stepped in front of Shala, unaware that he was blocking her view. […]
“Let me see,” Shala demanded, trying to peer around him.

1994, Betty Brooks, Viking Mistress (Zebra Historical Romance), Kensington Publishing Corporation, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 161:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see let, me, see.


let nature take its course

en-verb

let nature take its course (third-person singular simple present lets nature take its course, present participle letting nature take its course, simple past and past participle let nature take its course)

lets nature take its course (present singular third-person)
letting nature take its course (participle present)
let nature take its course (participle past)
let nature take its course (past)

"Do you mean to put a secret-service operative aboard disguised as a deckhand?"
"Huh! Skinner, you distress me. I'm going to put Matt Peasley aboard the Quickstep as second mate, and let Nature take its course."

1916, Peter B. Kyne, chapter 27, in Cappy Ricks:

A boat trip to St. Joe! I and the Missus and the two love birds. And I'd see to it that the chaperons kept their distance and let Nature take its course.

1917, Ring Lardner, Sr., “The Water Cure”, in Gullible's Travels:

(idiomatic) To permit events to proceed or a situation to develop without intervention or interference.

順其自然 /顺其自然

permit events to proceed without intervention

antaa asioiden mennä luonnollista latuaan


head

en-au-don't let the door hit you on the way out.ogg

(idiomatic, derogatory) Used as a command to leave or to indicate that one is glad, or at least unmoved, to see the addressed person leaving.

used to indicate that one is glad to see someone leaving

ска́тертью доро́га (skátertʹju doróga, literally “let the road be like a table-cloth”)

ба́ба с во́зу — кобы́ле ле́гче (bába s vózu — kobýle léxče, literally “when a woman leaves the cart, the mare feels easier”)

закро́й дверь с обра́тной стороны́ (zakrój dverʹ s obrátnoj storoný, literally “close the door from the reverse side”)

don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you


don't make me laugh

Humiliated, Wood said, "I shouldn't have brought it up. I'll collect that money without you. Me and Carney will take care of the ranger."
"Carney Blake? Don't make me laugh." Rose chuckled, his hand still extended for payment. "He's been down drunk all summer. He'll be lucky if he doesn't shoot himself."

2006, Ralph Cotton, Gunfight at Cold Devil:

(informal) Used to express that one cannot take a suggestion seriously.


don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs

From a 1707 translation by John Stevens of comical works of Francisco de Quevedo (1580 – 1645).
"You would have me teach my Grandame to suck Eggs"

Don't presume to give advice to those who are more experienced.

Francisco de Quevedo
Teaching grandmother to suck eggs

on n’apprend pas à un vieux singe à faire la grimace

ce n’est pas à un vieux singe qu’on apprend à faire des grimaces

ne učí plávatʹ ščúku, ščúka znájet svojú naúku

не учи́ пла́вать щу́ку, щу́ка зна́ет свою́ нау́ку

na ionnsaich do sheanmhair lit' a dhèanamh


treat them mean, keep them keen

(informal) A woman will be more interested in a man if he is not kind to her.


don't feed the troll

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-don't feed the troll.wav

(Internet slang) Said to urge another not to respond to disruptive attention-seeking behavior, particularly in online contexts, by pointing out any such response is likely to be counterproductive.


think again

No. (as a rejection of somebody's stated belief or idea)


make it do or do without

If you don't have a lot of money, extend the life of what you have.

use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without


make yourself at home

(idiomatic) An invitation to a guest in the speaker's home to treat the house as if it were theirs.

اِجْعَلْ نَفْسَكَ فِي مَنْزِلِكَ

an invitation to a guest in the speaker's home to treat the house as if it were theirs

どうぞ気楽にして下さい

どうぞきらくにして下さい


be careful what you wish for

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-be careful what you wish for.wav

The desired outcome may not be as desirable once it has been attained.

uważaj, czego pragniesz uważaj na marzenia

¿no querías caldo? ¡pues toma dos tazas!


mind the gap

Don't tell me to mind the gap / I want my fucking money back!

2005, “London Underground”, performed by Amateur Transplants:

I once interviewed the man who made the first 'Mind the Gap' announcement: the one that reverberated for about thirty years on the Central Line at Bank, on the Bakerloo at Waterloo, and on the northbound Northern Line at Embankment.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 220:

(rail transport) Be careful of the gap between the vehicle and the platform it is near, in boarding or alighting; wide gaps between train and platform are caused by curved tracks and platforms in some stations.

小心空隙

be careful of the gap between vehicle and platform

kérjük, vigyázzanak a be- és kiszállásnál


let him who is without sin cast the first stone

An allusion to an utterance of Jesus in John 8:7, viz. “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

The behaviour of our Lord on this occaſion, conſiſting in two things; An Anſwer to the Scribes and Phariſees, and Admonition to the wretched Sinner. His Anſwer to the Scribes and Phariſees is, Let him that is without ſin caſt the firſt ſtone. His Admonition to the Woman, Go and ſin no more.

1710, Richard Lucas, Twenty Four Sermons Preached on Several Occaſions (2nd ed., printed for Benjamin Walford and William Innys at the Princes-Arms in St Paul’s Church-Yard), volume II, sermon VI: “Charity in Cenſuring Sinners”, page 150

Only those who are faultless have the right to pass judgment upon others (implying that no one is faultless and that, therefore, no one has such a right to pass judgment).

only those who are faultless have the right to pass judgment on others

kojto ot vas e bez grjah, neka prǎv hvǎrli kamǎk

който от вас е без грях, нека пръв хвърли камък

laat hij die zelf nooit zondigt, de eerste steen maar gooien

wie zonder zonde is werpe de eerste steen

joka teistä on synnitön, se heittäköön häntä ensimmäisenä kivellä

que celui qui n’a jamais péché jette la première pierre

kto z was jest bez grzechu, niech pierwszy rzuci na nią kamień

quem nunca pecou que atire a primeira pedra

el que esté libre de pecado, que tire la primera piedra.

let he who is without sin cast the first stone

let him that is without sin cast the first stone


do not pass go, do not collect $200

From the Monopoly game, where it is written on cards that send one directly to jail.

We will all go directly to our own respective Valhallas/Do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dallahs

1959, Tom Lehrer, "We Will All Go Together When We Go":

The only people who get through the doors without are couriers, and they get escorted all the way: make their delivery, get a signature then straight back out - do not pass Go, do not collect two hundred dollars.

2002, Christopher Brookmyre, Not the End of the World, page 230:

Two months later I hit the second knuckle on my pointer finger – six more stitches, do not pass Go, do not collect two hundred dollars – and damaged a tendon in the process.

2005, Ralph Scherder, The Taxidermist's Son, page 160:

I'm getting a part on a pilot. I don't have to audition — do not pass go, do not collect $200, just go straight to acting.

2010, John Scalzi, Agent to the Stars, page 290:

(humorous) A phrase indicating that something must be done directly without delays or deviations.


don't be a fool, wrap your tool

En-us-don't be a fool, wrap your tool.oga

(slang) There are consequences to not wearing a condom on one's penis.


wake up and die right

“Christ Almighty, yes, Floyd!” Hank turned on Evenwrite, relieved in a way to have someone to shout at again. “Sure I can sell lumber. But wake up and die right! use your damn head! Look!”

1964, Ken Kesey, Charles Bowden, Sometimes a Great Notion, 2006 edition, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 413:

We think it’s about time for the hypocritical members of the parent-teacher click responsible for obsolete standards and regulations to wake up and die right!

2004, National Lampoon, edited by Scott Rubin, Sean Crespo, and Mason Brown, National Lampoon's Big Book of Love, →ISBN, →OCLC:

(informal, used imperatively) Get a grip.


leaves of three, let it be

Don't touch a plant with a cluster of three leaves because it might be poison ivy or poison oak.


about ship

en-verb

about ship (third-person singular simple present about ships, present participle about shipping, simple past about ship or about shipped, past participle about shipped)

about ships (present singular third-person)
about shipping (participle present)
about ship (past)
about shipped (past)
about shipped (participle past)

/əˌbaʊt ˈʃɪp/

From the imperative phrase used as an order aboard sailing ships.

The ships fired grape shot but to no effect. They about ship and went to sea.

1807, A Journal kept at Nootka Sound, John R. Jewitt, page 27:

This Amanda refused and was about shipping to the other side, when the gentleman sprang out, clasped her in his arms, lifted her in, whistled to his horse and the next moment was flying about like mad …

1841 October 17, Amanda Green, "Life of the Nymphs 11", The Sunday Flash, quoted in The Flash Press: Sporting Male Weeklies in 1840s New York, page 148

The captain saw that no further progress could be made with safety, so he about ship, and ran for Newcastle.

1857, John Askew, A Voyage to Australia and New Zealand, page 251:

"Jones fired first and broke its leg, so he charged; Noland hit him in the back, so he about ship and wanted to make mince meat of him for his trouble; when the Doctor sent a shot through his shoulder, and he sprawled," coolly replied the boatswain's mate, as he was cutting the animal's throat, to the numerous inquiries.

1857, From Bombay to Bushire, and Bussora, William Ashton Shepherd, page 193:

We are told repeatedly that the King advised, restrained, coerced, conceded; that he alone saw the end from the beginning, and that in his hand only the helm of the State "about-shipped" or stood still at the right moment.

1858, James Anthony Froude, John Tulloch, editors, Fraser's Magazine, volume 58, page 23:

They stood for the land, and as they could not fetch in before dark, they about ship, and lay "a hull, all that night," finding abundance of fish, "very large and great" [...]

1859, Ancient dominions of Maine, Rufus King Sewall, page 82:

So we about shipped and started back (did not the steamboat men swear some then)?

1863 March 24, Edward Redington, transcribed letter to his wife, Wisconsin Historical Society, page 81

as the sea and the wind were so dead ahead that they found they could make no way, and the boat was at times half full of water, so they about ship and ran before the wind, much to their delight, living on geese and water melons (capital things on a hot day); spent a very comfortable night before the fires, without any blankets [...]

1863, William Charles Baldwin, African hunting from Natal to the Zambesi, including Lake Ngami, the Kalahari Desert &c. from 1852 to 1860, page 14:

She “about-shipped,” and returned up the river again.

1875, anonymous soldier, The Campaigns of Walker’s Texas Division, Lange, Little & Co., page 151

Birds in the air, and seaweeds in the water, indicated the nearness or absence of lands; and there is actual record of one voyage aiming at Rarotonga from the north knowing he had missed it by the coldness of the sea; without delay he about ship, and soon made the island.

1928, Johannes Carl Andersen, Myths & legends of the Polynesians, published 1969, page 86:

Then, his men sweating and straining and reloading, he about ship and did it again and again.

1993, Leslie Conron Carola, editor, The Irish: A treasury of art and literature, page [191]:

(intransitive) Tack; to cause to turn into the wind and through the other side ending with a full 180 degree turn.


tell it to the judge

Suggesting what the police might say to a suspect who protests his innocence prior to trial.

talk to the hand
talk to the hand#English

Synonym of I don't care; synonym of talk to the hand.


don't be a stranger

‘Don't be a stranger, Scotty,’ Bennie said. He sounded bewildered, as if he'd forgotten how I had come to be there; as if he'd invited me himself and I were leaving prematurely.

2010, Jennifer Egan, “X's and O's”, in A Visit from the Goon Squad:

(imperative) Remain in communication with me.


shut it

Shut it! I don't want to hear another word from you!

"If you 'adn't sleepy fits you'd get some work to do, like other men." "Oh, shut it, woman!"

1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:

(usually imperative, rude) To stop talking or making noise; to shut up.


search me

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-search me.wav

—Where did he find the money to buy a car like that? —Search me!

(informal) I don't know; I have no idea.


butter my butt and call me a biscuit

Butter my butt and call me a biscuit, could you be any more beautiful?

2010, Linda Francis Lee, The Devil in the Junior League: A Novel, →ISBN:

“Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit,” the brunette breathed. “I never saw that one coming.”

2014, Jennifer Lynn, New Prints In Old Calico, →ISBN, page 140:

“Butter my butt and call me a biscuit,” said Simon. He stared at Zoey, and a sheepish smile materialized on his face.

2014, Kim Richardson, Mystics #2: The Alpha Nation, →ISBN:

dip me in honey and throw me to the lesbians

(Southern US, colloquial) An expression of astonishment upon learning something unbelievable; chiefly something positive.


if the shoe fits, wear it

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-if the shoe fits, wear it.wav

"Do you mean to insult me by that?" he roared.
"If the shoe fits, you can wear it."
"I'll knock you down for the insult."

1901, Horatio Alger, chapter 18, in Young Captain Jack:

(idiomatic) If a description fits, it is probably the case; if an insult accurately describes you, you must bear it; if you take offence at an insult that was only implicitly directed at you, you admit the insult is true enough to be recognizable.

a el que le quede el saco, que se lo ponga

if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck


let there be light

From Genesis 1:3 in the King James Bible: "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."

Used as a metaphor for the spread of wisdom.


make no mistake

Make no mistake. The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts.

2001 September 11, George W. Bush, quotee, “Full transcript of George Bush's statement”, in The Guardian:

“Make no mistake, they come to kill and rape until the entire Northland is levied into their army.”

2010, Peter V. Brett, The Desert Spear, page 384:


don't bite the newbie

JavaScript experts, please don't bite the newbies.

2009, Cody Lindley, jQuery Cookbook, O'Reilly Media, page 88:

Be patient and friendly toward people who are learning a new technology.


be quiet

(imperative) Remain silent. Sometimes used as a more polite synonym of shut up.


don't shit in your own nest

don't shit where you eat
don't shit where you eat#English

it's an ill bird that fouls its own nest


pot, meet kettle

In reference to the phrase pot calling the kettle black.

(informal, humorous) Used to draw attention to hypocrisy.


take the cash and let the credit go

Some for the Glories of This World; and some / Sigh for the Prophet's Paradise to come; / Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credit go, / Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!

1872, Omar Khayyam, translated by Edward FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám:

"I will live my life, alone with the few people I find to my liking. I will take the cash and let the credit go."

1898, Henry Harland, “Merely Players”, in Comedies and Errors, page 52:

Why not "take the cash and let the credit go"? Why pursue the elusive theoretical "unification" any further, when what we daily get from our sciences is an increasing wealth of detailed information and of practical guidance?

1913, Josiah Royce, in Introduction to The Foundations of Science by Henri Poincaré, authorized translation by George Bruce Halsted, (text at Project Gutenberg)

[N]o religious teacher was ever more opposed than Buddha in his scheme of salvation to every form of postponement and procrastination. He would have his followers take the cash and let the credit go—though the cash in this case is not the immediate pleasure but the immediate peace.

1927, Irving Babbit, “Buddha and the Occident”, in On Literature, Cultures, and Religion, published 2006, →ISBN, page 251:

William Harding Johnson, $15,000-a-year superintendent of Chicago's school system, has been content to take the cash and let the credit go. He has made good money by co-authoring textbooks for Chicago's schools and from his tutoring school for teachers.

1946 January 28, “Education: Violator”, in Time, retrieved 2014-08-03:

"Take the cash and let the credit go," as Villon said in 1460. But that is a mistake if the cash is a penny and the credit a whole lifetime.

1977, Philip K. Dick, A Scanner Darkly (2011 edition), Author's Note (Google preview)

Exploit and enjoy the opportunities and pleasures available here and now and do not invest effort pursuing prospective future gratifications.

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush


en-proverb

when life gives you lemons, make lemonade

You should always make the best out of difficult situations.

apstazaara alimonkʷa anawto, alimonad qʼacʼa

aԥсҭазаара алимонқәа анауҭо, алимонад ҟаҵа

iṣnaʕ šarāban ḥallū min ḥāmiḍ laymūn al-ḥayāti

اِصْنَعْ شَرَابًا حَلُّوا مِنْ حَامِض لَيْمُون الْحَيَاةِ

iṣnaʕī šarāban ḥallū min ḥāmiḍ laymūn al-ḥayāti

اِصْنَعِي شَرَابًا حَلُّوا مِنْ حَامِض لَيْمُون الْحَيَاةِ

vaikeudet on käännettävä voitoksi (idiomatic translation)

kun elämä antaa sitruunoita, tee niistä mehua (literal translation)

quand la vie vous donne des citrons, faites de la citronnade

wenn das Leben dir eine Zitrone gibt, mach Limonade draus

wenn dir das Leben eine Zitrone gibt, mach Limonade draus

jab bhī jīvan mẽ muśkilẽ āẽ to unkā bhī lābh uṭhāẽ

जब भी जीवन में मुश्किलें आएँ तो उनका भी लाभ उठाएँ

quando la vita ti dà limoni, prepara una limonata

se la vita ti offre limoni, fai una limonata

禍転じて福と為す

わざわいてんじてふくとなす

災い転じて福となす

わざわいてんじてふくとなす

when life dey show you pepper, use am make pepper soup

gdy życie daje ci cytryny, zrób z nich lemoniadę

se a vida lhe der um limão, faça dele uma caipirinha

se a vida lhe der um limão, faça dele uma limonada

جب زندگی دیتا ہے، تو آپ لیمن نیبوڈ بناتے ہیں

whenever life gives you lemons, make lemonade


head

Described as early as 1977 as Black American slang constituting a "nasty command to leave, euphemism of 'split you' avoiding profanity." The phrase "where the good Lord split you" describes the crease of the buttocks.

If you want a ride, you let the doorknob hit you where the good lord split you.

1991, Dorothy Abbott, Mississippi Writers: Poetry, page 343:

I knew this one guy who said that I could date him as long as I promised him that I would give up my dog and my white cane—I told him, “don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.”

2013, Alice Crespo, Never Be Discouraged, page 74:

I need a man around me who's smart as me or smarter. And if you ain't, then get outta that chair. And let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.

2014, Samuel G. Freedman, Breaking the Line: The Season in Black College Football, page 31:

don't let the door hit you on the way out#English

Synonym of don't let the door hit you on the way out


please excuse my dear Aunt Sally

order of operations
order of operations#English

(mathematics) A mnemonic used to help people remember the order of operations, in the PEMDAS order.


don't change a winning team

if it ain't broke, don't fix it
if it ain't broke, don't fix it#English

Synonym of if it ain't broke, don't fix it


whoa, Nelly

From whoa! (a command to slow or stop) + Nelly (a common name for a mule or horse). A popular catch-phrase, together with "Whoa, Nellybelle" on the Roy Rogers TV show (1951–1957).

af

...the jeep’s brakes never quite worked, even when Brady uttered the catch phrases "Whoa, Nellybelle" or "Whoa, Nelly."

an exclamation of surprise, especially one in response to an unexpected acceleration of speed


eat, drink and be merry

A reference to Ecclesiastes 8:15: "Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry".

And if you do not put the motto "Eat, drink, and be merry," above your dining-room door, fix it in your mind, and put it into practice. Laugh, talk, and crack jokes at the table, and thereby heal an injured body.

1879, “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry”, in University Chronicle, volume 10, page 101:

He says his motto is ' Let us eat, drink, and be merry.' Just so, young man : my motto is exactly the same as yours, ' Let us eat, drink, and be merry.'

1880, William Young Fullerton, Waymarks for wanderers: 5 addresses, page 122:

Life is not all bread and butter. It is not eat, drink and be merry. It is much more.

1995, V. R. Taneja, Educational Thought And Practice, →ISBN, page 28:

Our days here were spent visiting beaches and resting under huge parasols to hide from the sun and eat, drink and be merry while occasionally joining the children to bathe in the warm, grey sea.

2015, Adrian Breeden, Time Grooves and Travel Records, →ISBN, page 556:

Enjoy yourself; forget your cares; do not worry.

eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die


en-proverb

if you can't do the time, don't do the crime

From do time (“to serve a prison sentence”).

One should not carry out an action if one is unwilling to handle the consequences.


en-interj

dip me in honey and throw me to the lesbians

Possibly first attested in 1988 as the title of a play by Tamara Kestrel and Susan Mindy.

(colloquial) Expression of surprise at something incredible.


trust everybody, but cut the cards

Reportedly coined by Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936) and expressed in dialect by his character "Mr. Dooley" in Mr. Dooley's Philosophy (1900), p. 260: "Thrust ivrybody—but cut th' ca-ards."

A deep-dyed fatalist, sentimental yet cynical—"Trust everybody," he is fond of saying, "but cut the cards"—his running history of his Chicago tribe is a struggle of clan and family survival, with little help from outsiders.

1997, Donald L. Miller, City of the Century, →ISBN, page 526:

I was often reminded of Mr. Dooley's famous admonition to “Trust everybody, but cut the cards.” We did “cut the cards” by installing a fake camera high on one wall and pointed at the cash register.

2013, William C. Prentiss, One Man In His Time: A Memoir, →ISBN, page 413:

It's a version of President Ronald Reagen's famous statements “trust but verify” and “trust everybody, but cut the cards.” We the public are tired of being duped, and we are now ready to hold companies responsible and accountable.

2014, Robert C. Chandler, Business and Corporate Integrity, →ISBN, page xxiv:

Have general faith in the good intentions of others, but never neglect to take appropriate precautions against being deceived or cheated.

trust everybody, but always cut the cards


ignore all rules

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-ignore all rules.wav

(chiefly Wikimedia jargon) It is acceptable to break rules in situations where it is beneficial not to follow them.


say no more

Last week the Brits appropriated a couple of all-American icons—persnickety Sally Albright and her friend Harry Burns—when the stage play of Rob Reiner's 1989 classic When Harry Met Sally opened in London's West End. . . . Next spring Americans will get their return when the musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail debuts on Broadway. The show will be called Spamalot. Say no more.

2004 March 1, Sora Song, “Fake an Orgasm, Fend Off a Rabbit”, in Time, retrieved 2015-09-19:

Nas walked through the garden of Gethsemane in his 1999 music video. Other scenes featured the rapper being crucified on the cross. Say no more.

2013 May 8, “Most controversial music videos”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 2015-09-19:

Those who left early missed a highlight of the event, a self-described "rising sophomore at the University of Connecticut" telling Franzen that The Corrections was the basis for her project on the "depressed male protagonist in post-9/11 literature."
"Say no more," answered a surprised, but amused Franzen.

2015 May 27, “Jonathan Franzen Talks Up, and Around, His New Novel”, in New York Times, retrieved 2015-09-19:

(idiomatic, often humorous) What has already been said conveys all the meaning and information needed to draw a conclusion concerning a matter which it would be imprudent to discuss further.


buy low, sell high

[T]he art of broadcasting, writes William Paley, "is to know what the public is seeking before the public even knows it is looking for something else." As a guide, that advice is about as useful as buy low, sell high.

1979 March 26, Gerald Clarke, “Books: Man Behind The Tube”, in Time, retrieved 2015-10-05:

The old investment adage “buy low, sell high” makes perfect intuitive sense, but folks like William O’Neil would prefer to “buy high and sell higher.”

2006 December 11, John P. Reese, “Buying High, Selling Higher”, in Forbes, retrieved 2015-10-05:

Any savvy investor knows the basic principle of investment: buy low, sell high.

2011 May 14, Jennifer Hill, “The 10 biggest investment pitfalls (and how to avoid them)”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 2015-10-05:

(business, finance) Commonplace investment advice, recommending that a prospective investor purchase an asset at a low cost and sell it later for a high price.


sell in May and go away

If ever there was a year in which, as the saying goes, “to sell in May and go away”, this was surely it. . . . From the beginning of May, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood above 10,000, it slid to a low in July of 7,702.

2002 August 23, “Jumping but jumpy”, in The Economist, retrieved 2015-10-11:

"Sell in May, and go away" is an old English proverb, but it does have some basis in reality. In the 1980s, Yale Hirsch, founder of the Stock Trader's Almanac, crunched the numbers. . . . From 1950 to 2007, the market from May to October provided an average annual gain of 0.6%, enough to earn $1,021 on $10,000 in those years. But if you had invested only in the "best six months," from November to April, your average gain would have been 7.6%, netting you $531,444 over those 58 years.

2009 May 15, Ben Steverman, “Stocks: Sell or Stay in May?”, in Businessweek, retrieved 2015-10-11:

One such truism is this: “Sell in May and go away”, meaning investors are best advised to sell stocks at the beginning of May and return to the equity market at the end of October.

2011 April 25, Josh Lipton, “Should You Sell in May and Go Away?”, in Forbes, retrieved 2015-10-11:

(business, stock market) Stock market securities can be expected to increase in value to a greater degree in the months from November through April than in the months from May through October, and profit-minded investors should manage their portfolios accordingly.


buy when it snows, sell when it goes

There is a phenomenon in stock market investment known as "seasonality." In Canada we sometimes summarize it with the epithet "Buy when it snows, sell when it goes."

2007 May 10, Peter McKenzie-Brown, “Sell in May and Stay Away!”, in Language Matters, retrieved 2015-10-13:

Most years, he says, investors can make money by simply holding broad indices, such as the S&P 500 and Canada's S&P/TSX Composite, from Oct. 28 to May 5, when they tend to make most of their gains, and then selling. If that's too hard to remember, Vialoux has a handy catch phrase: “Buy when it snows! Sell when it goes!”

2010 October 21, Paul Marshman, “Buy when it snows, sell when it goes!”, in Toronto Star, Canada, retrieved 2015-10-13:

According to Carlo R. Besenius, CEO of Creative Global Investments in Luxembourg, the trade, known as "buy when it snows, sell when it goes," was profitable in 53 of the past 61 periods. In a recent note, he pointed out that Munich, Geneva, Luxembourg, and Calgary had their first snowfall on Sunday, Oct. 28. He credits annual recurring events such as transactions for tax purposes and the holidays, among others.

2012 November 3, Robin Goodwin Blumenthal, “Season for Stocks: Let It Snow, Let It Snow?”, in Barron's, retrieved 2015-10-13:

(business, stock market, chiefly northern US and Canada) Stock market securities can be expected to increase in value to a greater degree in the cold winter months from November through April than in the warm months from May through October, and profit-minded investors should manage their portfolios accordingly.


apriti sesamo

From its use in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, translating French Sésame, ouvre-toi in Antoine Galland's version of the Ali Baba story in the One Thousand and One Nights, possibly based on an oral Arabic source.

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Antoine Galland
One Thousand and One Nights
it:Apriti sesamo (frase)


shut up and take my money

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-shut up and take my money.wav

From a scene in the Futurama episode "Attack of the Killer App" (2010) where Fry demands to buy an eyePhone in front of a store clerk who is talking about the product's features.

(informal) Said about something that the speaker wants to buy immediately.

Attack of the Killer App
Futurama
Philip J. Fry