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


one in the eye for

The success of Firefox is one in the eye for Microsoft.

(idiomatic) An event or achievement which is unpleasant for someone, especially for those who considered it impossible or unwelcome; an annoyance.


few sandwiches short of a picnic

a few sandwiches short of a picnic (canonical)

en-uk-a few sandwiches short of a picnic.ogg

en-au-few sandwiches short of a picnic.ogg

I think the lady down the road is a few sandwiches short of a picnic—you often hear strange bangings at odd hours in the morning.

He said to hang on, then went to his bike and came back with a black case. When he opened it I suddenly thought I was dealing with someone a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

2013, A. American, Surviving Home, Penguin, →ISBN, page 238:

“He was a nice fellow, but we all know he was a few sandwiches short of a picnic.”

2014, Sheila Connolly, Scandal in Skibbereen, Penguin, →ISBN, page 216:

(idiomatic) Exhibiting disquiet or unsoundness of mind; not sane; mad.

не все до́ма (ne vse dóma, literally “not everyone is ar home”)

винтика в голове не хватает (vintika v golove ne xvatajet, literally “one bolt on one's head is missing”)

куку́хой пое́хавший m (kukúxoj pojéxavšij, literally “(one has) the head having driven away”)

ша́рики за ро́лики зае́хали (šáriki za róliki zajéxali, literally “balls rolled over casters”)


wud

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of what('re) you doing (“what are you doing”).


elmo

enough, let's move on
enough, let's move on#English

(Corporate slang) Initialism of enough, let's move on.


WRASAP

as soon as possible
as soon as possible#English

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of will reply as soon as possible.


JK

Alternative forms: jk, j/k

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of just kidding.


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.

Bravo Six, say again, over.

Bravo Actual, I say again: Eight foot mobiles moving east, over.

(procedure word, military) To repeat part of or entire message transmitted over the radio, used instead of "repeat" which is an artillery procedure word.


I like pie

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Can somebody tell me what my IP address is? I'm new to the Internet.
I like pie.

[replying to: Listen up, fuck for brains !!! Don't make off topic posts to MFW. You stupid cock sucking fool !!! My fist meets your face if you do it again. Got it BOY !!"] I like pie.

2003 May 4, Brian Link, “Re: Potpourri”, in misc.fitness.weights (Usenet):

[replying to: Moron you post OFF SUBJECT in here on almost every subject"] I like pie.

2009 August 30, "Vitriol Trollsbane", “Re: Larry Hasn't Changed”, in alt.online-service.webtv (Usenet):

(derogatory, Internet slang) You are stupid; said as if lowering oneself to an equally moronic state of mind.


DWB

A play on DWI (“driving while intoxicated”).

jill We [Jill and her husband James] call it, "Driving While Black." We have a . . . nice car. So we got pulled over for a DWB. . . .

1995, Paul C. Rosenblatt, Terri A. Karis, Richard D. Powell, Multiracial Couples: Black and White Voices (Understanding Families), SAGE Publications, →ISBN, page 147:

Initialism of driving while black (or brown): a sarcastic reference to racial profiling by police investigating driving offences.


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


AEB

(medicine) Alternative form of aeb; Initialism of as evidenced by.


TINSTAAFL

1952, Ethics magazine, cited in 2006, Ralph Keyes, The Quote Verifier: Who Said What, Where, and When, Macmillan, page 70,
Professor Alvin Hansen's famous TINSTAAFL formula--"There is no such thing as a free lunch"
[Keyes adds, "This acronym had already appeared in a 1949 newspaper column."]

there's no such thing as a free lunch#English

Acronym of there's no such thing as a free lunch, an alternative to TANSTAAFL.


CPT

Carriage Paid To
Carriage Paid To#English

(Incoterm) Initialism of Carriage Paid To.


atm

(Internet slang, text messaging) Alternative letter-case form of ATM.


but for the grace of God

An ellipsis for there but for the grace of God go I.


HTF

HTF did you manage that?!

I can't even help myself HTF can I help him?

2019 December, Justin Blackburn, The Bisexual Christian Suburban Failure Enlightening Bipolar Blues, page 93:

(Internet slang, text messaging, vulgar) Initialism of how the fuck.


LMC

(Internet slang) Initialism of let me see.

(travel, dated) Initialism of let message (to) call (back).


is the Pope a Catholic

is the Pope Catholic
is the Pope Catholic#English

Alternative form of is the Pope Catholic?


IFYPFY

(Internet slang) Initialism of I fixed your post for you.


who cares

(colloquial, rhetorical question) A reply to an unimportant or irrelevant statement, indicating indifference on the part of the speaker.

"I'll never speak to you again as long as I live," said Joe, rising. "There now!" And he moved moodily away and began to dress himself.
"Who cares!" said Tom. "Nobody wants you to. Go 'long home and get laughed at. Oh, you're a nice pirate. Huck and me ain't crybabies. We'll stay, won't we, Huck? Let him go if he wants to. I reckon we can get along without him, per'aps."

1876, Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Part 4:

"But it's ever so much longer, and we're so late," grumbled Duncan.
"Who cares?" cried Elsie, stolidly. "I'm a girl and I'm not going to climb up the hill in this heat."
Duncan stared again. He had never heard Elsie complain of the hill before. Usually they scampered up it, and rolled down the steepest side—not, truly, when there was milk to carry, but at other times. And now Elsie was walking along in a languid, mincing fashion, as if she had no more fun in her than Robbie himself, and had never scampered bare-foot over the moor six days out of every week, no matter what the weather might be.
"There's Robbie at the garden gate beckoning us. I expect mother's very angry," cried Duncan, despairingly.
"Who cares? let him beckon," Elsie replied, with the most provoking indifference. "Run on by yourself if you're afraid."

1884 July, author not named, “A Little Too Clever”, in Little Folks: A Magazine for the Young:

c.1888, George Manville Fenn, Dick o' the Fens: A Tale of the Great Eastern Swamp,
"No, but it's not nice all the same to live in a place where lots of people were murdered."
"Tchah! who cares! I don't. It's a capital old place, and you never dig anywhere without finding something."
"Yes," said Tom solemnly, "something that isn't always nice."

"Well," said Peter Piper, "we have been called Meg and Peg and Kilmanskeg and Gustibus and Peter Piper instead of our grand names, and now we live in a place called Racketty-Packetty House. Who cares! Let's join hands and have a dance."

1906, Frances H. Burnett, Racketty-Packetty House:

It makes no difference if you fall on the whirl. Who cares? And when you are through dancing you can go out to the faucet and get yourself a drink—provided the water hasn't been turned off.

1922, Robert Benchley, Love Conquers All:

Freddy Farmer added two one-dollar bills to the hockey tickets and walked away. The two soldiers gaped down at the two tickets and the two dollars.
"What's the matter with that guy; is he touched?" one of them mumbled. "And did you hear him, Fuzzy? He didn't even speak English!"
"Who cares?" Fuzzy asked as he came out of his trance. "Two four-buck-forty hockey tickets, and two bucks in cash! Who cares if the guy is touched? He's okay by me!"

1944, Robert Sydney Bowen, Dave Dawson at Casablanca:

(colloquial, rhetorical question) A reply that dismisses the importance of another speaker's immediately preceding statement.


TRAF

Acronym of toss, refer, act, file, a principle of organization describing the possible responses to an incoming message or work item.


a number of

A number of people have commented on it.

There are a large number of problems with the log-in system.

I spoke with a number of them about it.


dollars to donuts

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Dollars to donuts you'll like the price, too . . . only $132.50

1962, Chain Store Age, volume 38, Chain Store Publishing Corporation, →OCLC, part 2:

Dollars to donuts, your spouse or lover will take the cue, and begin the day this way too.

1988, Eva Shaw, Your Astrological Guide to Fitness, Mills & Sanderson, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC:

(US, informal, figurative) I can tell you (used to assert the speakers confidence in the veracity of the statement).


what do you want, a cookie

"I was straight to the point - "Laurie, I'm gay." "Bernard, I've known that for a long time. So, what do you want, a cookie? Now deal the cards!"

1994, R. Jeffrey Ringer, Queer Words, Queer Images: Communication and Construction of Homosexuality, →ISBN, page 230:

DOLL. Buzzet attacked me last night. I have scars! Look at my arm! And my hair is flat too!
SPIDER. What do you want a cookie?

2001, Mary Rogers, Drop Your Webbings! (from Class Acts: High School Plays by High School Writers →ISBN by Randy Lee Hartwig), p.30

"I wait for ju, five minute," He says. "Well what do you want, a cookie" I tell him and he looks at me like he does not understand."

2004, James H. Taylor, Curiosity Killed the Chelsea Boy, →ISBN, page 153:

"The way I see it, I'm already doing all the work, and I'm doing the spells and incantations," stated Bowolf. "So what do you want, a cookie?" laughed Prolok.

2006, Antonio Garza, The House with the Magic Cellar: Realm: I, →ISBN, page 103:

(rhetorical question, sarcastic) A retort to someone who has done something unsurprising or unimpressive and has deemed it necessary to mention it.


what do I know

Maybe girl grasshoppers find long legs attractive in boy grasshoppers, but what do I know?

(rhetorical question) Implies that a statement is based on a guess or assumption rather than on knowledge or evidence.


huckleberry above a persimmon

"He's a huckleberry above a persimmon, for sure," Katherine said, following her gaze. "I hear tell he broke a lot of hearts in San Antone when he married you."

2001, Cynthia Sterling, A Husband by Law, page 48:

(US, idiomatic) Someone or something that is better than others.


you are welcome

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She reached out and handed me a steaming bowl of porridge. / “Thank you!” / Her eyes smiled back at me. “You are welcome.”

2000, Eric Walters, Caged Eagles, Orca Book Publishers, →ISBN, page 50:

(formal) Alternative form of you're welcome.

You are welcome, most noble Sorceress, to the land of the Munchkins.

1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, “The Council with The Munchkins”, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC, page 21:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see you, are, welcome.


all wool and a yard wide

about 1900, O. Henry, The Missing Chord
And that was the piano that Uncle Cal had selected; and standing by it was the good, fine, all-wool girl that never let him know it.


all over oneself

Then the Frogs surrounded this Rabbit, an' they re-captured the skull, an' the Rabbits charged with ambition, an' the Frogs passed to the left, an' there was old Leapin' Frog himself, grinnin' all over himself with his club reached out a-puntin' the skull along like sixty-seven.

Anyway, the network tells me Ishaka is all over himself over his new baby, kissing and cuddling her and calling her every endearing name I didn't even know existed.

2003, Mary Karooro Okurut, The Official Wife, →ISBN, page 81:

Nowadays, UGA recruiters would be all over themselves to enroll three high-achieving African American students like Kerry Rushin Miller, Harold A. Black and Mary Blackwell Diallo.

2017 January 13, Lee Shearer, “UGA's first black freshmen — all three — recall what it was like”, in Athens Banner-Herald:

Those women lite up they were so excited they were all over themselves we did it girls we made the King happy and Diane to.

2013, Jesse S. Ward, My Lady and the Rogue, →ISBN:


sweet Mary

(idiomatic) Used to add emphasis, particularly by Catholics.


WIBNI

(Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of wouldn't it be nice if.


what's good

What's good here? I'm way too indecisive to choose from a menu.

(colloquial) What is good, especially in reference to food.

這裡有什麼好吃的？ /这里有什么好吃的？

(colloquial) what is good, especially in reference to food

what's good for the goose is good for the gander


NHNF

no harm, no foul
no harm, no foul#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of no harm, no foul.


art imitates life

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-art imitates life.wav

The observation that a creative work was inspired by true events; based on a true story.


life imitates art

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-life imitates art.wav

Expresses the notion that an event in the real world was inspired by a creative work.


or what

How should he know or guess or what?

1926, Theodore Dreiser, An American Tragedy, page 68:

Do they check you at the door or what?" Michael laughed.

1982, Armistead Maupin, Further Tales of the City, page 146:

[S]he asked me, and like you, I didn't know if that was like having heart failure or what.

2006, V.C. Andrews, Broken Flower, page 141:

I don't know if she was joking or what, but I joked back with her anyway. […]. Did I take her back to her hotel room and drop her off or what?

2007, Omar Tyree, What They Want: A Novel, page 95:

(idiomatic) Or something else; allows for the existence of an unexpressed alternative to what was said.


it's all good

it's all G (alternative slang)
it's all g (alternative slang)


ITT

(Internet slang) Initialism of in this thread (the topic of this thread is).

(Internet slang) Initialism of in this topic.


Broken Arrow

The FAC urgently sends over his radio a cry for help: "Broken Arrow! Broken Arrow!' His message unleashes all available close air support in South Vietnam on a priority basis.

2003, Jacques-François de Chaunac, The American Cavalry in Vietnam: "First Cav", →ISBN, page 48:

Before Caras could respond, the General threw down the mike, turned to his second and said, "Get them all the air support we have, everything. This is Broken Arrow"

2008, Terry Ryan, Bring Out Your Dead, →ISBN, page 137:

Broken Arrow refers to the U.S. military's code word used during the Vietnam War. This call was used only in the direst of tactical situations, when a ground unit was overrun by enemy forces. When "Broken Arrow" was heard on the radio nets, all available aircraft were diverted to provide close air support for the endangered command.

2010, Danny W. Davis, The Phinehas Priesthood, →ISBN:

All Pulse elements, this is Home Plate. Broken Arrow. I repeat, Broken Arrow. Forward command of close air-support operations is Rebel Four One.

2017, Kevin Ikenberry, Vendetta Protocol, page 155:

(US, military) A code phrase indicating that a ground unit is facing imminent destruction from enemy attack and all available air forces within range are to provide air support immediately.


top of the morning

A working-class phrase once popular throughout the British Isles, possibly in reference to cream rising in milk. It has been revived into popular consciousness, and is associated with Irishmen, by the film Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959).

(Ireland, New England, idiomatic, archaic, sometimes humorous) A generic, cheerful greeting said to someone in the morning.

British Isles
Darby O'Gill and the Little People


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.


who's your daddy

What's your name? / Who's your daddy? / Is he rich like me?

1968, “Time of the Season”, in Odessey and Oracle, performed by The Zombies:

A humorous or sarcastic statement of (often sexual) superiority over someone else.

I got fisted one time [by] a very short lesbian. [mimes] "Who's your daddy?" "...Eileen?" "That's right, bitch!"

(BDSM) An assertion that one is the dominant in a relationship or situation.


tanj

Alternative spelling of TANJ (There ain't no justice.)


if you please

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The construction is unusual since the infinitive to please originally meant only “to satisfy”, not “to be satisfied”. One solution entails interpreting you as an object pronoun and please as a verb in the third-person singular subjunctive, such that if you please actually meant if it may please you. The according constructions if thee please, if him please, if them please, etc., are indeed attestable. However, if this approach is correct, the reinterpretation of the pronoun as the subject of the phrase must be very old as we also find if thou please and so on. A second hypothesis construes "if you please" as an intransitive, ergative form taken from if it pleases you which is a calque of French s'il vous plaît. Alternatively, if you please may be a bastardization of if you'd please, which is an abbreviation of if you would please be so kind, wherein please constitutes an adverb, not a verb.

1906, Edith Nesbit, The Railway Children, Chapter 4: The engine-burglar,
The engine-driver and fireman did not see her. They were leaning out on the other side, telling the Porter a tale about a dog and a leg of mutton.
"If you please," said Roberta--but the engine was blowing off steam and no one heard her.
"If you please, Mr. Engineer," she spoke a little louder, but the Engine happened to speak at the same moment, and of course Roberta's soft little voice hadn't a chance.

(szíves) engedelmével/engedelmeddel

the former is formal; the latter is informal

I will, if you please, go and see him to-day. And I will ask him to call upon you to-morrow morning.

1876, [Walter Besant, James Rice], chapter VIII, in The Golden Butterfly. […], volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, […], page 133:

“I don’t care about remarks; I don’t care what people think.” / “You don’t care if you please or displease, perhaps, but to give a joy is something; won’t you?”

1899 August, Sarah Barnwell Elliott, “Fortune’s Vassals”, in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine: […], volume LXIV, number 380, Philadelphia, Pa.: J. B. Lippincott Company, section VI, page 205:

‘My king,’ frothed Keimdal, ‘I must object!’ / ‘Object if you please. Then do as I tell you.’

2014, Joe Abercrombie, Half a King (Shattered Sea; 1), London: HarperVoyager, →ISBN, page 55:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see if, you, please.


see you

“See you,” I said. My tag line. Still the only way I have to say goodbye. See you. What did it mean? No tense. Elliptical. Almost an imperative. It must have been the last thing I ever said to my father. See you.

1995, Richard Powers, Galatea 2.2, Vintage (2019), page 71:

salām ʕalaykum waraḥmat allāh wabarakātuhu

سَلَام عَلَيْكُم وَرَحْمَةْ اللّٰه وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

വീണ്ടും കാണാം

vīṇṭuṁ kāṇāṁ

See you at the weekend!

Used as a farewell, stating the next time the speaker and interlocutor(s) will see each other.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see see, you.


get well soon

Expressing hope that the listener will soon recover from illness.

أَتَمَنَّى لَكَ الشِّفَاءَ الْكَامِل

expressing hope that someone recovers soon

gum fàsadh tu nas fheàrr a dh'aithghearr


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


lights, camera, action

(cinematography) The traditional cue to the members of a (silent) film crew at the beginning of a take.

الْأَضْوَاء، الْكَامِيرَا، اِبْدَأ

traditional cue at a beginning of a take


on your mark, get set, go

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-on your mark, get set, go.wav

on your mark (get in one's lane or spot)

get set (get to the starting position)

go! (take off)

(sports) A three-command start when racing:


how about that

(rhetorical question) A general statement of surprise or bemusement with regard to a particular event.; isn't that good, or unexpected, etc.


the buck stops here

Popularized by US President Harry Truman. The phrase is based on the metaphorical expression passing the buck, derived from poker gameplay, that came to mean "passing blame", or absolving oneself of responsibility or concern by denying authority or jurisdiction over a given matter.

Well, nobody else can make a decision but me because I was the President and the final decision comes to the President, you know. I used to have a sign on my desk that said, "The Buck Stops Here." The buck stops at the president's desk when he's president of the United States, and he either makes the decisions or he lets them go by default, and you can't afford to do that when you're president.

1965, Harry S. Truman, 0:20 from the start, in MP2002-401 Former President Truman Discusses "The Buck Stops Here", Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives Identifier: 595162:

1994 January 25, William J. Clinton, State of the Union Address, 2004 Gutenberg eBook,
If you will stick with this plan, we will post three consecutive years of declining deficits for the first time since Harry Truman lived in the White House. And once again, the buck stops here.

(idiomatic) A statement that no excuses will be made, that the speaker is going to take direct responsibility for matters, rather than pass the responsibility to higher authorities.

la responsabilité commence ici

die Verantwortung liegt hier bei mir und nirgendwo anders

die Verantwortung liegt hier bei uns und nirgendwo anders


IAW

Log note: 2005-09-03: Inspected IAW section 14.2.1; no violations found.

in accordance with
in accordance with#English

(engineering, business) Initialism of in accordance with.


d.c. al coda

da capo al coda (alternative)
D.S. al Coda (alternative)
D.C. al Fine (alternative)
D.S. al Fine (alternative)

(music) A music notation roughly meaning "go back to the beginning, playing everything again up to the coda."


what am I, chopped liver

You've been nice enough, but what am I, chopped liver or something?

1949, Joey Adams, The Curtain Never Falls, New York, N.Y.: F. Fell, →OCLC, page 175:

rhetorical question
rhetorical question#English

A rhetorical question used to indicate that the speaker is feeling left out or slighted by attention given to another person or persons.


I approve this message

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the elective law passed in 2002
w:Stand By Your Ad provision

(US politics) a phrase said by candidates for federal office to show their consent to comply with the elective law passed in 2002.

(US, humorous) a phrase said after or before one makes a declaration to attach a mock solemnity to a strongly held belief


and your little dog too

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-and your little dog too.wav

From a line spoken by the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz to Dorothy and her dog Toto: "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog too!".

(humorous) A statement that not only will the person being addressed be punished but their conspirators will also.


TL;NR

TL (canonical)
NR (canonical)
TLDR (alternative)


that's all she wrote

Unknown; circa 1940s; thought to be a reference to Dear John letters. Ernest Tubb recorded a song titled "That's All She Wrote" (sheet music published in 1942), but earlier printed references exist (e.g. The Brownsville Herald, June 1935).

If you see a long yellow streak of all fine smoke / That’s my rocket pulling out, that’s all she wrote / […]

1951, Jackie Brenston, “My Real Gone Rocket”:

There was a note upon my door... I won’t be back no more / That’s all she wrote, "Dear John".

[…] Goodbye — that’s all she wrote.

Then I got Mary pregnant and man that was all she wrote / And for my nineteenth birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat

Inside information taken down note by note / A silent footstep that's all she wrote

Bye bye, baby, bye-bye, she said in a letter / And that was all she wrote

He said a prayer, and that was all she wrote

2004, Gaither Vocal Band, “I Catch 'Em, God Cleans 'Em”:

I get five short beeps when the machine starts to boot, and then that's all she wrote[…]

2004, Michael Graves, A+ Guide to PC Hardware Maintenance & Repair, page 525:

I, I, got a little paycheck / You got big plans and you gotta move / And I don't feel nothing at all / And you can't feel nothing small / "Honey, I love you", that's all she wrote

2016 February 5, Wesley Schultz and Jeremy Fraites, “Ophelia”, in Cleopatra, performed by The Lumineers:

(idiomatic, originally US) Indicating an abrupt termination of a project, or of one’s hopes or plans.


tell the truth

Then it sneezed. Considering what it was smelling, that was no surprise. Tell the truth, I'd gotten so used to the jof jof dung that I didn't notice it anymore.

1991, Mike Sirota, Bicycling Through Space and Time:

(idiomatic, informal) Used to positively assert the frank honesty of an associated statement of set of statements; equivalent to "to tell the truth".

老實說 /老实说

asserting the frank honesty of an associated statement


the British are coming

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From a famous line supposedly uttered by the American Paul Revere.

A warning that enemies are about and a battle is about to begin.


how are you doing

(informal) Alternative form of how do you do (“greeting on being introduced”).

A greeting to an existing acquaintance, asking after their welfare.


BION

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of believe it or not.


that's what she said

First attested in the early 20th century. She refers to the speaker's imagined sexual partner.

etydate

Coordinate term: that's what he said

Some seemed bored and irritated by the priapic yahooism and overwillingness of peers to read a sexual double entendre into the most innocuous remark. "No matter what you say," said one student, "someone is going to respond with ‘That's what she said.’ "

2008 March 2, Ron Fletcher, “In the Internet Age, a few lessons about bad jokes, good taste”, in Boston Globe, retrieved 2009-04-07:

So this morning we pulled up a pumpkin-pancake recipe on the kitchen laptop. Just one problem: My wife couldn't read it from where she was mixing. "Can't you make it bigger?" she asked. (Go ahead, insert your own "that's what she said" joke here. No class.)

2008 November 24, Rick Broida, “Quick Tip: Increase the Font Size in Your Browser”, in PCWorld.com, retrieved 2009-04-07:

(humorous, idiomatic) A joking retort that draws attention to the possibility of sexual innuendo in what was just said.


so be it

Minister of State: Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Prime Minister, I beg to introduce a bill entitled an Act to amend the Interpretation Act.
Clerk: Interpretation (Amendment) Bill.
Speaker: Second reading what day?
Minister of State: At the next available sitting.
Speaker: So be it.

From storm to storm ! So be it, then. Born in throes, ’tis fit that man should live in pains and die in pangs! So be it, then! Here's stout stuff for woe to work on. So be it, then.

1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “The Doubloon”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 480:

It doesn't matter which party it is. If the people choose one, a Democrat, then so be it.

2009 February 22, This Week with George Stephanopoulos, via ABC:

The reason was that China's stability was at stake, according to Singapore's statesman Lee Kuan Yew. He once said: "He (Deng Xiaoping) took over and said, "If I have to shoot 200,000 students to save China from another 100 years of disorder, so be it."

2014 October 10, Diane M. Francis, “Why Does China Get To Renege on Its Promise of Democracy in Hong Kong?”, in HuffPost:

(idiomatic, subjunctive) An indication of acceptance, especially of a situation which is not entirely favorable.


CF

Alternative form of cf. (“confer, compare”).


HB

Alternative form: HBD

(Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of happy birthday.


JR

(Hong Kong, law, informal) judicial review


what's eating

What's eating him? I've never seen him this worked up over anything before.

(idiomatic) What is wrong with...? What is the problem with... (somebody)? Inquired regarding somebody who seems upset, worried, angry, etc.


where you at

Last time I saw ya, you were flippin' burgers; where you at now?

(proscribed, nonstandard, slang, set phrase) Where are you? Used as an inquiry of location, especially figuratively.


Eat at Joe's

For most of the inhabitants of most parts of the world today, the notion of costume begins and often ends with some variant of "Eat at Joe's."

1996, Grolier, Academic American Encyclopedia, →ISBN, page 332:

A lot of crop-duster-type aircraft are used to pull banners around football stadiums: Eat at Joe's.

2003, Jim Saxton, Department of Defenses Role in Combating Terrorism:


PEMDAS

order of operations
order of operations#English

(mnemonic) An acronym used by mathematics students to remember the order of operations: parentheses, then exponents, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction.


WTB

(Internet slang) Initialism of want/willing/waiting to buy.


WTS

(Internet slang) Initialism of want/willing/waiting to sell.


WTT

(Internet slang) Initialism of want/willing to trade.

working timetable
working timetable#English

(rail transport, UK) Initialism of working timetable


E&OE

E. & O. E (alternative)
e&oe (alternative)

Initialism of errors and omissions excepted/excluded.


there you go

Attagirl! There you go! Keep it up! Now pass the ball back to me again!

'There you go! It worked.' Toby got up, pleased with the result. 'We can hoist it back up now. Take the horses the other side Tad.'

You have done it, or are doing it, correctly.

做得好

you have done it, or are doing it, correctly

Kelly Collins, A Wilde Love Collection
To be honest, I didn't care for that side of the plan, but I needed their manpower to pull all this off, and someone owed me a favor, so there you go. It worked like a charm.

Used to explain or justify something, such as one's course of action.

- Do you want to punish crime more severely?
- I'm not sure. I do want a lower crime rate...
- Well, there you go.

Expressing that the conclusion is the same as it was suggested before; the other party's statement actually implies the same thing as one's own idea.

а, добро утро!

expressing that the implication of the speaker's statement is actually the same as one's own

There you go, yelling again. Will you shut up?

He told me to bring it back to you when I was done. There you go! Happy Friday!


kindof

I'm feeling kindof sick.

It's kindof crowded in here.

Here, kindof means 'more-or-less', or 'rather', or somewhere between a little and a lot.

This is not the same as...

What kindof pizza would you like?

That should be 'What kind of pizza would you like?'

Here, kind means type or style or variety.'


head

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We recently heard about a particularly daring espionage coup. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to listen to our panelists as they describe a tactic that even Matt Helm had never thought of.

2000 January 15, Peter Sagal, “Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!”, in National Public Radio:

(informal, humorous) Your mission or task; what you must do.


FNU

(travel, aviation, genealogy) Initialism of first name unknown (used on birth certificates or airline reservations)

first name unknown

Initialism of Formazin Nephelometric Unit, a turbidity measurement also known as Formazin Turbidity Unit (FTU).


the plot thickens

From the satirical play The Rehearsal. First attested in 1671.

BAYES. Lo' you now, there he's off again.
JOHNS. Admirably done i'faith.
BAYES. Ay, now the Plot thickens very much upon us.

1672 George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, The Rehearsal, Act III Scene ii

Y. Book. Well said, Lad—and as Mr. Bays says, now the Plot thickens upon us, we'll spend our time as gaily as the best of 'em—and all of it in Love …

1703–4 Richard Steele The Lying Lover: Or, the Ladies Friendship Act II Scene i

"His statement is wholly false," was our hero’s reply. "It was his miserable villainy that deprived me of my liberty, and kept me away from my work."
Mr. Goldwin looked puzzled.
"The plot thickens," said he. "Give me your story."

1888, Frank Munsey, chapter XX, in The Boy Broker; Among the Kings of Wall Street, page 143:

1973 April 1, “Watergate: The Plot Thickens”, in The Sun-Herald, Sydney, Australia, page 75

(idiomatic, often humorous) Used to describe an increasingly complex or mysterious situation.

تتشربك الْمُؤَامَرَة

used to describe an increasingly complex or mysterious situation


don't quit your day job

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


is it just me

I was wondering, is it just me, or do you sometimes find it really hard to be a mom?

2013, Faith Bogdan, Who Are All These Children and Why Are They Calling Me Mom?:

(colloquial, rhetorical question) Am I the only one who thinks this?


s.n.

Borrowed from Latin s.n., an initialism of sine nōmine (“without a name”).

(bibliography) Indicating that the title of a cited work is unknown.


throw one's hat over the windmill

throw one's cap over the windmill#English

Alternative form of throw one's cap over the windmill.


sell my clothes, I'm going to heaven

A translation of German verkauft mein Gewand, ich fahr in Himmel.


ISTM

(Internet slang) Initialism of It seems to me.


an angel passes

There was a momentary silence. Mrs. Oliver said: "Is it twenty-to or twenty past? An angel passing . . . My feet aren't crossed—it must be a black angel!"

1936, Agatha Christie, Cards on the Table, →ISBN, page 17:

As Case was picking up his beer, one of those strange instants of silence descended, as though a hundred unrelated conversations had simultaneously arrived at the same pause. […] Ratz grunted. “An angel passed.”

1984, William Gibson, Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 4:

Ἑρμῆς ἐπεισελήλυθε (Hermês epeiselḗluthe, literally “Hermes has entered”)

дура́к роди́лся (durák rodílsja, literally “a fool has been born”)

мент роди́лся (ment rodílsja, literally “a cop has been born”)


TF

Why TF do you think that??

“Who TF Did I Marry?!?,” the TikTok user Reesa Teesa’s account of her relationship with her ex-husband, is a story for grown-ups.

2024 March 1, Amanda Hess, “‘Who TF Did I Marry?!?’ Rings in TikTok’s Midlife Crisis Era”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

Adam Rippon is your/my/everyone’s favorite Olympic figure skater, pop culture expert, and person who can rock TF out of a fashion harness at the Oscars.

2024 September 18, Mehera Bonner, “A Look at All the ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Winners Over the Years”, in Cosmopolitan:

(Internet slang, text messaging, vulgar) Initialism of the fuck.


the shoe is on the other foot

the boot is on the other foot (alternative)

Some of the birds on this ship took me for a sucker and tried to make a rummy out of me but I was wise to their game and I guess the shoe is on the other foot this time.

1919, Ring Lardner, chapter 1, in The Real Dope:

(idiomatic) The roles of people in a situation have been reversed, such that the advantage has shifted to a party which was previously disadvantaged.

situacija izmenilasʹ na protivopoložennuju

ситуация изменилась на противоположенную


YW

The first step, though, is selecting the best prompts and then crafting up some clever answers that can make your matches fall in love with you (or, you know, ask you out). The good news? We’ve taken care of all that below, so you can spend less time stressing about your profile and more time meeting the love of your life! YW!

2024 April 8, Lydia Wang, Morgan Sullivan, Rachel Varina, “24 Best Hinge Prompts to Actually Help Your Matches Get to Know You”, in Cosmopolitan:

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of you're welcome.


NOAD

(medicine) Initialism of no other abnormality detected.


FSF

Near-synonym: F4F

(in personal ads or Internet slang) Initialism of female seeking female or femme seeking femme.


Christmas is coming

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Christmas is coming.wav

(set phrase, figuratively) Used as a reminder or warning regarding an impending deadline.


YHJBT

(Internet) Synonym of YHBT: you have just been trolled.


never eat shredded wheat

never eat soggy wheat (alternative)
never eat soggy waffles (alternative)
never eat soggy Weet-Bix (alternative Australia)

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.


vive la différence

/ˌviːv lɑː ˌdɪfəˈɹɒns/

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Borrowed from French, literally “long live the difference”, from vive (“long live”) + la (“the”) + différence (“difference, diversity”). Although correct and unremarkable French, it is not a stock phrase in French as it is in English.

2001 November 1, Sandra Díaz with Marcelo Cabido, “Vive la différence: plant functional diversity matters to ecosystem processes”, in Trends in Ecology & Evolution, volume 16, number 11, pages 646–655:

(often humorous) Used to express appreciation of diversity, especially between the sexes; sometimes referring to cultural diversity, and more rarely to diversity of opinion, as in "let's agree to disagree".


ytf

(Internet slang) Onomatopoeic abbreviation of "Why the fuck".


FTFY

> *Most* Dogs are intelligent animals, and their behaviour is usually
> predictable and manageable *in the hands of a responsible owner*.

2008 January 11, “maestro8” (username), “Re: Dealing with dogs”, responding to “Mikefule” (username), “Re: Dealing with dogs”, both in rec.sport.unicycling, Usenet, Mikefule wrote

For more examples of the usage of this term see the citations page.

(Internet slang) Initialism of fixed that for you: appended to a quotation that has been modified to include a correction.


nrn

(Internet slang) Abbreviation of no reply needed.


that's it

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So, that's it? I thought there would be some more.

I'm not going, and that's it.

That's it, man. Game over, man. Game over! What the fuck are we gonna do now?

That's all (there is nothing more to the issue).

Ruwon: Has Odo ever shown any kind of... physical interest in you, Major?
Kira: That's it! You can rip the cloaking device out of the Defiant right now, I am not answering any more questions! And I suggest you avoid asking Odo those questions... or you may just find yourself on the other side of that bulkhead floating home.

1993, Ethan H. Calk (story), John Shirley (teleplay), “Visionary”, in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, season 3, episode 17, Jack Shearer and Nana Visitor (actor):

Toni: That's it! I have had it! If you don't want to live here, if you don't want to be with me and Raffi, then don't! Go live in the old neighborhood. Go live with Ginger and all her wacky housemates! Just make up your mind by the time I get back from returning that fucking truck!

1998, Alison Bechdel, Split-Level Dykes to Watch Out For,, page 115:

I have had it (an exasperated refusal to tolerate the situation further).

A bright idea came into Alice’s head. “Is that the reason so many tea-things are put out here?” she asked.
“Yes, that’s it,” said the Hatter with a sigh: “it’s always tea-time, and we’ve no time to wash the things between whiles.”

1865, Lewis Carroll, “Chapter 7”, in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland:

Eureka! (indicating a realization or discovery of a solution)


that is it

So, that is it? I thought there would be some more.

Finished. There is nothing more to the issue.


that was it

Channel 4's ambitious plans to move into digital radio were largely ignored last week at its glitzy presentation. There was a single line from its director of television, Kevin Lygo, who mentioned a launch "later this year" and that was it.

2008 March 17, Maggie Brown, The Guardian:

At 0508 on July 18 1981, the last freight train plunged into the 3-mile 66-yard Woodhead Tunnel at Dunford Bridge. [...] As it emerged back into the daylight at Woodhead at 0514, heading west, that was it for this famous railway line.

2021 July 14, Pip Dunn, “Woodhead 40 years on: time to let go”, in RAIL, number 935, page 38:

Finished. There was nothing more to the issue.


one thing led to another

From one event, a series of insignificant steps resulted in another event.

(understatement) Things got out of hand.


believe you me

Derived from an archaic English sentence structure. Compare I kid you not.

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).


what would Jesus do

(religion, Christianity, chiefly evangelicalism) Expression intended to help a person facing a choice with moral, ethical or religious implications.


DNU

Initialism of do not use: marking used to tag equipment or material that is not to be used.


CTFO

Personally, I don't much give a shit how much some of you may dislike some others, but sweet baby jesus, Chill The Fuck Out, would ya? ... If ya gotta do it, do it; but CTFO a little, eh?

2006, Joe F. "rb608", “OT: CTFO Rant”, in rec.outdoors.fishing.fly (Usenet):

(Internet) Initialism of chill the fuck out.


the rubber meets the road

A metaphor derived from the point of contact between automobile tires and pavement.

Now we're getting down to where the rubber meets the road.

1957, Max Shulman, Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!:

It can only be judged "when the rubber meets the road"; when its implementation does or does not produce results.

2002, F. Stevens Redburn with Terry F. Buss, Public policies for distressed communities revisited, page 159:

It is in the interview that the rubber meets the road.

2007, Dan Miller, 48 Days to the Work You Love, page 85:

(idiomatic, with "where" etc.) A place or circumstance at which the implementation of a plan or intent is to be achieved.

Even 500 feet probably wouldn't allow you to brake to a stop, because it's "where the rubber meets the road" that counts.

1928, How to avoid automobile accidents, page 30:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see rubber, meet, road.


(Internet slang) Initialism of good to know.


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.


Kilroy was here

(military, c. 1940s) Inserted in the manner of graffiti in many remote and difficult-to-access locations to mark the presence of American workers or military personnel.

(meme, late 20th c., non-military) Graffiti scrawled by random anglophones in random locations, with no associations or connotations

meme; late 20th c.; non-military; meme; late 20th c.; non-military


that's the ticket

Ellipsis of that's the ticket for soup, from the 1820s.

I'll admit, I like how you kick it / Now you're talkin' baby, that's the ticket

1992, “I Got a Man”, in The Skills Dat Pay Da Bills, performed by Positive K:

(colloquial, idiomatic) That's just right; that's just what is needed.


AFAICS

(chiefly Internet slang) Initialism of as far as I can see.


I'll see you and raise you

I'll see your five and raise you ten.

I'll see your bet and raise you one thousand.

I'll see your $20 and raise you $200.

Used to accept (or call) a bet, and at the same time raise the stakes.

I'll see your defective gallbladder and raise you one heart murmur and a kidney stone.

Well, sir, I'll see your four months in Vietnam and raise you the twenty years I spent serving as an Air Force pilot flying in conflicts as far-ranging as Grenada, Somalia, Bosnia, and Haiti.

I'll see your gigabyte and raise you a terabyte.

More generally, used when someone produces or reveals something. One says this to announce they will answer by producing or revealing something of their own, usually greater in significance.


MTFBWY

may the Force be with you
may the Force be with you#English

(text messaging) Initialism of may the Force be with you.


in all one's glory

But, little by little, the blackness wanes into gray, the gray warms into crimson; long streaks of light shoot across the brightening sky, while the morning mists roll off like the smoke of a battle; till at last up rises the sun in all his glory, revealing the bare undulating moor with its thin herbge, the bold rocky ridge that bounds it to the right, the great dome of the Mount of Temptation in the background, and far away to the front, the long narrow line of grayish-white that marks the shore of the still hidden Dead Sea.

1872, William Chambers, Robert Chambers, Chamber's Journal of Popular Literature, Science and Arts, page 163:

"We are told,” says Professor Balfour, “that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these lilies.

1874, Picturesque Illustrations of the Bible, page 61:

The North American Indian brave on the war path was as vain of his war paint and aureole of feathers as Beau Brummell in all his glory was vain of his clothes and his wig.

1952, Nagendranath Gupta, Why India Lives, page 86:

True, the cowboy still remained, dressed in all his glory when he came off the range or hit town at the end of the long trail.

1961, Pauline Arnold, Percival White, Clothes and Cloth: America's Apparel Business, page 25:

(literal) In full splendour and power (e.g. of a deity or monarch).

She quickly dressed for fear that someone would walk through the shower door and see her in all her glory.

The Olympic athlete wore no clothes, and those of us who have gone to the Eisenhower Theater remember that out in front on the mezzanine floor is the statue of the Greek god that was rescued from the depths of the ocean, and he's out there in all his glory in the nude.

1990, Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1991, page 387:

She noticed R.D. passing by a few times, wearing less clothing each time until he was down to the sweats. She hadn't worried until his shirt came off. Then he slipped behind a pillar and came out in all his glory, ready to leap into the Bosporus, I assume.

2010, Dermot Meagher, Judge Sentences: Tales from the Bench, page 110:

Alena asked, wanting him to strip naked and see him standing in all his glory under the hot afternoon sun, but thinking of Raven and modesty's sake perhaps it was best if Ares should find some type of bathing trunks.

2011, Lisa Beth Darling, Child of War-A God Is Born, page 157:

'You said it,' she repeated, stepping out of her dress and standing before him in all her glory–naked except for a thin diamond chain around her waist, a rhinestone encrusted thong and Jimmy Choo stilettos.

2012, Jackie Collins, Hollywood Divorces:

In his bedchamber, he kept the portrait of the naked Nell hidden behind a secret panel on which was painted a staid Dutch landscape. By sliding back the panel, Charles could reveal Nell in all her glory.

2015, Don Jordan, Michael Walsh, The King's Bed: Sex, Power and the Court of Charles II:

(informal, idiomatic, euphemistic) Completely naked.


heads will roll

From the imagery of a head rolling on the ground when a person is decapitated as punishment for a crime.

If this project isn't completed on time, heads will roll.

(idiomatic) Some people will be fired for incompetence.

人頭落地 /人头落地

some people will be fired for incompetence


omg

(chiefly Internet, slang) Alternative form of OMG:

(chiefly Internet, slang) Oh my goodness.

Alternative form of OMG:
Oh my goodness.


de die ad diem

Learned borrowing from Latin dē diē ad diem.


how can you sleep at night

A rhetorical question, used to tell someone that they should feel guilty about something.


them's the facts

The boy was left with Bob Yancy mainly because nobody else would take him. Them's the facts. Now go on!

1911, Vaughan Kester, “Law at Balaam's Cross-roads”, in The Prodigal Judge, Indianapolis, Ind.: Bobbs-Merrill Company, OCLC 284963; republished Fairfield, Ind.: 1st World Library Literary Society, 2006, ISBN 978-1-4218-1813-9, page 44

‘Them’s the facts!’ said Brown, taking little trouble to hide his contempt for anyone so stupid as not to understand. ‘The orficers were killed. Couldn’t see it with me own glims ’cos I couldn’t be everywhere at once. But they was dead all right.’

1965, Dudley Pope, Ramage, a Novel, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, →OCLC:

I know you're worn out. I am too. It's too damn hot and I've forgotten what fresh water tastes like. Them's the facts. But let's just make it easy on ourselves and get this thing done and then we'll all get on back to the beach and off to the islands of nooky-nooky.

2007, Homer Hickam, The Far Reaches: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, →ISBN, page 83:

(idiomatic, colloquial) Those are the facts, that's the truth, that's how it is.


wyd

(Internet slang, text messaging) Alternative letter-case form of WYD.


CWO

(business) Initialism of cash with order: cash must be paid when placing an order.


duces tecum

Learned borrowing from Latin duces tecum, from duces (“you will lead, you will guide”) + tecum (“with you”).


ILY

Alternative form: ily

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of I love you.


ROFLMFAO

/ˌɑɹˌoʊˌɛfˌɛlˌɛmˌɛfˌeɪˌoʊ/

/ˌɹɑːfl̩məˈfaʊ/

(Internet slang, text messaging, vulgar) Initialism of rolling on the floor laughing my fucking ass/arse off.


because you touch yourself at night

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-because you touch yourself at night.wav

Young Peter: Why did all the dinosaurs die out?
Museum Guide: Because you touch yourself at night.

2000, Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman, Family Guy (TV series), "Wasted Talent"

>I'm sure I will sound like a giant newbie(because I am), but why does Fox
>hate futurama so much?
Because you touch yourself at night.

2003 Mar. 1, Rev Bleech_, "Fox" in alt.tv.futurama

2019, Demons Rising (paperback), Dutch Van Alstin
[Tophat asks with a smirk,] "Why did you name him Xavier Ignacious?"
"Because you touch yourself at night, asshole," Solomon says.

(vulgar, humorous) Used to deflect a request for a reason.


OWTTE

For one mark, candidates should state that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light (OWTTE).

or words to that effect
or words to that effect#English

(education) Initialism of or words to that effect, used in academic rubrics.


say what

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


IDC

Alternative form: idc

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of I don't care.


AFAICR

(chiefly Internet slang) Initialism of as far as I can recall/remember.


one strike and you're out

The training was intense and they had a strict one-strike-and-you're-out policy when it came to sleeping in.

If one fails, one will not be given a second chance.


say it, don't spray it

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-say it, don't spray it.wav

The three-year-old I babysit always spits on me when talking. I know he doesn't mean it, but telling him "say it, don't spray it" just doesn't work.

Don't release saliva when you're talking.


first things first

There is a sound common-sense maxim, frequently heard among the wise and prudent of this world—First things first, […]

1830, Christian Observer, On Prophetic Speculation:

“First things first,” said Sir Richmond. “If we set about getting fuel sanely, if we do it as the deliberate, co-operative act of the whole species, then it follows that we shall look very closely into the use that is being made of it.”

1922, H. G. Wells, chapter 4, in The Secret Places of the Heart:

Judging by the polls—which still favor Clinton and his mantra of “first things first” (Medicare and education)—the public senses it too.

1999 July 23, Frank Pellegrini, “House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty”, in Time, archived from the original on 2009-04-30:

First things first, you need the right tools.

2007 October 21, Jenni Muir, “Essentials for a wannabe chef—sugar, cream, mouse”, in Sunday Times, UK:

Let's deal with matters of highest priority first; let's deal with matters in logical sequence.

重要的事情先來 /重要的事情先来

let's deal with matters of highest priority first


kys

Alternative forms: KYS, keys

Person 1: apple juice is gross
Person 2: apple juice is so good kys hater

(Internet slang, text messaging, offensive) Initialism of kill yourself.


idk

Alternative forms: IDK, I.D.K.

(Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of I don't know.


ATKT

(education) Initialism of allowed to keep term.


jk

Alternative spelling of JK (“just kidding”).


CMIIW

correct me if I'm wrong
correct me if I'm wrong#English

(chiefly Internet slang) Initialism of correct me if I'm wrong.


I stand corrected

The Battle of Hastings was fought in 1055.
No it wasn’t! Look in the textbook!
Oh, sorry. I stand corrected—it was fought in 1066.


ctn

(Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of can't talk now.


the boot is on the other foot

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-the boot is on the other foot.wav

The appointment of Huw Merriman as Minister for Rail and HS2 means the boot is on the other foot for the former chairman of the influential House of Commons Transport Select Committee (TSC).

2022 November 16, Mel Holley, “Network News: Settling rail disputes the priority for new Rail Minister”, in RAIL, number 970, page 10:

the shoe is on the other foot
the shoe is on the other foot#English

Alternative form of the shoe is on the other foot.


I came, I saw, I conquered

Calque of Latin vēnī, vīdī, vīcī (“I came, I saw, I conquered”).

cal

I have gained a total and swift victory.

我来つ、我見つ、我勝ちつ

われきつ、われみつ、われかちつ, ware kitsu, ware mitsu, ware kachitsu

prišĭlŭ esmĭ, uzĭrělŭ esmĭ, pobědilŭ esmĭ

пришьлъ есмь, оузьрѣлъ есмь, побѣдилъ есмь

prišĭla esmĭ, uzĭrěla esmĭ, pobědila esmĭ

пришьла есмь, оузьрѣла есмь, побѣдила есмь


talk of the devil

speak of the devil
speak of the devil#English

(idiomatic) Alternative form of speak of the devil.


speak of the devil and he shall appear

speak of the devil and he appears (alternative)

En-au-speak of the devil and he shall appear.ogg


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.


one country, two systems

Coined by Chinese politician and paramount leader from 1978 to 1989 Deng Xiaoping in 1982 as part of the Red China proposal to reunify Taiwan. Calque of Chinese 一國兩制 /一国两制 (yī guó liǎng zhì).

cal

The principle of “one country, two systems” was first proposed by Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s as way to reconcile the communist mainland with historically Chinese territories—Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau—that had capitalist economies.

2017 June 29, “Has “one country, two systems” been a success for Hong Kong?”, in The Economist, →ISSN:

Policy for the reunification of China as one country, but with areas like Hong Kong and Taiwan with separate economic and political systems.

一國兩制 /一国两制

slogan for the reunification of China as one country


INBD

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of it's no big deal.


says who

(colloquial) Who says so; on whose authority?


I know you are but what am I?

I know you are but what am I (canonical)
I know you are, but what am I (alternative)

Uncertain, but dates back at least to the June 15th, 1957 issue of The New Yorker (Vol. 33 No. 17, page 23). In "The Talk of the Town", which was a collaborative effort by the magazine's staff writers: "INTERROGATIVE WISP FOUND IN GUTTER OF MACDOUGAL STREET: 'I know you are but what am I?'" The phrase is often attributed to Pee-Wee Herman.

I know you are but what am I? Jeannie would say out loud, whenever I mouthed a name at her.

At this point Johnny changes tactics and hollers, "I know you are, but what am I?" and the voice echoes, "I know you are, but what am I?"

2003, Mark E. Jones, Echoes of Heaven, page 7:

So when Mr. Macchia states that people who collect state quarters are fools, my son says I should reply, "I know you are, but what am I?"

2005, American Numismatic Association, The Numismatist, page 14:

(rhetorical question, colloquial, childish) Assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party, and not of the person using the phrase. Usually considered to be a playground taunt.

assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party

kdo to říká ten to je, tomu se to rýmuje


nighty night

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-nighty night.wav

(colloquial, usually childish) Good night.


dba

His company is "Simon Enterprises, Inc. (2007)", dba "Simon's Party Spot".

(business) Initialism of doing business as: used to indicate the public alias of a business legally constituted under a different name.


nighty

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-nighty.wav

(childish) Good night. Abbreviation of nighty night.


nighty-night

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-nighty-night.wav

(colloquial, usually childish) Alternative spelling of nighty night.


LWYL

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of laugh with you later, used as a sign-off.


BTDT

been there, done that
been there, done that#English


one should be so lucky

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-one should be so lucky.wav

Calque of Yiddish מען זאָל זיין אזוי מזלדיק (men zol zeyn azoy mazldik, “one should be so lucky”)

calque

מען זאָל זיין אזוי מזלדיק

So now I'm the Beverly Sills of Broadway, right? Hah! I should be so lucky!

1970, The New York Times Biographical Service, New York Times & Arno Press, page 660:

I laugh uncontrollably when I meet women who say, "What if we get equal rights; we'll all be drafted!" My reply is, "You should be so lucky." The male-dominated military are not about to open their last sanctuary to 51 percent of the population.

1971, Equal Rights for Men and Women 1971: Hearings, Ninety-second Congress, First Session, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 131:

I play my heart out. To have me on his team, he should be so lucky. That's right. When I get chosen, I give everything.

1983, Larry Ketron, Asian Shade, Dramatists Play Service, page 37:

"You take pictures in here and you're liable to get a rat in one of them!" "I should be so lucky. I've been trying for years to get a picture of a rat at the Intervale Jewish Center without any luck. They refuse to pose."

1988, Jack Kugelmass, editor, Between Two Worlds, Cornell University Press, page 311:

(informal, sarcastic) It is highly doubtful: indicating that something is not likely to happen to the person specified.

(ugyan/vajon) mikor lesz/van neked olyan/akkora szerencséd?


DNQ

(science fiction fandom) Initialism of do not quote.


IDM

"IDM" in general conversations is the abbreviated form of "I don't mind." It is a part of the lingo of popular networking applications like Snapchat, Whatsapp, or Instagram.

[2022 February 2, Haripriya, “What does IDM mean on Snapchat and How to use it”, in Nerds Chalk:

While it isn't confirmed which brand of honey supplement the woman used, viewers were taken aback at the woman's brazen approach to get her partner to last longer. "idm if she made a joke or not it’s still weird asf to put something in somebody else’s drink without them knowing," one user commented.

2022 May 8, Gisselle Hernandez, “A woman made a joke about slipping her boyfriend a supplement to make him last longer in bed, sparking a debate on consent”, in Daily Dot:

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of I don't mind.


TBF

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of to be fair.


GBTW

(Internet slang) Initialism of get back to work.


ITYM

(Internet slang) Initialism of I think/thought you mean/meant.


best of

A rubber consists of the best of three games, unless one side wins the first two games.

1911, Hugh Chisholm, The encyclopædia britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and ...:

The attainment of a majority of wins in (an odd-numbered series of games).

He was listening to The Best of the Pink Floyd, smoking a joint.

The marketed-as-best works of (a particular artist) in compilation.


story of my life

I asked the new girl at work to go out for a meal — and she got off with the waiter. That's the story of my life!

Used to ruefully indicate that a previously described incident (often a mishap) typically tends to be experienced by the speaker.


read my lips

Read my lips: no new taxes

Read my lips. Star Trek is retarded. It's retarded.

2016, Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea, spoken by Joel (Oscar Wahlberg):

Used to emphasize a following statement.


mark my words

Mrs. Bowls cautioned her lodger against venturing into the lion's den, "wherein you will rue it, Miss B., mark my words, and as sure as my name is Bowls."

1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter XL, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:

(idiomatic) Listen to me; used before or after a statement one wishes to emphasize, especially a prediction.


ily

Alternative form: ILY

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of I love you.


ears are burning

His ears are burning.

(idiomatic, colloquial) Being the topic of discussion in another place; or sensing that this is happening.


BIG

(business) Abbreviation of business is a game.


BOMDAS

(mathematics, mnemonic) An acronym for arithmetic order of operations, with B first and AS last: Brackets, then order or 'of' in some curricula, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction.


BODMAS

order of precedence
order of precedence#English

(mathematics, mnemonic) An acronym for the arithmetic order of precedence, with the highest precedence first: Brackets, order, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction.


BEDMAS

(mathematics, mnemonic) An acronym for arithmetic order of precedence, with B first and AS last: Brackets, exponents, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction.


your wish is my command

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-your wish is my command.wav

"Your Highness's wish is my command," says Sir Joshua suavely, for he is intensely curious as to the contents of the document.

1900 March 31, The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, NSW, page 6, column 4:

(often humorous) Whatever you say you wish for I will treat as a command and do straight away.

zure nahiak aginduak dira niretzat

what you wish for I will effect as if it were a command

слу́шаю и повину́юсь (slúšaju i povinújusʹ, literally “I listen and obey”)

твоё жела́ние — для меня́ зако́н (tvojó želánije — dlja menjá zakón, literally “your wish is a law for me”)


ROFLOL

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of Rolling on the floor laughing out loud.


free alongside ship

(Incoterm) A situation in which the seller pays for transportation to the port, and the buyer pays for the rest of the transportation.


Delivered Ex Quay

(Incoterm) The seller pays for all transportation and insurance until the goods have been unloaded at the port of destination.


Delivered Ex Ship

(Incoterm) The seller pays for all transportation and insurance until the transporting ship has arrived at the port of destination.


there's no such thing as a free lunch

In use since the 1930s. Popularized by the American economist Milton Friedman through the title of a 1975 book, and frequently misattributed to him.

there is no free lunch (alternative)
there is no such thing as a free lunch (alternative)

Nothing is free; even things that appear free often have to be paid for in the end.

беспла́тный сыр быва́ет то́лько в мышело́вке (besplátnyj syr byvájet tólʹko v myšelóvke, literally “free cheese may be only in a mouse-trap”)

немає такої речі, як безкоштовний обід

nemaje takoji reči, jak bezkoštovnyj obid


head

there ain't no such thing as a free lunch

there's no such thing as a free lunch#English

Alternative form of there's no such thing as a free lunch.


mobilia sequuntur personam

Latin mōbilia (“chattels”) + sequuntur (“they follow”) + persōnam (“person”) = “chattels follow the person”.

(law, archaic) Common law doctrine holding that personal property held by a person is governed by the same law that governs that person, so that if a person who is legally domiciled in one jurisdiction dies with property in a second jurisdiction, that property is legally treated as though it were in the first jurisdiction.


ye olde

Pseudo-loan from Middle English, derived from the + old. First attested in 1850.

pseudoloan

I'm not wasting my time going to lectures given by ye olde professor Jones.

Ye Olde Coffee Shoppe

All this time waiting at door. At last young fellow in a white jacket condescended to answer my bell—and asked me to wait some more in the porch. But I didn't see it and walked into ye olde tyme lounge hall, panelled in Elizabethan linen-fold oak made out of chewed paper painted olde shitte colour.

1955, Joyce Cary, Not Honour More, New Directions Publishing, →ISBN, page 98:

Judging from the panicked look and white pallor on Pinky's face, I'd just put him between ye olde rock and ye olde harde place. Not my problem.

2012, Richard Marcinko, Seal Force Alpha, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

The saga of the fugitive nags gripped the nation. All day, #horses was a trending topic on social media, as if this was ye olde days.

2024 April 27, Michael Hogan, “Did five frightened horses bolting through London really mean the end was neigh?”, in The Observer, →ISSN:

Pseudoarchaic form of the old, as to suggest antiquity or old tradition.


I'll say

- Jack's put on a bit of weight recently.
- I'll say!

(idiomatic, colloquial) Used to indicate emphatic agreement


ejusdem generis

From Latin ejusdem generis ("of the same kind").

I would submit to the court that in order to determine the legislature's intent of the final phrase we need to apply the interpretive maxim of ejusdem generis to the sentence that contains the sequence.

Or what relation has debating \ Of church-affairs with bear-baiting? \ A just comparison still is \ Of things ejusdem generis: \ And then what genus rightly doth \ Include, and comprehend them both?

1663, Samuel Butler, Hudibras (poem), London, →OCLC, →OL, Part 1, canto 1, lines 853–858:

Ejusdem Generis: Where general words follow specific words in a statutory enumeration, the general words are construed to embrace only objects similar in nature to those objects enumerated by the preceding specific words. Where the opposite sequence is found, i.e., specific words following general ones, the doctrine is equally applicable, and restricts application of the general term to things that are similar to those enumerated.

1984 [1891], N. J. Singer, C. D. Sands, J. G. Sutherland, Statutes and statutory construction, 4th edition (reference; hardcover), Chicago: Callaghan, revision of Statutes and Statutory Construction by Sutherland, →OCLC, §47.17:

The wording of §1 calls for the application of the maxim ejusdem generis, the statutory canon that "[w]here general words follow specific words in a statutory enumeration, the general words are construed to embrace only objects similar in nature to those objects enumerated by the preceding specific words."

2001 March 21, Anthony M Kennedy, Supreme Court of the United States, Circuit City Stores, Inc. v. Adams, 532 U.S. 105 (United States Reports; 532) (judicial opinion), Washington, DC: Supreme Court, →ISBN, Court's majority opinion, page 114:

(law) A canon of construction holding that when a general term follows a list of particular terms, the general term only applies to things similar to the particular terms. For example, in the list "sun, moon, and other large objects", the phrase "other large objects" only includes celestial bodies, not houses and elephants.


the ball is in someone's court

En-au-the ball is in someone's court.ogg

From tennis, as when the ball is in someone's court it is their turn to play.

have the ball in one's court (alternative)

Well there's not much more I can do, so the ball is in your court now.

Achieving that partnership will require leadership and flexibility. Not just from us, but from our friends, the 27 nations of the EU. And as we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court, but I am optimistic it will receive a positive response.

2017 October 9, Theresa May, 1:05 from the start, in Theresa May's Brexit speech, via The Guardian:

(idiomatic) It is someone's turn to do something; often making a decision.


do you come here often

A common phrase for initiating conversation with a stranger, especially one for seeking romantic involvement.

你經常來這兒嗎？ /你经常来这儿吗？

does not imply the seeking of romantic involvement


it doesn't matter

Audio (US)

I’m afraid I’ve broken your mug. – It doesn’t matter; it was old and I was going to throw it away anyway.

It is not important; do not worry (used to reassure or comfort the person to whom it is said).

𣍐要緊 /𫧃要紧

bōe-iàu-kín / bǒe-iàu-kín / bē-iàu-kín / bōe-á-kín

Maybe we could try fixing this part to the … no, wait, it doesn’t matter.

I withdraw my previous statement (often used if it wasn't heard or understood).


no matter what

I'm going running tomorrow no matter what the weather is doing.

(followed by a phrase) Regardless of, in spite of, whatever.

This project will be finished by July no matter what.

No matter what, it's still a good idea.

(not followed by a phrase) Regardless; in any case; even in adverse circumstances.

nə olursa olsun

under any circumstances, whatever happens


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


come to papa

/ˌkʌm tə ˈpɑːpə/

/ˌkʌm tə ˈpɑːpə/

PIE word
 *ph₂tḗr
From come + to + papa (“familiar or old-fashioned term of address to one’s father”), originally an invitation by a father for his child to come to him; later called out by gamblers when throwing dice to “invite” winning numbers.

Cut loose, let your hair down, honey / Unwind, turn the lights down low / Relax, let's uncork the stopper / Come to papa, come on, let's go

1962 August 30 and September 22 (dates recorded), Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper, “Relax”, in It Happened at the World’s Fair (soundtrack), performed by Elvis Presley, New York, N.Y.: RCA Victor, published 10 April 1963, →OCLC:

(idiomatic, originally US) Used to encourage someone or something to approach, or an event to occur.

tule tänne vaan

used to encourage someone or something to approach, or an event to occur


cross my heart

Shortened form of cross my heart and hope to die

(idiomatic) A declaration that the speaker is telling the truth.


get you

Gary: Ssh. Miss is talking
Debbie: Ooh, get you! Since when have you ever wanted to listen to the teachers?

1996, Stepping Up: four play scripts for the classroom, Jane Lilliard and Mollie Hemens:

When Keanu Reeves falls apart, you just want to hiss "Ooh, get you!"

1998 January 16, “Film: Dancing with the devil”, in The Independent, London, England:

'I know that the thought of travelling with a cashmere wrap makes some people say 'ooh, get you,' Annalisa admits, 'but no one who has ever done it laughs!

2005 September 17, “The 50 Best Ways to Accessorise”, in The Independent, London, England:

(UK) An expression of encouragement, commonly used sarcastically.


nvm

(Internet slang, text messaging) Alternative letter-case form of NVM.


NPO

Near-synonym: parenterally

(medicine) "nil per os" (nothing by mouth - nothing may be eaten or drunk).


look what the cat's dragged in

En-au-look what the cat's dragged in.ogg

From the habit of domestic cats of bringing home the remains of killed animals.

look what the cat dragged in (alternative)
look what the cat drug in (alternative)
look who the cat dragged in (alternative)

Still facing the mirror, he drawled, ‘Look what the cat's dragged in. Where have you been?’ Gabriel rubbed his chin.

2009, Monica Ali, In The Kitchen, Random House, →ISBN, page 526:

“Well, look what the cat drug in, Sam,” says a familiar voice, which comes, of course, from everywhere and nowhere.

2012, Cory Doctorow, Charles Stross, The Rapture of the Nerds, Tor Books, →ISBN, page 283:

‘Well, well, look what the cat's dragged in,’ Gracey said as he moved the thick stump of his neck from side to side and rubbed the back of it with the great towel of his hand. ‘Nice to see you grace us with your presence, Swift. […]’

2012, David Park, The Big Snow, A&C Black, →ISBN:

(idiomatic) Used as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, especially to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.


look what the cat dragged in

look what the cat's dragged in
look what the cat's dragged in#English

Alternative form of look what the cat's dragged in.


NVM

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of never mind.


devil take the hindmost

Devil take the hindmost (alternative)
the Devil take the hindmost (alternative)
the devil take the hindmost (alternative)

What if a toy take um ith heeles now, and they runn all away, and cry the Divell take the hindmoſt.

c. 1608–1610 (date written), Francis Beaumont, Iohn Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies a Bleeding. […], 4th edition, London: […] VV[illiam] J[ones] for Richard Hawkins, […], published 1634, →OCLC, Act V, page 66:

Land Alianable which would bring in the Stock Jobbing Temper, the Devill take the Hindmost.

1742, James Oglethorpe, “Letter to the Honorable Trustees”, in Lucian Lamar Knight, Kenneth Coleman, Milton Ready, editors, The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, volume 23, published 1914:

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
‘Bethankit’ hums.

1786, Robert Burns, Address to a Haggis:

And [we] coldly see the all-conquering valiant Sons of Toil sit enchanted, by the million, in their Poor-Law Bastille, as if this were Nature’s Law;—mumbling to ourselves some vague janglement of Laissez-faire, Supply-and-demand, Cash-payment the one nexus of man to man: Free-trade, Competition, and Devil take the hindmost, our latest Gospel yet preached!

1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “Two Centuries”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book III (The Modern Worker), page 170:

"Oh, don't talk to me about your socialists, I've got no patience with them," she cried. "It only means that another lot of lazy loafers will make a good thing out of the working classes. My motto is, leave me alone; I don't want anyone interfering with me; I'll make the best of a bad job, and the devil take the hindmost."

1915, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter CVIII, in Of Human Bondage, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, →OCLC, page 572:

Choose your hand, try your best. He who wins, wins it all. Devil take the hindmost.

2010, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Love Never Dies, Song nr. 22

An imprecation that everyone should look after their own interests, leaving those who cannot cope to whatever fate befalls them.


I think, therefore I am

Calque of French je pense, donc je suis or perhaps of Latin cōgitō, ergō sum. First written in French by René Descartes, a 17th century French philosopher, in Discourse on the Method (1637) as je pense donc je suis, which he later expressed in Latin in Principles of Philosophy (1644).

I think; therefore, I am (alternative)
I think; therefore I am (alternative)
I think therefore I am (alternative)

(philosophy) I am able to think, therefore I exist. A philosophical proof of existence based on the fact that someone capable of any form of thought necessarily exists.

French language
I think, therefore I am
René Descartes

bi sedgiǰu bayig-a učir-ača orusiǰu bayin-a

ᠪᠢ ᠰᠡᠳᠭᠢᠵᠤ ᠪᠠᠶᠢᠭᠠ ᠤᠴᠢᠷ ᠠᠴᠠ ᠣᠷᠤᠰᠢᠵᠤ ᠪᠠᠶᠢᠨᠠ


I think; therefore I am

I think (canonical)
therefore I am (canonical)

From verse 20 to verse 25 are mentioned a series of Signs or Miracles, which should awaken our souls and lead us to true Reality if we try to understand God. (1) There is our own origin and destiny, which must necessarily be our subjective starting-point: “I think; therefore I am”: no particular exertion of our being is here necessary (xxx. 20).

1938, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur-an: Text, Translation & Commentary, 3rd edition, Lahore: Shaikh Muhammad Ashraf […], footnote 3529, page 1057:

Could it be, we humans, our entire civilization, are the result of a preconceived strategy, plotted by evanescent aliens, about how a conscientious species of living beings should be allowed to discover themselves and to embrace the ability, arriving to the reasonable conclusion: “I think; therefore I am.”

2015, Mark Simkins, “Atlantis 4”, in What the Doormouse Said: Some Tales of a Space Anthropologist, Mustang, Okla.: Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC, →ISBN, page 218:

Only the ones blaring their stereos were not saying, “I think; therefore I am”; rather, according to the priest, “They think they are because they hear.”

2019, Peggy Weber, “Quiet Enough”, in Enough as You Are: Overcoming Self-Doubt and Appreciating the Gift of You, Chicago, Ill.: Loyola Press, →ISBN, page 94:

I think, therefore I am
I think, therefore I am#English

Alternative form of I think, therefore I am.


fools rush in

fools rush in where angels fear to tread#English

Ellipsis of fools rush in where angels fear to tread.


de minimis non curat lex

(law) The law does not concern itself with trifles; expression of the rule that the law will not remedy an injury that is minimal.


take it or leave it

take it, or leave it (alternative uncommon)

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.

tanto faz

not caring about a choice or possibility


PMSL

(Commonwealth, UK, Ireland, Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of pissing myself laughing (used to indicate great amusement).

mean sea level pressure
mean sea level pressure#English

(meteorology, rare) Abbreviation of mean sea level pressure (derived from the notation P_(MSL)).


TIA

thanks in advance
thanks in advance#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of thanks in advance.


ox is in the ditch

An allusion to the urgency and difficulty of extracting an ox from a ditch in which it has become mired.

"The ox is in the ditch," said she, referring to the New Testament excuse for Sabbath work where the need is great, "and Billy must mend this gate if it is Sunday."

1904, Clifton Johnson, Highways and Byways of the South, Macmillan, page 169:

In talking to his staff, Lyndon B. Johnson always announced the onset of catastrophe with the statement: "The ox is in the ditch!"

1987 March 6, George Reedy, “Can the President Still Lead?”, in New York Times, retrieved 2008-11-07:

"It's obvious that the ox is in the ditch big time," said Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. The Postal Service is projecting up to $5 billion in losses over the next two years.

2001 May 15, “Senators seek Postal Service overhaul”, in USA Today, retrieved 2008-11-07:

"You oughtn't to work on the Lord's Day, son," she told Dad both times. Dad's response was always the same. "The ox is in the ditch, Ma."

2006, Fred Harris, Following the Harvest: A Novel, →ISBN, page 71:

(idiomatic, chiefly southern US) This is a big problem; there is unavoidable or demanding work ahead.


could not get elected dogcatcher

/kəd ˌnɒt ɡɛt ɪˌlɛktɪd ˈdɒɡkæt͡ʃə/

/kəd ˌnɑt ɡɛt əˌlɛktɪd ˈdɔɡˌkæt͡ʃəɹ/

En-us-could not get elected dogcatcher.oga

En-au-could not get elected dogcatcher.ogg

Dogcatchers are virtually never elected to their posts; the phrase is hyperbole, using dogcatcher to indicate the most lowly conceivable office.

An insolent Republican newspaper asserts that Mr. [Grover] Cleveland is so unpopular in Washington that he could not be elected dog catcher for the district. This may be true, yet Mr. Cleveland has caught a great many dogs in his day—stealing. His success in that line would naturally make him unpopular with the claims agents and other parasites that throng the capital.

1889 February 18, Chicago Herald, quotee, “Unpopular with rascals”, in The Courier-Journal, volume LXXIV, number 7,355 (New Series), Louisville, Ky.: Louisville Courier-Journal Print. Co., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 4, column 6:

It is a well known fact that the average American town will not elect well educated men to municipal offices if they can help it. A man who wears kid gloves and a plug hat couldn't be elected dog catcher in any town in Oklahoma. That is why the affirmative wish the city manager to be elected by a commission.

1918 October 15, “The City Manager Plan. [Condenst Paragrafs.]”, in J. W. Scroogs, editor, University of Oklahoma Bulletin (New Series; no. 156; University Extension Series; no. 43), Norman, Okla.: University of Oklahoma, →OCLC, page 60:

Men like him couldn't get elected dogcatcher. He was a natural lieutenant, not a leader, and it was a fact he accepted with neither bitterness nor regret.

2006 October, credited to Robert Ludlum, chapter 15, in The Bancroft Strategy, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press, →ISBN, page 264:

"She [Christine O'Donnell]'s not a viable candidate for any office in the state of Delaware," said the state party chairman, Tom Ross, who is backing [Mike] Castle. "She could not be elected dog catcher."

2010 September 12, Philip Eliot, “GOP Tries to Take Out Tea Party-backed Candidate”, in Yahoo! News, archived from the original on 2010-09-22:

[Donald] Trump, who has a glancing relationship with the truth and speaks English only as a second language, has hurled his insults at [Bob] Corker (whom he said couldn't get elected dog-catcher in his home state) and at [John] McCain – even as he journeyed to Capitol Hill to try to build support for tax reform.

2017 October 25, John L. Micek, “Trump just keeps digging deeper and deeper”, in The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.: Gannett, →ISSN, →OCLC:

(idiomatic, chiefly US, politics, hyperbolic) Said of someone, particularly a politician, who is extremely unpopular.

ei äänestäisi kukaan

said of someone, particularly a politician, who is extremely unpopular


not to put too fine a point on it

en-au-not to put too fine a point on it.ogg

A reference to the fact that the speaker is about to say something blunt rather than fine (that is, delicate or subtle).

My little woman is at present in—not to put too fine a point on it—in a pious state, or in what she considers such, and attends the Evening Exertions (which is the name they go by) of a reverend party of the name of Chadband.

1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, “Mr. Bucket”, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC, page 217:

En route, to his taciturn, and, not to put too fine a point on it, not yet perfectly sober companion, Mr Bloom, who at all events, was in complete possession of his faculties, never more so, in fact disgustingly sober, spoke a word of caution re the dangers of nighttown, women of ill fame and swell mobsmen, […]

1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 16: Eumaeus]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC, part III [Nostos], page 570:

You explain slowly and clearly that you are doing him the honour of not beating about the bush […] Well, you will end up – not to put too fine a point on it (you lower your voice) – having sex. And while you are sure that sex would be very nice, the prognosis for a future between the two of you is not good.

2000, Amy Jenkins, chapter 4, in Honeymoon, London: Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN; republished as Honeymoon (Flame), London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2001, →ISBN, page 39:

(idiomatic) Used to apologize for a possibly impolite statement one is making; to put it bluntly; to express it in plain terms.

anteeksi ilmaisuni

used to apologize for a possibly impolite statement


but me no buts

Coined in 1709 by Susanna Centlivre in the play The Busie Body.

Sir Fran. But me no Buts Be gone, Sir: Dare to ask me for Money agen Refuse Forty Thousand Pound! Out of my Doors, I say, without reply.

1709, Susanna Centlivre, The Busie Body:

VVor[thy]. But Sir— / Pol[itick]. But me no buts—vvhat can be the Reaſon of all this vvarlike Preparation, vvhich all our Nevvs-papers have informed us of.

1730, [Henry Fielding], Rape upon Rape; or, The Justice Caught in His Own Trap. A Comedy. […], London: […] J. Wat[t]s, […], →OCLC, Act II, scene xi, page 28:

“I heartily wish I could, but”–– / “Nay, but me no buts—I have set my heart upon it.” / “I am greatly obliged, my dear sir, but”––

1816, [Walter Scott], chapter XI, in The Antiquary. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 236:

Nay, but me no buts, offer me no objections.

1889, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, New York, N.Y.: Charles L. Webster & Company, →OCLC:

"No," said Yapp. "But—" ¶"But me no buts, sir. We can take it that the act of adultery is established.

1980, Tom Sharpe, Ancestral Vices, →ISBN, page 312:

Jim Hacker: But me no buts, Bernard. Shakespeare. / Bernard Woolley: Oh no, Prime Minister. ‘But me no buts’ is circa 1820. Mrs Centlivre used the phrase in 1708, but actually it was Scott’s employment of it in ‘The Antiquary’ in 1816 which made it fashionable.

1982, “The Key”, in Yes, Prime Minister:

‘Yes, but—’ / ‘But me no buts.’ Tom glowered at him. ‘Who’s the captain of this crew, anyway?’

2003, Wilbur Smith, Monsoon, →ISBN, page 1:

Used to cut off objections or qualifications.

ei mitään muttia

used to cut off objections or qualifications


tomayto, tomahto

George Gershwin
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

Uses the American English and British English pronunciations of the word tomato. Allusion to George Gershwin's song "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off": "You like tomato (/təˈmeɪtə/) and I like tomato (/təˈmɑːtə/)".

tomato, tomato (alternative)
tomayto tomahto (alternative)
potayto, potahto (alternative)

(idiomatic) Used to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard.

distinction without a difference#English

(idiomatic) Used to dismissively suggest that something is a distinction without a difference.

не по врат, а по шия

to suggest a distinction without a difference

čy v kamiń holovoju, čy kamenem u holovu

чи в камінь головою, чи каменем у голову

"Tomayto, tomahto," she said, and Taylor laughed. So they ended on a good note.

2009, N. B. Grace, Disney High School Musical: #1: Stories from East High Bind Up #1, Disney Press, →ISBN, page 78:

“I withheld truth, but I did not lie.” “Tomayto, tomahto.”

2014, C.E. Murphy, Shaman Rises, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 282:

“Okay, then, how about Michael?” “Tomayto, tomahto.” Kacie sighed in disappointment.

2017, Cheryl Etchison, From the Start: An American Valor Novel, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 15:

(idiomatic) Used to express two similar things being exactly the same, when they are slightly different.


TRDMF

(Internet slang) Initialism of tears running down my face.


you welcome

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-you welcome.wav

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling

(African-American Vernacular) Pronunciation spelling of you're welcome.


I told you so

told you so (alternative)
told you (alternative)
I told you (alternative)

1918 September–November, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Land That Time Forgot”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp., →OCLC; republished as chapter IV, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, (please specify |part=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Experimenter Publishing, 1927, →OCLC:

For the left, the seismic week delivered an “I told you so” years in the making.

2023 April 1, Jonathan Weisman, “Trump and Fox News, Twin Titans of Politics, Hit With Back-to-Back Rebukes”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

When you wake up next to him in the middle of the night
With your head in your hands, you're nothing more than his wife
And when you think about me, all of those years ago
You're standing face to face with "I told you so"

2024 April 5, Chappell Roan, Justin Tranter, Dan Nigro, “Good Luck, Babe!”performed by Chappell Roan:

(informal, ironic) Used to remind someone that they were already warned by the speaker or writer that a certain event would happen.


n.d.

(in bibliographies) Abbreviation of no date.

(academia) Initialism of no data (used to indicate where information was not available, especially in tables, rather than leaving a blank).


gag me with a spoon

"Gag me with a spoon," I said. He scratched his head.

1999, Tamar Myers, Baroque and Desperate: A Den of Antiquity Mystery:

"Whatever!" I pretend to stick my finger in my mouth and make a choking sound of mock disgust at Beth's compliment. "Like gag me with a spoon!" I laugh.


who's 'she', the cat's mother

Who's 'she' (canonical)
the cat's mother (canonical)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-who's 'she', the cat's mother.wav

"She's coming on the trip with us too!"

"Who's 'she', the cat's mother?"

Sorry, Gran is coming with us too.

(idiomatic, somewhat dated, British, Ireland, New England) A rebuke especially directed towards children for having referred to a woman in the nominative case as "she", instead of by her name or an appropriately respectful title.


I'm all right, Jack

From my vantage point at the large, shiny bar in the centre of the room, I could swear I spotted Harriet Harman with her trade unionist husband "I'm all right, Jack" Dromey.

2008 November 6, Bill Blanko, “Party politics”, in The Guardian:

(British) Indicates a selfish attitude, not worried about any problems one's friends and neighbours might have. Often associated with strikes and other trade union industrial actions.


check is in the mail

Your check is in the mail. I gave it to my son to mail yesterday. I hope he remembered.

The reply was usually either a story about financial problems, or the "check is in the mail" dodge.

It was the sure-fire sign of a business — or an individual — in financial distress: The old check-is-in-the-mail ploy.

1992, Donald L. Barlett with James B. Steele, America: What Went Wrong?, page 155:

The person with whom you speak may be well schooled in the "check is in the mail" run-around.

1997, Jeff Davidson, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Assertiveness, page 306:

(idiomatic, often ironic) A common excuse used by debtors to put off creditors.


more like it

That's more like it!

“You could have some champagne cider if you like. It's a different taste, nice sort of drink,” he suggested. David sipped some: now this was more like it. Sweet and fizzy, very nice indeed.


TCS

(food science) Initialism of time/temperature control for safety.