YEKIOYD

Acronym of you either know it or you don't.

acronym

(quizzing) An answer that is not guessable or able to be figured out or intuited from the question.


okey dokey, artichokey

okey-dokey extended with a further arbitrary rhyme.


that'll teach someone

A big red-faced man next to Jeremy was crying over and over again: "That'll teach him to meddle with our women." "That'll teach him to meddle with our women."

1992, Hugh Walpole, Jeremy and the Ruffians:

Used after someone has done something bad and has got punished for it, to learn from their mistake


that'll learn someone

that'll teach someone
that'll teach someone#English

Alternative form of that'll teach someone.


never a dull moment

There is never a dull moment in the boat while girls are towing it.

1889, Jerome K. Jerome, chapter 9, in Three Men in a Boat […] :

Never a dull moment in this novel; never, indeed, a moment when there was not some anxious situation to face, some formidable difficulty to overcome.

1907, John F. Macdonald, “French Life and the French Stage”, in The Fortnightly, volume 81, Chapman and Hall, page 168:

(informal) There is always something interesting happening; there is no chance of boredom.


that ever walked on two legs

Oh, it didn’t surprise me in the least to hear this, and at the same time to be told that Fresleven was the gentlest, quietest creature that ever walked on two legs.

1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 198:


I'm not going to lie

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(colloquial) Implying that one is willing to to be honest, or to tell the truth.


I am rubber, you are glue

I'm rubber, you're glue
I'm rubber, you're glue#English

Alternative form of I'm rubber, you're glue.


A for effort

/ˈeɪ fə ˈɛfət/

/ˈeɪ fəɹ ˈɛfɚt/

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A reference to how school teachers may unofficially grade a student's effort as a consolation prize, where A is the highest grade of the traditional A-F grading.

(humorous, often sarcastic) Although the attempted action failed, the effort of the attempt was admirable.


carry me out

(UK, informal) Exclamation of pretended astonishment on hearing news too good to be true, or a story too marvellous to be believed.


carry me out and bury me decently

(archaic) Alternative form of carry me out (“exclamation of pretended astonishment”).


never trust me

Pet[ruchio]. Now for my life Hortentio feares his Widow.
Wid[ow]. Then neuer truſt me if I be affeard.

c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 227, column 2:

Never trust me if I had not a suspicion from the first that 'twas that ill-looked fellow B— who made that story Mr. D— told you.

1888, Letters from Dorothy Osborne to Sir William Temple, 1652-1654:

(UK, slang, obsolete) Used in oaths, suggesting that one should never be trusted again if what one says now is not true.


change a word, get a third

(music industry, colloquial) Making very minor alterations to a song's lyrics can entitle a person to one third of the royalty payments.


BYF

(Internet slang) Initialism of before you follow.


like strange bulldogs

strange is used with the sense of unfamiliar, unacquainted.

When I think of those folks, living in one room and getting along like a couple of strange bulldogs, I feel like stringing with the man who says that we get our hell on this earth sometimes.

1916 March 11, Charles E. Van Loan, “His Folks”, in Saturday Evening Post:

"Some disagreement," admitted Harmon, grinning. "These up-State farmers and I love each other like a couple of strange bulldogs. Still—"

1918, Holworthy Hall, The Man Nobody Knew:

These three got along like strange bulldogs, due to the fact that they were all captains and no privates when the three of them were together.

1925, The First Yale Unit: A Story of Naval Aviation, 1916-1919:

(simile, dated, of two or more people) Wary and unfriendly; on the verge of a fight.


don't @ me

In reference to the ability to type a user's handle after an @ (at) sign on social media in order to direct a message at them, especially an angry response.

The Star Wars prequels were great, don't @ me.

(social media) A demand for no debate regarding a controversial statement.


asked and answered

(US, law) A type of objection in which the same attorney continues to ask the same question but has already received an answer.


sonova

"Well , I'll be a sonova bee ! " He turned a scowling face towards me.

1940, Florence Ruth Howard, Green Entry, page 270:

Then the cop brought his club down and caught the steward on the forehead. “Kill that sonova bitch !”

1952, Robert V. Williams, The Hard Way, page 45:

Between you, me and de Commish, I never t'ought you'd make it, ya ole sonova gun.

1988, Hanoch Teller, Above the B ottom Line: Stories and Advice on Integrity, page 53:

“You'll have to kill me first, you sonova whore,” she snarled in Spanish.

2000, Chris R. Jamison, The Chesler Legacy, page 49:


bellows to mend

This constitutes the process of respiration or breathing, and on its due performance will chiefly depend the health and usefulness of the animal. A horse calling “bellows-to-mend” is fit for little.

1859, James Crawford Ledlie Carson, The Form of the Horse, page 25:

A pause now took place, and some mutual feinting and dodging, it being 'bellows to mend' on each side.

1897, R. G. Allanson-Winn, Bertram Fletcher Robinson, Boxing, page 72:


one's name is mud

His name will be mud once people learn the truth about why he was fired.

My name is Mud / Not to be confused with Bill, or Jack, or Pete, or Dennis / My name is Mud, it's always been / 'Cause I'm the most boring sonsabitch you've ever seen / I dress in blue, yes, navy blue from head to toe / I'm rather drab, except my patent shoes / I make 'em shine, well, most the time

1993, “My Name is Mud”, performed by Primus:

Thanks to disastrously unpopular attempts by the likes of BuzzFeed to create AI-assisted content, its name is mud in the media industry.

2023 November 21, Zing Tsjeng, “AI is changing the world – and I’ve just eaten the underwhelming pasta that proves it”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(informal, idiomatic) One is unpopular, in disgrace or embroiled in scandal; one's reputation is tarnished.


ECRWSS

(postal) Abbreviation of Enhanced (Extended) Carrier Route Walking Sequence Saturation.


ECRLOT

(postal) Abbreviation of Enhanced Carrier Route Line of Travel.


ECRWSH

(postal) Abbreviation of Enhanced Carrier Route Walk Sequence High-Density.


your head

Compare Chinese 你個頭 /你个头 (nǐ gè tóu), Malay kepala otak kau.

Working after school hours part of 'service'? Your head lah.

young father: […] If things work out this time, I tell you, you are going to live like a queen. […]
young mother: […] Queen your head.

2009, Jean Tay, Boom, Epigram Books, →ISBN, Act I, scene xvii, page 64:

(Singlish, Manglish) My foot, my ass (a dismissive response to someone's remark)


huckleberry above one's persimmon

a huckleberry above one's persimmon (canonical)

[…] still it is a huckleberry above my persimmon to cipher out how it is with six months' schooling only […]

1837, Davy Crockett, Col. Crockett's Exploits and Adventures in Texas, page 1:

(US, idiomatic) Something beyond one's power or ability.


dots, not feathers

From the stereotypes that people from India wear the Hindu bindi (dot) on their forehead, while Native Americans wear feathered headpieces.

Rishabh is Indian (dots, not feathers).

(slang) Expresses that a person described as "Indian" is from the country of India, as opposed to being of Native American (American Indian) background.


humanly possible

as fast as humanly possible

We'll do anything humanly possible to avoid the ticket.

Capable of being done by a human; within the limits of human abilities.


roll tide

From the University of Alabama's fight song Yea Alabama, which ends in the words “Go, roll to victory, Hit your stride, You're Dixie's football pride, Crimson Tide! [Roll Tide, Roll Tide!]”.

University of Alabama
w:University of Alabama

An all-purpose term of enthusiasm in support of the University of Alabama football team.


we live in a society

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A truncation of longer phrases of the form e.g. "we live in a society in which X", where X is typically some form of hypocrisy or absurdity. In image macros, this is often paired with a picture of The Joker, a comic book character.

(Internet slang, humorous) the mores of society are irrational, hypocritical or otherwise flawed


feet dry

The aircraft headed “feet-dry” by the pilot's judicious use of rudders and afterburners.

Feet wet: Fighter direction brevity code used to report that a plane had left land ("feet dry") and was now over water.

1994, Paul T. Gillcrist, Tomcat!: The Grumman F-14 Story, page 196:


feet wet

Three minutes later, at 2015, Captain Brindel entered the CIC and was notified of TN 2202 “feet wet” (aviation terminology meaning that an aircraft is over water) in the northern Persian Gulf and heading south.

1997, Jeffrey L. Levinson, Randy L. Edwards, Missile Inbound: The Attack on the Stark in the Persian Gulf, page 71:

[…] when you'd crossed the coastline after departing the ship Roger Klondike twelve dash four, understand flight of three. Feet wet.

2008, David A. Ballentine, Gunbird Driver: A Marine Huey Pilot's War in Vietnam, page 56:


IDFK

(Internet slang, text messaging, vulgar) Initialism of I don't fucking know.


Jesus, take the wheel

From the 2005 song of the same name by Carrie Underwood.

A wish for Jesus Christ to take control of one's life or situation.


pin a rose on your nose

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-pin a rose on your nose.wav

Suggesting the idea of an award in the form of a rosette.

"Yes. Not only have you learned how to move objects around, you've discovered how electricity works. Pin a rose on your nose," I huff, mostly to cover my surprise.

"What in the hell is wrong with my offer? Any woman within a hundred miles would jump at the chance to become my wife."
She stared at him, incredulous. "Well, pin a rose on your nose, you cocky bastard. […]

1996, Jane Bonander, Winter Heart, page 117:

(humorous) Sarcastically suggesting that the addressee deserves a prize.


I'll get my coat

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From a recurring sketch in British 1990s comedy series The Fast Show, in which a character embarrasses himself and announces "I'll get my coat" before departing.

(Internet slang, UK, humorous) An admission that one has embarrassed oneself and should leave.


if only the tsar knew

A phrase attributed to Russian peasants who suffered mistreatment in the tsarist era. Peasants in the tsarist era often attributed their misfortunes to the aristocracy and imperial administration, believing the tsar did not know of injustices being committed and, if he did, would immediately correct them. Compare good tsar, bad boyars and German wenn das der Führer wüsste.

(chiefly sarcastic) If only somebody at the top of an abusive hierarchy were aware of the abuses, they would take action to stop them.


if only the czar knew

if only the tsar knew
if only the tsar knew#English

Alternative form of if only the tsar knew.


no word of a lie

(chiefly Ireland) No falsehood at all; the absolute truth.


not a word of a lie

no word of a lie
no word of a lie#English


the trash takes itself out

A muscle jerked along her jawline, and then she was moving, winding her way out the doublewide gym doors.
“Thankfully, the trash has taken itself out.”
Mike looked from Elizabeth's stunned expression to Kevin Hunt's smirk.

People commit suicide there just from being kept for a few days. The idea amuses me: trash taking itself out is a goddamn public service. Weak people are terrified of the place.

2020, Ivy Wonder, Endgame: A Dark Mafia Romance:

(informal, Canada, US) An undesirable person leaves.


who whom

He noted various indications that a somewhat more moderate view had emerged of the basic "who-whom" problem that Lenin had so starkly formulated […]

1971, Erik P. Hoffmann, Frederic J. Fleron, The Conduct of Soviet Foreign Policy, page 186:

The Bolsheviks may have held the commanding political heights, but in social terms the daunting question of "who — whom?" — as Lenin had put it — was still conspicuously unresolved.

1984, Max Hayward, Patricia Blake, Writers in Russia, 1917-1978, page 58:

(politics) Who will defeat or dominate whom? A Bolshevist principle or slogan, urging action against the capitalists.


no question

Compare Middle English it is noo questyon (“there is no doubt”).

cog

Oh, I'll be there, no question.


that'll be the frosty Friday

/ˌðætl̩ biː‿ðə ˌfɹɒsti ˈfɹaɪdeɪ/

/ˌðætl̩ bi‿ðə ˌfɹɔsti ˈfɹaɪˌdeɪ/

Probably a humorous elaboration of that’ll be the day, with frosty and Friday chosen for the alliteration; probably also implicitly evoking a cold day in Hell, referring to when Hell freezes over.

that'll be the day
that'll be the day#English

(idiomatic, informal) Synonym of that'll be the day (“said in reply to something that one believes will never happen”).


it's a jungle out there

The world, or some other specified environment, is a harsh and dangerous place.


working hard or hardly working

(informal, humorous) Used as a question to point out the listener's laziness.


equal pay for equal work

The concept of labor rights that individuals in the same workplace be given equal pay.


bad scran to someone

(Ireland, archaic) A mild malediction of wishing that someone may have bad food.


when Adam was an oakum boy

when Adam was an oakum boy in Chatham Dockyard

(archaic, slang) An extremely long time ago; long before living memory.


since Adam was an oakum boy

since Adam was an oakum boy in Chatham Dockyard

(archaic, slang) Since an extremely long time ago; since long before living memory.


head

when Adam was an oakum boy in Chatham Dockyard

when Adam was an oakum boy
when Adam was an oakum boy#English


since Adam was an oakum boy in Chatham Dockyard

since Adam was an oakum boy
since Adam was an oakum boy#English


that's the ticket for soup

In allusion to the card given to beggars for immediate relief at soup kitchens.

that's the ticket
that's the ticket#English

Archaic form of that's the ticket (“that is just right, or exactly what is needed”).


sold again and got the money

Costermongers' slang, from the announcement that used to be made when goods were sold.

(UK, slang, obsolete) Announced on having successfully deceived somebody.


the fact that

The fact that you struggle to do your homework proves that you need to go to tutoring.

Used to present an antecedent to a claim.

The real problem is the fact that the industry mistreats its workers.

Used to refer to a situation under discussion.


this much

Or when she would playfully say “I love you this much,” showing a small space between her hands

2012, Benedict Mejilla, A Chosen Destiny:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see this, much.

At bottom, then, the Court took the unusual step of overruling precedent for the most fundamental of reasons: the need to ensure, in keeping with the Nation's oldest traditions, fair and dependable adjudications of a defendant's guilt. In this much alone, Ramos's reasoning evokes this Court's descriptions of watershed rules.

2021, Edwards v. Vannoy (U.S. Supreme Court No. 19–5807), Justice Kagan dissenting

The fact that has just been or is about to be stated.


God knew

God knew I wouldn't tell them. They'd have thought I was fucking crazy.

1994, Ron Zaczek, Farewell, Darkness: A Veteran's Triumph Over Combat Trauma, page 264:

The money Whitey’d left her, most of it was gone [...] Yes, certainly, a good portion of the money should be invested, kids’ college tuition, God knew how much that would add up to [...]

2020, Joyce Carol Oates, Night. Sleep. Death. The Stars.:

sequence of tenses
sequence of tenses#English

free indirect speech
free indirect speech#English

simple past of God knows. An instance of sequence of tenses in free indirect speech, representing where the subject said or thought "God knows".

God knows

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see God, knew.


conspicuous by one's absence

Occasionally at a bush dance, when the elderly folk were conspicuous by their absence, the M.C. would throw a jazz-garter on the floor, point at some lucky fellow, and shout, 'You have ten seconds to find its mate. A packet of cigarettes if you do'.
The girls would squeal and giggle and start running; […]

1965, R. H. Conquest, Horses in the Kitchen: True Tales of Outback Australia, page 37:

Raising suspicions by the fact of not being present at an expected place.


it is no accident

Used to imply that something was deliberate, sometimes with the connotation of dishonesty.


nature beckons

Synonym of nature calls (“expressing the need to urinate or defecate”).


near at hand

From Middle English neyr at hand, nere atte hande, equivalent to near + at + hand.

Standing on the mountain above Caerphilly, one may reflect upon the gap where once stood Llanbradach Viaduct, and look near at hand upon the restored ruins of Caerphilly Castle; man labours to rebuild the mediaeval whilst he ruthlessly scraps the modern.

1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 165:


isn't it

It's beautiful, isn't it?

(informal) Used to ask the listener for confirmation of or agreement with a statement; right.


nigh on

I had been working in this industry for nigh on twelve years when it happened.

“[…]They say he has sold himself to the devil for a pretty face. It’s nigh on eighteen years since I met him. He hasn’t changed much since then. I have, though,” she added, with a sickly leer.

1891, Oscar Wilde, chapter XVI, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, London, New York, N.Y., Melbourne, Vic.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC:

I’ve shoveled up the gypsum till it nigh on makes you choke.


what's in a name

Coined by William Shakespeare in 1597 in "Romeo and Juliet," act 2, scene 2:
: What's in a name? That which we call a rose,
: By any other name would smell as sweet.

Used to argue that something's name is arbitrary and does not give any information as to its qualities; the names of things do not affect what they really are.


that's what I call

That's what I call a party!

(emphatic) Used to express that the thing in question is an ideal example.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see that's, what, I, call.


now that's what I call

that's what I call
that's what I call#English


something is up

(informal) Something off-putting or suspicious is in the air.


buy yourself a hat

(dated) Said when offering a monetary bribe.


leave it all on the field

Don't worry about it, just leave it all on the field.

Use the same advice football coaches give their teams: "Always do your best. When you return to the locker room at the end of the game, leave it all on the field. Don't replay what you might have done or what someone else might have done..."

1996, Lucile Wilson, Blanche Woolls, chapter 5, in People Skills for Library Managers: A Common Sense Guide for Beginners, →ISBN, page 56:

(idiomatic, usually sports) Used to remind players not to dwell on minor mistakes, issues or conflicts that happened during the course of play.

Coordinate term: leave something on the table

Near-synonym: give it one's best shot

Go and give it your all! Leave it all on the field!

Football players have an expression: "he left it all on the field." Leave it all on the field when you go fishing. Resolved: When I fish, I give everything I have to fishing.

1997, Kevin Nelson, The Angler's Book of Daily Inspiration, Contemporary Books, →ISBN, page 61:

But the stakes couldn't be higher, so we've got to leave it all on the field.

2012, Barack Obama, “Administration of Barack Obama, 2012/Sep. 18”, in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Barack Obama: 2012 (Book II: July 1 to December 31, 2012), page 1395:

(idiomatic, often sports) Used to encourage players or anyone to give their best performance, not sparing any effort, not going away with any unspent energy.


BNPL

(retail) Initialism of buy now, pay later.


the half of it

A: I think something's up with So-and-So. He's been acting a little weird lately.
B: You don't know the half of it!

(idiomatic, informal, chiefly in the negative) Only a part of something; not the full picture. Typically it is implied to be the most important part.


alpha fucks, beta bucks

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Be the guy who's large and in charge because alpha fucks, beta bucks yo.

2018, Jennifer Wright, Why Incels Hate Women (from Harper's Bazaar Web site); quoted in: 2020, John Casperson, What If God Has a Vagina?: Why Eve Took the Rap
Alphas are supposedly men who trigger lust in women, because women settle down with betas only because they offer financial stability. Or, as they pithily term it “alpha fucks, beta bucks.” When you look at the men who are labeled alphas and betas, though, you'll notice it gets weird in a way that might surprise you if you are a woman or a normal human.

This gets into the Alpha-fucks-beta-bucks concept discussed in the previous chapter. As soon as you get to know a girl, she has designated you either as a nice guy who can provide emotional and (possibly) financial support, but isn't attractive to have sex with, or an Alpha whose clear purpose is only for sex but can't be trusted for anything else.

2019, Adam Glasier, Online Dating For Men 101: How to Find, Date, Attract, Connect, and Get Into Great Relationships with Women from Online Dating:

The following, according to popular belief across the manosphere, is the dual biological imperative of what women are attracted to:
1. physical attraction (genes)
2. life comforts (resources)
When writers in the manosphere discuss “Alpha Fucks, Beta Bucks” this is essentially the dynamic they are referring too^([sic]).

2019, Dr. Lukas Castle, The Blackpill Theory: why incels are right & you are wrong, page 155:

(vulgar, slang) Women prefer sex with alpha males but are willing to use beta males as a source of financial support.

альхва ябе, а бэта грошы дае

Women see alpha males as sexual partners, while beta males merely as source of money


no picnic

Her childhood had not been as bad as some, but it had been no picnic.

1999, David Foster Wallace, “Suicide as a Sort of Present”, in Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, Little, Brown and Company:

(informal) Something difficult or unpleasant.


third time is the charm

third time's a charm
third time's a charm#English

Alternative form of third time's a charm.


where someone is coming from

I don't entirely agree, but I can see where you are coming from.

(informal) The reasonable, but possibly incorrect, motivations or premises to someone's argument.


all bedlam breaks loose

all bedlam breaks loose (simple past all bedlam broke loose)

Probably coined to act as an alternative to all hell breaks loose that would not be perceived to be potentially insensitive, impious, or otherwise inappropriate.

(idiomatic) The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.


where I come from

It might look odd to you, but that's how they do it where I come from.

(literal) Used to indicate that a certain expression, custom, etc. is characteristic of the speaker's place of origin.

Where I come from, 52% is a majority.

(humorous) Used to indicate that a certain conclusion should be obvious.


GBU

→ Indonesian: GBU

(Internet slang) Abbreviation of God bless you.


keep it simple, stupid

Simplicity should be a key aspect in design; don't overcomplicate something.

pourquoi faire compliqué quand on peut faire simple


thoughts and prayers

Shortened from phrases such as the victims will be in our thoughts and prayers.

One, “Thoughts and Prayers,” was for the drummer Jo Jones; it included a sermonette for the high-hat cymbal. Mr. Hamilton dedicated another, “Just Play the Melody,” to Mr. Roach.

2007 August 28, Ben Ratliff, “Headliner Can’t Make It? Here’s a First-Class Fill-In”, in New York Times:

Another meme shows an empty van. “Excellent news,” it reads. “The first truckload of your thoughts and prayers has just arrived.”

2018 February 20, AJ Willimgham, “How ‘thoughts and prayers’ went from common condolence to cynical meme”, in CNN:

(US) Used by officials and celebrities as a condolence after a tragic event.


YHM

(Internet slang) Initialism of you have mail.


the oldest trick in the book

A method of deception or trickery that has been overused so many times before that it should therefore be well-known or remain as common knowledge to everyone.


contrary to popular belief

Contrary to popular belief, Columbus was not the first person to discover America.

I regularly have cause to recall a scene from a novel called Madder Music, by Peter de Vries, in which the main character, a writer who specialises in polo, hears a match announcer telling newcomers to the ground that, contrary to popular belief, the ball is struck with the side of the mallet, rather than the end.

2016 September 13, Tim Dowling, “Order force: the old grammar rule we all obey without realising”, in The Guardian:

In opposition to what most laypeople would think is true.


can't complain

German: How are things? Dutchman: Can't complain, how are things with you?

1940 May 14, The Muswellbrook Chronicle, Muswellbrook, NSW, page 5:

I have nothing to complain about; everything is okay with me.


not to be outdone

Anticipating and preparing against the possibility that someone might outdo one; taking special measures to ensure one cannot be one-upped or outmaneuvered.


one's last

Possibly ellipsis of breathe one's last.


what's someone's damage

Popularized by the teen comedy Heathers (1989).

What's your damage?

(US, informal) What is wrong with X? What's X's problem? Is X crazy?


don't spend it all in one place

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-don't spend it all in one place.wav

Since 19-20th century, originally prefixed by "here's a ha'penny". An allusion to criminals paying unusually large amounts in cash, which would raise suspicions.

(humorous, sarcastic) A reaction to someone receiving money, often an insignificant amount.


what's the damage

How much does it cost
how much does it cost

(informal, humorous) How much does it cost?


what's the betting

(UK, informal) How much do you want to bet that …?


what now

A request for advice or instruction on what should be done.

A request, usually rhetorical, to know what, in a series of negative events, is the next negative event occurring.

what do you want
what do you want#English

Synonym of what do you want? (said out of irritation)

how's that
how's that#English:_beg_pardon


say hello to my little friend

From a scene in the film Scarface (1983), in which gangster Tony Montana (Al Pacino) brandishes an assault rifle.

This is the same Lindsey Graham who thinks he needs his AR-15 in case "there was a law-and-order breakdown in my community." You say tomato, I say "Say hello to my little friend."

2015 April 16, Paul Waldman, The Plum Line: Happy Hour Roundup, Washington Post (retrieved 22 June 2021)

Say hello to my little friend. Hideous, isn’t he? […] He's a replica of a tiny 20 cm. black-lacquered bronze statue in Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum. […] Listed under "grotesque animal," and probably 17th century by the engraver Arent van Bolten, he "stands on high legs with an open beak. On the place of the wings sits the spiralling part of a cochlea (snail shell); its genitals are quite prominent."

2016 August 10, Heather Mallick, Opinion: Meet little Spitey and be better than him, The Star (Toronto, Canada) (retrieved 22 June 2021)

Halstead then turned the camera on himself, holding the meat cleaver as he said: "Say hello to my little friend."

2017 February 16, DJ jailed for chopping off man's finger with meat cleaver after he posts video of 'barbaric' attack on Snapchat, Telegraph (UK) (retrieved 22 June 2021)

Used to describe a situation involving the display of an object that is menacing or unpleasantly excessive, especially a large firearm.


in pride

Over the fire-place on the right hand, there is a group of heathen celestials: - Jupiter and Juno, in a reclining posture, with their mythological insignia (the eagle holding the thunderbolts, and the peacock in his pride); […]

1841, Irvin Eller, The History of Belvoir Castle: From the Norman Conquest to the Nineteenth Century, page 301:

I remember, too, seeing the Peacock in pride above the arms of the late Sir Matthew Tierney, the physician, […]

Argent, three peacocks in pride proper.

1894, Henry Gough, James Parker, A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry, page 448:

A Psalter, B.L. MC. Arundel 157, of circa 1200, has a fairly good bird in its pride in the initial D of Psalm 98 […] (f.82v). This is not one of the regularly illustrated psalms, and the only possible symbolism, that the peacock represents Christ, seems far-fetched.

1982, William Brunsdon Yapp, Birds in Medieval Manuscripts, page 22:

Our Turkey Lectern is 20th-century, but the family arms, with the turkey crest, occur in 18th-century glass and in the carvings above 17th- and 18th- century tombs. I find it interesting that these two earlier birds show great resemblance to your 18th century picture of the North American wild turkey. Though depicted "in its pride”, the body has the elongated shape of the present-day pheasant. Can it be that at that time the domestic turkey was still similar to the North American wild turkey?

1983, Cynthia Mortimore, in a letter to (and published in) Country Life, volume 173, page 582

Above the shield and helmet is the Crest which is described as : "A peacock in pride ar." A translation of the Crest description is : "A silver peacock in her pride." Family mottos are believed to have originated as battle cries in medieval times ...

(1) A peacock in his pride arg. (for Pelham).

1993, James Fairbairn, Fairbairn's Book of Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland, Genealogical Publishing Com, →ISBN, page 438:

The careful and detailed rendering of the "eyes" of the peacock's tail in many of the bestiaries may be an artistic attempt to create a pictorial equivalent of the text. The peacock in Bodley 764 is shown in its pride (figure C, p. xxiv).

2013, Debra Hassig, The Mark of the Beast: The Medieval Bestiary in Art, Life, and Literature, Routledge, →ISBN, page 61:

(heraldry, chiefly of a peacock) With its tail feathers spread.


let's hear it for someone

Used to say that someone or something deserves praise and applause.


rolled into one

I can understand how you'd be so confused / I don't envy you / I'm a little bit of everything all rolled into one

1997 March 25, Meredith Brooks, Shelly Peiken, “Bitch”, in Blurring the Edges, performed by Meredith Brooks:

And St Pancras presents unique challenges, given that it is technically a number of stations rolled into one, serving a diverse range of routes: International (Eurostar), HS1 (Southeastern), Midland Main Line (East Midlands Railway), Thameslink (Govia Thameslink Railway), and London Underground (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines).

2022 November 30, Nick Brodrick, “Pride and innovation shine at St Pancras”, in RAIL, number 971, pages 68–69:

Combining a number of different qualities, things, or roles into a single entity.


just my luck

Expressing exasperation when something particularly unfortunate happens to oneself, especially when it seems like such occurrences are typical.


someone's luck is in

Someone is having a period of good fortune.

(in particular) Someone is the object of another person's sexual attraction.

joku tykkää jostakusta

someone is the object of another person's sexual attraction


someone's butt off

someone's arse off
someone's arse off#English

(chiefly US and Canada, vulgar) Synonym of someone's arse off.


late in the game

But there she is in her pegged pants, a kind of doo-wop Retro ponytail pulled of to the side, as eligible a candidate as you are likely to find this late in the game.

1984, Jay McInerney, Bright Lights, Big City, →ISBN, page 6:

Very late in the course of an event, so as to have diminished relevance, importance, etc.


TRBL

(computing, Internet, Cascading Style Sheets, mnemonic) Acronym of top, right, bottom, left, the order in which the sides of elements are defined.


NAFOD

(US, military) Acronym of no apparent fear of death, a disqualifying condition for hazardous or combat duty.


bitter cold

Coined by William Shakespeare in 1602 in "Hamlet," act 1, scene 1:
: For this relief much thanks. 'Tis bitter cold,
: And I am sick at heart.

Very cold and unpleasant. (of an environment)


more honored in the breach

Coined by William Shakespeare in 1602 in "Hamlet," act 1, scene 4:
: But to my mind, though I am native here
: And to the manner born, it is a custom
: More honored in the breach than the observance.

Justifiably violated; endowing greater moral standing to those who disobey. (of a rule, custom, etc.)

Frequently or usually broken in practice, with obedience being the exception. (of a rule, custom, etc.)


BBIPOC

Initialism of black, brown, indigenous, and (other) people of color.


no sense no feeling

From a pun on two different meanings of sense, ‘common sense’ and ‘ability to feel (pain)’.

You bashed your head on that low ceiling but so what? No sense, no feeling!

(humorous, said after a minor accident) Don’t worry about your non-debilitating injury, as you can’t possibly feel it anyway.


WCGW

(Internet slang) Initialism of what could go wrong.


NSQ

(Internet slang) Initialism of no stupid questions.


WPDI

(Internet slang) Initialism of watch people die inside.


that's right

So you want me to get only the salmon? / That's right.

Used to indicate agreement with or confirmation to the previous speaker's remark.


why me

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I can't believe I got teased and ridiculed for my musical tastes again. Why me?

An expression of surprise, annoyance, or disgust to question why something bad has happened to the speaker.

為什麼是我 /为什么是我

expression questioning why something bad has happened to the speaker


if one is a day

if a day (alternative)
if one's a day (alternative)

He must be fifty if he's a day.


Polly want a cracker

Unknown, first attested in The John-Donkey (1848 July 29, page 47), popularized by the National Biscuit Company with the slogan “Polly wants a cracker?”


word gets around

News, especially rumors, are quick to spread.


suck on that

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I am so sorry Regina. Really, I don't know why I did this. I guess it's probably because I've got a big lesbian crush on you. Suck on that!

2004, Mean Girls, spoken by Janis Ian (Lizzy Caplan):

Okay. But think of the people in your life who you respect. [...] Whoever it is, how do you feel if they respect you? Good, right? That's right. So suck on that!

2011, Joe Reilly, You Are Going to Get Poop On You, page 59:

'Suck on that, Donald!' Piers Morgan's wife Celia Walden mocks Trump and says he's going 'straight in the bin' amid Joe Biden's inauguration

(idiomatic, chiefly US, vulgar) Used to express contempt after a victory, a refuted argument or the sharing of undesirable information.


RBAR

Coined by database administrator Jeff Moden.

coinage

All of these methods either employ (what I call) "RBAR" programming (pronounced as "ree-bar" and stands for "Row By Agonizing Row") […]

[2005 January 10, Jeff Moden, “Calculating Work Days”, in SQLServerCentral, Simple Talk Publishing, archived from the original on 2007-10-23:

RBAR is a consequence of coding in a strictly procedural way, rather than in a set-based way. It is different from poor coding; it is the result of adopting a mindset that one always has to tell the computer, step by step […]

2007 July 26, Remi Gregoire, “RBAR: ‘Row By Agonizing Row’”, in Redgate, retrieved 2021-07-19:

While RBAR used over twice as much log as the set based operations, the log used per transaction was less than half.

2019 December 9, Randy Knight, “Rethinking RBAR”, in SQL Solutions Group:

(database administration, derogatory) Initialism of row by agonizing row; used to describe procedural programming in SQL.


HNIC

(derogatory, slang, US) Head nigga in charge.


rightly or wrongly

I decided, rightly or wrongly, not to tell her about the pregnancy.

Without regard to whether the action in question was justified; not for the moment analyzing the action from the standpoint of morality, correctness, etc.


I know it when I see it

(colloquial) Used when a speaker attempts to categorize an observable fact or event, although the category is subjective or lacks clearly defined parameters.


take several seats

have several seats
have several seats#English


as the man says

as the man said (alternative)
like the man said (alternative)
like the man says (alternative)

It is estimated that his income from extra-curricular duties (including book royalties) at least tripled the pay he received from the AMA ($24,000 per year). That, as the man says, ain't hay.

1956, Harry M. Hoxsey, You Don't Have to Die, page 122:

As the man says, the more you know the less the better.

(humorous) Used to introduce (what is supposedly) a famous quotation.


zero fucks given

(slang, vulgar, US) Used to emphasize that one does not care about something at all.


any old kind of way

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(informal, slang, African-American Vernacular) In an unspecified, careless, or random manner; in any way; haphazardly.


less is a bore

To rhyme with less is more; attributed to architect Robert Venturi (1925-2018).

Less of something is not necessarily more appropriate or optimal.


more is more

Used to suggest that in some cases, less of something is not appropriate or optimal.


a little goes a long way

a little of something goes a long way#English

Alternative form of a little of something goes a long way.


I know that's right

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“Momma,” Pastor Eric answered. “God was in me like that.” “I know that's right,” Mrs. Davis replied.

2012, Ramos Lewis, That's Life, page 135:

"What's going on with you Miss Tina?" "Aw, you know. The usual fabulousness." "I know that's right. What we doing today?"

2013, Jessi Bee, Cold Hearted Diva, page 18:

I know that's right baby. No need in holding a grudge.

2013, Michelle Robinson, Right Before My Eyes, page 59:

“Girl, I know that's right,” Camille agreed.

2014, Martha T. Rivers, Who Flipped the Script:

France said, “I know that's right, because that exactly what she doing.”

2020, Towandra Ellison, Surviving Mother:

(US, African-American Vernacular) Indicates complete agreement.


behind the wire

A reference to the chain-link fence that surrounds a prison camp.

Some were to find themselves behind the wire for virtually the entire war.

2000, Patrick Wilson, The War Behind the Wire, page 9:

The Archive has over two hundred of them — men, women and children who spent years behind the wire and yet lived to tell us their stories . . . and the stories of those people they do not want forgotten.

2010, Michael Caulfield, War Behind the Wire: Australian Prisoners of War:

Nevertheless, even camps near "perfection," as the Red Cross described them, could not prevent battles from erupting behind the wire.

2011, Cheryl Benard, Cathryn Quantic Thurston, Andrés Villamizar, The Battle Behind the Wire: U.S. Prisoner and Detainee Operations from World War II to Iraq:

Once we were back in the van and on our way "behind the wire" we were subjected to two more searches, one outside the first gate of the camp, and one behind the first and second gates.

2011, Steve Eubanks, Golf Freek, page 236:

(slang) In a prison camp or refugee camp.

Hutton, as engineer of the train which brought the mob, was one of the first ones detained and he remained behind the wire for several days until he could prove that he had acted as he did only because of the gun at his head.

1959, Locomotive Engineers Journal - Volume 93, page 5:

Remain strong until the walls come crashing down. You're in my thoughts, and the fine work each of you do. Later, brothers behind the wire.

2003, Michael Arpaia, Angolite - Volume 28, page 2:

Section Three takes readers behind the wire and tells them what to expect if they ever get sentenced to time.

2004, Greg Newbold, “Review: Behind Bars: Surviving Prison”, in Journal of Prisoners on Prisons:

This brief consideration of the material culture of imprisonment at Long Kesh/Maze has wider significance in revealing how power relations behind the wire can be very different from the public pronouncement of power inherent in traditional prison architecture

2015, L McAtackney, “Materialising Power Struggles of Political Imprisonment at Long Kesh/Maze Prison, Northern Ireland”, in M Leone, J Knauf, editors, Historical Archaeologies of Capitalism:


crooked as a barrel of fish hooks

(US, simile, informal) Very unscrupulous and deceptive.


the lights are on but nobody's home

the lights are on but no one's home (alternative)

(colloquial, humorous) Somebody is failing to respond, react or comprehend.


the lights are on but no one's home

the lights are on but nobody's home#English

Alternative form of the lights are on but nobody's home.


off record

No train operating company bosses were prepared to criticise the confusion publicly. But off-record, some are exasperated by a perceived lack of leadership.

2021 July 28, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Confusion and dissent over face mask requirements”, in RAIL, number 936, page 8:


play a double game

to be two-faced or to engage in double-dealing


the heat is on

A situation has reached a point of great commotion, energy, or activity.


what's in the bag

(slang) What's going on? How are you doing? What's new with you?


what's the deal

(slang) What happened, is happening, or is going to happen? Why did something happen or is someone acting a certain way?


what's the scam

(slang) What's going on? What are you trying to pull? (Said when one is suspicious of someone else).


thing is

One of the better jokes arrives late into the movie, when Guy is forced to take on a brawny he-man doppelgänger—a planned addition to the game’s sequel—who the programmers haven’t finished scripting, and his unfinished dialogue is all placeholders. Thing is, that could describe a lot of Free Guy. Both its humor and CGI bumper-car set pieces have an “insert fun here” quality.

2021 August 6, A. A. Dowd, “The Ryan Reynolds action-comedy Free Guy is a Truman Show for the Fortnite age”, in The A.V. Club:


if it had teeth, it'd bite one

ALICE. Where's the sugar, Mother?
JENNIE. Right under your nose. If it had teeth, it'd bite you.

1942, Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Western Union, Please: A Comedy in Three Acts, page 5:

Maybe there was a gross flaw, so obvious that they were all missing it, just as Mario sometimes said, "Where's the dried oregano?" when the jar was in plain view on the countertop. Then Dora would say, "If it had teeth, it'd bite you."

1994, Lawrence Sanders, Three Complete Novels, page 354:

LETTY (Quite suddenly younger, timid.) Ma says to pass the salt, Pa.
CAP (Deep voiced, strong, harsh.) You can tell her it's over there.
LETTY She says where, Pa?
CAP If it had teeth, it'd bite her.

2008, Barbara Parisi, The Best American Short Plays, 2004-2005, page 270:

(US, colloquial, humorous) It is in plain sight; one should be able to see it for oneself.


and company

and Company (alternative)
and Co (alternative)
& Co. (alternative)

(law) Used as part of the name of a company with multiple owners.


how goes the battle

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(colloquial, humorous) how are things? how's life?


how goes the war

how goes the battle
how goes the battle#English

(colloquial, humorous) Synonym of how goes the battle (“how are things? how's life?”).


and another thing

(colloquial) Used to introduce a new topic or subtopic of conversation; by the way.


and don't you forget it

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(generally in an angry tone) bear in mind, remember


sharing is caring

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Yet for a growing faction in the domain of culture, to complain about the pathetically low standard of the art on view is irrelevant at best, oppressive at worst. Artists matter, not art. Sharing is caring. Pass the beer.

2022 September 23, Jason Farago, “The World’s Most Prestigious Art Exhibition Is Over. Maybe Forever.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

It is important to share one's things with other people.

(sex, humorous, informal) One should let other people have sex with one's partner / one's spouse.

Sharing is Caring [title]

There are also hundreds of books and papers written by hundreds of very smart people debating whether or not it is right to prevent the sharing of protected digital works and whether it would instead be better if we all just lived in a utopian society where creative industry capitalism is banished and sharing is caring.

2014, Emma Sadleir, Tamsyn de Beer, Don't Film Yourself Having Sex, Penguin Random House South Africa, →ISBN:


buyer beware

Used as a warning to a potential buyer of a product about its defects.

(figurative, by extension, often humorous) Exhortation for the listener to exercise caution.


Q.E.F.

Alternative form of QEF ("quod erat faciendum").


have you eaten

A greeting, mostly found in East Asia languages, that is roughly equivalent to "how are you" (This entry is a translation hub.)

汝食未？

lí chia̍h bē? / lír chia̍h bēr? / lí chia̍h bōe? / lú chia̍h bōe? / lír chia̍h běr?

Jadliście państwo już? The word 'już' - 'already' is put here to overcome ambiguity.


I've got news for you

(humorous) Used to highlight a fact which the speaker believes is obvious but the listener seems to minimize or disregard.


head

the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

A phrase containing every letter of the English alphabet (a pangram), used to demonstrate typographical fonts etc.

naṣṣun ḥakīmun lahu sirrun qāṭiʕun waḏū šaʔnin ʕaẓīmin maktūbun ʕalā ṯawbin ʔaḵḍara wamuḡallafun bijildin ʔazraqa

نَصٌّ حَكِيمٌ لَهُ سِرٌّ قَاطِعٌ وَذُو شَأْنٍ عَظِيمٍ مَكْتُوبٌ عَلَى ثَوْبٍ أَخْضَرَ وَمُغَلَّفٌ بِجِلْدٍ أَزْرَقَ

ʔabjad hawwaz ḥuṭṭī kalamun saʕafaṣ qarašat ṯaḵaḏ ḍaẓaḡ

أَبْجَدْ هَوَّزْ حُطِّي كَلَمُنْ سَعَفَصْ قَرَشَتْ ثَخَذْ ضَظَغْ

příliš žluťoučký kůň úpěl ďábelské ódy

missing some basic Latin letters but including all specific to the Czech orthography

nechť již hříšné saxofony ďáblů rozezvučí síň úděsnými tóny waltzu, tanga a quickstepu

Laŭ Ludoviko Zamenhof, bongustas freŝa ĉeĥa manĝaĵo kun spicoj

on sangen hauskaa, että polkupyörä on maanteiden jokapäiväinen ilmiö

wieniläinen siouxia puhuva ökyzombi diggaa Åsan roquefort-tacoja (all letters except š and ž which are part of the Finnish orthography but not the Finnish alphabet)

portez ce vieux whisky au juge blond qui fume

Franz jagt im komplett verwahrlosten Auto quer durch Bayern

zwölf Boxkämpfer jagen Viktor quer über den großen Sylter Deich

a gyors barna róka átugrik a lusta kutyán

irohanihoheto chirinuruwo wakayotareso tsunenaramu uwinookuyama kefukoete asakiyumemishi wehimosesu

いろはにほへと ちりぬるを わかよたれそ つねならむ うゐのおくやま けふこえて あさきゆめみし ゑひもせす

stróż pchnął kość w quiz gędźb vel fax myjń

pchnąć w tę łódź jeża lub ośm skrzyń fig

bancos fúteis pagavam-lhe queijo, whisky e xadrez

um pequeno jabuti xereta viu dez cegonhas felizes

muzicologă în bej, vând whisky și tequila, preț fix

sʺješʹ že ješčó etix mjaxkix francuzskix bulok, da vypej čaju

съешь же ещё этих мягких французских булок, да выпей чаю

v čaščax juga žil by citrus? da, no falʹšivyj ekzempljar!

в чащах юга жил бы цитрус? да, но фальшивый экземпляръ!

el veloz murciélago hindu comía feliz cardillo y kiwi

pijamalı hasta Yağız şoföre çabucak güvendi


to be precise

We have over 400 school-age children in our camp; it looks like 422 to be precise.

Used to correct or modify an earlier statement.


whither away

(archaic) Synonym of where away (“where are you going”).


the world is too much with someone

In reference to The World Is Too Much with Us, a sonnet by William Wordsworth, written circa 1802.

Aided by Alistair Fuchs-Forbes, a British lecturer and healer whom More derides mercilessly as a fag reciting "I Ching in a BBC accent" (64), Doris begins to see that the world is too much with her, that the physical is the lowest denominator of human experience. She points out to More than his abandonment of the spiritual dimension has made their marriage a burned-out star, one collapsed into itself, unable to give light, just "heavy heavy heavy" (64).

1990, Joseph Dewey, In a Dark Time: The Apocalyptic Temper in the American Novel of the Nuclear Age, page 130:

The resident of London was in the center of the world; yet whenever he felt that the world was too much with him, he had only to step back out of the street to find himself inside his own house, his castle "in perfect safety from intrusion."

1996, Christa Jungnickel, Russell K. McCormmach, Cavendish, page 68:

From Monday to Saturday, the world was too much with him, and he was still too much in the world.

Someone is excessively materialistic and distanced from nature.

The World Is Too Much with Us
William Wordsworth


one thing leads to another

one thing led to another
one thing led to another#English

Present tense form of one thing led to another.


I know, right

[aɪ˧ ˈnəʊ˨˩ | ˈɹaɪt˦˥]

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Alternative form: IKR (initialism)

Near-synonym: you're telling me

(rhetorical) Indicates strong agreement and sympathy with a preceding statement.


it's not every day

It's not every day you see a black swan.

(followed by a complement) it is not very common (that)


and such

(idiomatic) and other like things; and so forth


this is not a drill

Used to distinguish emergency procedures from those which are just rehearsed.

(informal, often humorous, by extension) Used to make an announcement or draw attention to a fact.


it's a deal

(informal) Used to show agreement, especially when agreeing to a price.


donde esta la biblioteca

From Spanish dónde (“interrogative form of where”) + está (“be, is, are”) + la (“the”) + biblioteca (“library”) (where is the library); a phrase apparently often taught to beginning Spanish-language learners. The accents are usually omitted in English.

bor

Ola, como esta usted? Donde esta la biblioteca? Everyone who took high school Spanish knows that those phrases are probably all they recognize from their teenaged efforts to learn one of the three most spoken languages in the world.

2002 [2001 May 15], Raoul Lowery Contreras, “English + Spanish == The USA”, in A Hispanic View: American Politics and the Politics of Immigration, →ISBN, page 257:

"Dónde está la biblioteca, Pedro?" "What?" "I'm thinking of opening a new Globo Gym down in Mexico City, so I've been boning up on my Spanish."

2004, Rawson Marshall Thurber, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story:

“Donde esta la biblioteca?” has become so overused to depict people with a very limited understanding of Spanish that it really pulls me out of the scene when Foggy says it to Mrs. Cardenas. Totally unnecessary line.

2015 April 18, Oliver Sava, “Marvel’s Daredevil: “Speak Of The Devil””, in The A.V. Club:

Stock phrase used to denote someone's poor knowledge of Spanish.

my English is not the yellow from the egg, but it goes

London is the capital of Great Britain

Versions in other languages for English; Ukrainian


the latchstring is out

A person is assured of a hospitable welcome.


one's door is open

One is ready to receive and welcome another person.


I'm a lesbian

Indicates that the speaker is a female homosexual or lesbian.


cheque, please

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From the British sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, in which one character has this as his catchphrase after saying inappropriate comments during dates.

Used after making an embarrassment statement, suggesting it's time to leave.


too right

(informal, UK, Australia, New Zealand) Used to express complete agreement with a previous statement by the interlocutor.


enough to make a cat laugh

(idiomatic) Very outlandish or outrageous.


hell to the no

"Are you... happy being a girl?" "Um, yeah? I'm awesome?" "You wouldn't rather be a boy?" "Hell''' to the no." "Not at all?" "No. I've never felt dysphoria as a girl, not even when I was you, and I identify as a girl now. I dunno if that's just how I am, or because magic, or inter-universe nonsense, or my soul or whatever, but I am not, nor do I want to be, a dude."

2017 May 10, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive (webcomic), Comic for Wednesday, May 10, 2017:

(US, chiefly African-American Vernacular, slang) Expressing firm disagreement or refusal.


ask me one about sport

ask me one on sport
ask me one on sport#English

Alternative form of ask me one on sport.


sit well

To agree or be pleased (with something).


walk good

(Jamaican Creole, Caribbean) Used to wish good fortune and a good trip for departing travelers.


in dubio pro reo

benefit of the doubt
benefit of the doubt

(law) benefit of the doubt to the accused


suck my Richard

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catch no balls

From the way he described population trend, he may well be right. He mentioned something about expo something function. Boy, we all catch no balls.

1993 October 15, soc.culture.malaysia (Usenet):

"And now you cry...go lah...sleep with that old man...for what? Nothing! Totally liak Bo Kiu!...catch no balls!" Meaning her action was incomprehensible.

2012, Regina Long, Singapore and the Supernatural: The Weight of Fate Rests Great on Those Who Must Relate, page 55:


okey-dokey artichokey

okey dokey, artichokey
okey dokey, artichokey#English

(colloquial) Alternative form of okey dokey, artichokey.


okey-dokey Smokey

okey-dokey, Smokey
okey-dokey, Smokey#English


forget you

(idiomatic, chiefly as imperative, derogatory, colloquial, dismissal) A forceful expression of anger, dismissal, or contempt directed at someone.


on with you

(idiomatic, chiefly as imperative, derogatory, colloquial, dismissal) An expression of dismissal or contempt directed at someone.


what you don't know can't hurt you

So they put me on the payroll, and I guess Father Paul Shanley in Boston and I were the first to get paid for picking up hustlers! The salary order went all the way to Cardinal Cooke's office, and he approved it personally. But they never realized I wasn't trying to convert people to being straight. I'm sure they thought I was just bringing sinners into the fold, which is probably what my superiors think now. What they don't know won't hurt them.

1981 December 12, Robert J. Nelson, quoting Leo Gallant, “Creating a People”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 21, page 7:

If one does not know about a problem or a misdeed, one will not be able to render oneself unhappy by worrying about it.

ce qu'on ignore ne peut pas nous faire de mal

czego oczy nie widzą, tego sercu nie żal


absence makes the heart fonder

absence makes the heart grow fonder#English

Alternative form of absence makes the heart grow fonder.


so help me Bob

"So I would have, but it was pretty dark and so help me Bob, if I didn't get off the road somewhere."

1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 70:


I'm not the one

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Ellipsis of "I'm not the one to mess with", "I'm not the one you think I am" or some comparable expression.

(idiomatic, slang, African-American Vernacular) A warning to an individual who has greatly offended one's dignity or has acted or spoken insolently.


get out of my face

(idiomatic, imperative) Stop bothering or harassing me; go away.


screw this for a game of soldiers

sod this for a game of soldiers
sod this for a game of soldiers#English

Synonym of sod this for a game of soldiers.


monkeys humping a football

(vulgar) energetic but useless action, or a person engaged in such action.


so much the worse for

If he cannot realize the error of his ways, then so much the worse for him.

(+object) Used to indicate that an unfortunate event, outcome, etc. is of the subject's own doing; and that the speaker feels no great concern for it.

tanto peggio per

indicates that an unfortunate event is the subject's own doing


head

why buy a book when you can join the library

why buy a book when you can join a library#English

Alternative form of why buy a book when you can join a library.


beg, borrow, or steal

To acquire something by any means necessary or available.


none the worse

I rose from the ground, somewhat tottering, and miry, and crest-fallen, but otherwise none the worse (having fallen upon my head, which is of uncommon substance)

1869, R[ichard] D[oddridge] Blackmore, chapter XI, in Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Sampson Low, Son, & Marston, […], →OCLC:

[…] the lowest boiler pressure—220 lb. per sq. in.—goes with the largest cylinder volume, and the highest—280 lb. per sq. in.—with the smallest cylinder volume—which is, of course, obvious, but is none the worse for being repeated.

1951 April, Stirling Everard, “A Matter of Pedigree”, in Railway Magazine, number 600, page 272:

(typically with for) Not damaged or affected negatively (by/due to).

meg se kottyan (neki)

not damaged or affected negatively (by/due to)

kutya/semmi baja (sem lesz/esik/történik tőle)


my skull's afly

(obsolete, idiomatic, slang) I'm awake; I'm alert; I know what's happening.


how do you like

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How do you like your steak, sir?

How do you like like it here?

How would you like it if I did the same to you??

How do you like this guy!

(humorous, derogatory) Used to deride the character or personality of someone.


who's robbing this coach

mind your own business
mind your own business

(Australia) mind your own business; an admonition to an uninvolved person not to interfere


I see you

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

Used to express that the speaker recognizes the listener's actions.


best of the best

crème de la crème
crème de la crème#English


pick of the crop

cream of the crop
cream of the crop#English


everything is everything

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(US, African-American Vernacular, informal) Everything is going well or according to plan.


everything under the sun

(figurative) A very great number of things.

(figurative) Everything that exists or is possible.


shot heard 'round the world

shot heard round the world
shot heard round the world#English

Alternative form of shot heard round the world.


God hates a coward

Ivanova let out a long breath. “Ah, God hates a coward. Let’s take our chances with door number 2.”

2021 August 29, “jdale” (username), “Mechanism of Enhanced Survival Times for Cerebral Hypoxia in Telepaths”, Archive of Our Own

Those who act out of cowardice or who are overly cautious are less likely to succeed.


be left kicking

to be left waiting restlessly or impatiently


what the what

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(African-American Vernacular, euphemistic, informal) What the hell.


I am afraid of this

Indicates that the speaker is afraid of something.


off the scale

Give your head a wobble, Zoë, I told myself. You can't go around being broken-hearted because your heart isn't broken any more. That would be off-the-scale ridiculous.

"The people who run domestic intermodal are seeing enquiries flying off the scale in terms of what they can do, so there are some people they can help and some people they can't help.

2021 October 6, Philip Haigh, “Rail freight has a key role in boosting Britain's resilience”, in RAIL, number 941, page 46:

(idiomatic) Far in excess of what is normal or measurable.


I haven't got all day

we haven't got all day
we haven't got all day#English

Alternative form of we haven't got all day.


they say

They say the number 13 is unlucky.

They said the house was haunted.

Take the worst with the best, there's Grimaldi the souldier, a very well-timbred fellow: they say he is a Roman, Nephew to the Duke Mount Ferratto; they say he did good service in the warrs against the Millanoys.

c. 1626 or 1629–1633 (first performance), [John Ford], ’Tis Pitty Shee’s a Whore […], London: […] Nicholas Okes for Richard Collins, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I:

1. What are some of the things they said man would never do? 2. Name some dreams once thought of as impossible but have been realized. 3. Give examples of man's achievements[…]

2003, The New Dimensions in Learning English, Rex Bookstore, Inc., →ISBN, page 447:

"Let's talk about you. Why did you break up with the general?" *: "Maybe it's time I really got to know the lowly doughboy." […] *: "A cop and a reporter..." Mason rubbed his chin and feigned a thoughtful pause. "Well, they said man would never fly."

2016, John A. Connell, Ruins of War, Berkley, →ISBN, page 251:

It is commonly said; people in general say; a common saying is.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see they, say.


turn on, tune in, drop out

tune in, turn on, drop out
tune in, turn on, drop out#English

Alternative form of tune in, turn on, drop out.


in witness whereof

(law) Turn of phrase used to introduce the concluding clause in deeds.


hmu

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


have a blessed one

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(US, African-American Vernacular) A phrase used when parting.


WALT

(education) Acronym of we are learning to....


WILF

(education) Acronym of what I'm looking for, the teacher's desired outcome when students are set an exercise.


in hindsight

In hindsight, I should have quit that job sooner.

Denoting coming to an understanding of the full nature of an event after it has already occurred.


HWU

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of hey, what's up?.


Used since the 1990s. From the number of letters in each word of the phrase; I is 1 letter, love is 4 letters, and you is 3 letters respectively.


there is something to be said for

Used to indicate that an idea, argument, etc. has some value or merit.


from week to week

A policy vacuum has also become apparent in respect of timetables. In practice, these are changing from week to week with little advice to users.

2021 October 20, Industry Insider, “The wheels turn slowly”, in RAIL, number 942, page 68:


I'm rubber and you're glue

I'm rubber, you're glue
I'm rubber, you're glue#English

Alternative form of I'm rubber, you're glue.


let's go, Brandon

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From a 2021 interview with racing driver Brandon Brown when a reporter incorrectly described NASCAR fans chanting "fuck Joe Biden" as chanting "let's go, Brandon".

When Republican Rep. Bill Posey of Florida ended an Oct. 21 House floor speech with a fist pump and the phrase “Let’s go, Brandon!” it may have seemed cryptic and weird to many who were listening.

[2021 October 31, Colleen Long, “How ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ became code for insulting Joe Biden”, in AP News, Associated Press:

“A sieve of a southern border, the supply chain massacred, food prices rising by the day, crime rampant in big cities and being browbeaten continuously by Beijing. Yes, he is a real success.” Flanagan then adds sarcastically, “One more thing, ‘Let's Go Brandon.’”

2021 November 11, Mark Bonokoski, quoting Steve Flanagan, “BONOKOSKI: ‘Let's go Brandon! Let's go Brandon!’”, in Toronto Sun:

State Rep. Dave Williams, who is challenging eight-term GOP congressman Doug Lamborn in an intraparty contest, sued Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold last week after her office rejected allowing his name to appear on the ballot as Dave “Let's Go Brandon” Williams.

2022 April 30, John Dorman, “Colorado Supreme Court says GOP lawmaker can't use ‘Let's Go Brandon’ nickname on congressional ballot”, in Business Insider:

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene visited a D.C. jail to check on conditions for the Jan. 6 defendants, with Republican lawmakers handshaking and high-fiving the prisoners, who chanted “Let's Go Brandon!” – a coded vulgarity against President Joe Biden – as the group left.

2023 March 27, “X, y, z: News from around our 50 states”, in USA Today, page B3:

(US, slang, US politics) A euphemism for “fuck Joe Biden”.

Bill Posey
Brandon Brown (racing driver)
United States House of Representatives


all manner of

Every conceivable kind of; everything that could fall into the category of; all kinds of.


WET

software engineering
software engineering

(software engineering) Acronym of write everything twice, a humorous backronym coined to serve as the antonym of DRY, punning on the opposition of wet and dry.


trust someone to

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see trust, someone, to.


peace through strength

The idea that nations can remain in peace by display of their military power as a deterrent to war.


hard going

THE CONCISE ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF WORLD RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES. Edited by P. Ransome-Wallis. Hutchinson. 50s. [...] Its only noticeable defect is inconsistency in presentation and loose editing, which make its use harder going for the amateur than need be.

1960 January, “New reading on railways”, in Trains Illustrated, page 26:

(especially reading and study material) Difficult to understand and enjoy.

(of a task) Difficult and requiring a lot of effort.


pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap

pile it high, sell it cheap
pile it high, sell it cheap#English

Alternative form of pile it high, sell it cheap.


tfw

Alternative letter-case form of TFW (“that feeling when”).


&ca.

(dated, rare outside titles) Alternative form of &c. / etc..


let's go Brandon

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let's go, Brandon
let's go, Brandon#English


not the sharpest crayon in the box

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not the sharpest knife in the drawer#English

(humorous, euphemistic) Synonym of not the sharpest knife in the drawer.


fed up to the teeth

fed up to the back teeth
fed up to the back teeth#English

Alternative form of fed up to the back teeth.


back that train up

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-back that train up.wav

(informal) Said to a person who is speaking or acting too hastily.


NOTAFLOF

Initialism of no one turned away for lack of funds.


good game

Good job, well done! Used to acknowledge the opponent's performance at the end of a game.


of the world

The YouTubes of the world

2011 January 26, “The YouTubes Of The World That You’ve Never Heard Of”, in Business Insider, archived from the original on 2021-11-12:

It'll be a long time before the Netflixes of the world will start getting in on that market so it's one area we can live in and live in well.

2019 July 15, “Islands in the stream”, in Otago Daily Times:

Used following one or more plurals of proper nouns to indicate a general category relating to those mentioned.


stfu

Alternative form: STFU

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


stfd

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


STFD

shut the front door
shut the front door#English

(Internet slang, text messaging, mildly vulgar) Initialism of shut the front door.

sit the f*ck down
sit the f*ck down#English

(Internet slang, text messaging, mildly vulgar) Initialism of sit the f*ck down.


one's heart bleeds

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My heart no longer bleeds for them; as I said before, they have gained the martyr's crown ; but it bleeds for you — it bleeds for your noble parents — it bleeds for those who, born in fatal error, think, when they kill His saints, they do their God a service.

1848, A. M., Montmorency, a Roman Catholic Tale, page 40:

Such a woman comprehends all that is before her; and has the more capacity to suffer from that attitude, that she is able to subscribe to its justice. My heart bleeds for her .

1883, Mary Stanley, Measure for Measure, page 82:

We are in the Men's College, with about 300 who have taken refuge with us, and like the apostles we have all things in common; but my heart bleeds for the terror-stricken people whose trust is not so strong as ours, and for the way in which many have gone home.

1896, Life and Light for Woman - Volume 26, page 59:

Is there any heart that would not bleed for a young woman in your position?

1908, Gertrude Pahlow, “The Wealth of the Sinner”, in Munsey's Magazine, volume 39, page 814:

Look at those poor little children without shoes on their feet. My heart bleeds for them.

His heart bled for his beloved home country.

You have to work through the weekend again? My heart bleeds for you. (normally sarcastic)

Expresses that someone has great sympathy or sadness for another's plight or suffering.


that's the thing

But that's the thing, see? Like you said, you can't just go spending your money like that.

(idiomatic, colloquial) Used to introduce the main point or issue, especially as a refutation or negation to a statement made by another speaker.


make a rabbit bite a bulldog

Fix it pretty strong, will you? Not too much water and about the amount of whisky that would make a rabbit bite a bulldog.

1924, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 3, in Bill the Conqueror, His Invasion of England in the Springtime:

It was strong enough to make a rabbit bite a bulldog. The best rum was distilled from sugarcane juice and was especially strong and pungent to the taste.

2018, Selby Parker, Scopophilia, page 142:

(colloquial) Said of very strong or plentiful alcoholic drink.


the mind boggles

In their bedroom I found a wetsuit and handcuffs. The mind boggles!

One is astonished or unable to comprehend.


that way madness lies

From The Tragedy of King Lear (c. 1606), see quotations.

Your old kind Father, whoſe franke heart gaue all, / O that way madneſſe lies, let me ſhun that: / No more of that.

c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], page 297, column 2:

You see what we're up against here. "Timecop," a low-rent "Terminator," is the kind of movie that is best not thought about at all, for that way madness lies.

1994 September 16, Roger Ebert, “Timecop”, in Chicago Sunday Times, archived from the original on 2005-11-13:

(hyperbolic) The mentioned activity, line of inquiry, etc., should not be pursued because it will cause frustration, anger, etc., and lead to no good.


what do you want: blood?

(colloquial) Used to tell a person that their demands are unreasonable.


baby needs new shoes

Come on, seven! I need a seven! Baby needs new shoes!

(colloquial) A gambler's cry in immediate anticipation of winning some money.


there are no stupid questions

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there's no such thing as a stupid question#English

Alternative form of there's no such thing as a stupid question.


not the brightest bulb in the chandelier

not the sharpest tool in the shed#English

Synonym of not the sharpest tool in the shed.


eat the rich

Attributed to the Genevan philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The original quotation was: “Quand le peuple n’aura plus rien à manger, il mangera le riche.” (“When the people shall have no more to eat, they will eat the rich.”)
Became popular in the 21st-century United States as an anti-capitalist motto in left-wing online communities.

Eat the Rich:

1993, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Jim Vallance, “Eat the Rich” (track 2), in Get a Grip, performed by Aerosmith, Los Angeles: Geffen Records:

There have been many cries to “eat the rich” over recent years in relation to white collar crime.

2011 January, Diane Wiley, “Eat the Rich: Juror Questionnaires for White Collar Cases”, in The Jury Expert, volume 23, number 1, Timonium, Maryland: American Society of Trial Consultants, →ISSN, page 43:

There is something thrilling about an artwork that does not just investigate, explore or expose questions about today, but makes explicit the injustices of the present system, proudly brandishing a call to eat the rich and fight a class war.

2018 June 7, Chris Hayes, “Democracia, ORDER”, in Circa Art Magazine, →JSTOR, retrieved 2022-12-06:

There's this whole cycle of eat-the-rich movies right now with “Joker” and “Parasite.” How do you feel knowing the movie you’ve made and then seeing those other movies coming out?

2019 November 28, Mark Olsen, “‘Knives Out’ Ending Explained: How Rian Johnson’s Socially Relevant Mystery Pays Tribute to the Past”, in Los Angeles Times:

The eat-the-rich movie is directed by Mark Mylod, whose recent work includes episodes of “Succession,” “Shameless,” and “Game of Thrones” […]

2022 July 10, Jordan Hoffman, “‘What, Are We Eating a Rolex?’ ‘The Menu’ Full Trailer Is Revealed”, in GoldDerby:

First of all, I want to say I’m not a fan of the, how do I say, advertisement of the movie as an “eat the rich” movie because what I actually tried to do was to portray everybody as nice.

2022 November 4, Lilah Raptopoulos, quoting Ruben Östlund, “‘Triangle of Sadness’ with Director Ruben Östlund”, in Financial Times, London:

(slang, politics, idiomatic) An expression of contempt towards capitalism and the rich, demanding an equitable redistribution of wealth.

كلوا الأغنياء

expression of contempt towards the rich, capitalism and widespread poverty


you haven't lived

You haven't lived until you drive a motorcycle!

(informal) Used to indicate that someone is missing out on something very important or exciting.


the king is dead, long live the king

พระมหากษัตริย์เสด็จสวรรคต ขอพระมหากษัตริย์ทรงพระเจริญ

Traditional announcement made when a new monarch becomes the ruler after the previous one passed away.

(idiomatic) Said when someone has stepped down or something is succeeded by someone or something new that now has the most control, is the most popular, etc.


OOMF

[Jeremy O. Harris:] One of the things I worry about is that the little gay boys and girls I’m friends with don’t meet people their age IRL. They only know people through their oomfs, right? The oomfs run the world.
[Devan Shimoyama:] What’s “oomf”?
[Jeremy O. Harris:] An oomf is an “O.O.M.F.” — “one of my friends,” as in someone you know only in a digital space, from Twitter or Tumblr.

2022 September 16, Emil Wilbekin, “What Does It Mean to Be a Young, Black Queer Artist Right Now?”, in The New York Times Style Magazine:

(Internet slang) Acronym of one of my followers/friends.


darwaza bund

darwaza band (alternative)
durwaza bund (alternative)

From Hindustani دروازہ / दरवाज़ा (darvāzā) + بند / बंद (band).

“The young of both species are horrible. You would have scores of them in your salon.” “I would not!” said Mrs. Hauksbee, fiercely. “I would tell the bearer to darwaza band them. I'd put their own colonels and commissioners at the door to turn them away.”

1889, Rudyard Kipling, “The Education of Otis Yeere”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 15:

(India, archaic) Not at home; currently unwilling to receive visitors into one's house.


LMGIFY

(Internet) Initialism of let me google it for you.


O ye of little faith

oh ye of little faith (alternative)
ye of little faith (alternative)

(chiefly humorous) A response to an expression of doubt or uncertainty.


ye of little faith

O ye of little faith
O ye of little faith#English

Alternative form of O ye of little faith.


oh ye of little faith

Alternative spelling of O ye of little faith.


it's all relative

$300 a day may seem like a lot, but it's all relative.

A response to an anterior quantitative value or an anterior comment of it, used to say that something can be thought of in opposite ways depending on what one compares it to.


could hear a pin drop

one could hear a pin drop
one could hear a pin drop#English

Alternative form of one could hear a pin drop.


so quiet one could hear a pin drop

En-au-so quiet one could hear a pin drop.ogg


not so much

My mom really likes spinach; me, not so much.

Indicates that the speaker identifies with a prior statement to a much lesser degree (or not at all) than the other person.

It's not so much that he's a bad person, but that his political views are too extreme.

Indicates that one factor is much more relevant or important than another.


kill your heroes

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Perhaps influenced by kill your darlings.

Daevid believes the visa problem that removed him so abruptly from The Soft Machine in late August 1967 probably accelerated an inevitable split. He believes his role in the band was that of catalyst — and, as he notes, you've got to kill your heroes.

2014, Marcus O’Dair, Different Every Time: The Authorised Biography of Robert Wyatt:

Kill your heroes, stop doing it harder.

2019, Will Larson, An Elegant Puzzle: Systems of Engineering Management:

My Castor: Remember what Uncle Hemlock says: "Kill your heroes."

2022, Linden A. Lewis, The Second Rebel, page 261:

(informal, often sarcastic) One should not idolize specific people (particularly celebrities), as this will distort one's perception of those one idolizes.


S my D

“And, you know, if they have a problem with that, then they can s my D.”

2014, Dustin Long, Bad Teeth, New Harvest, page 125:

The tweet in question reads, "You call yourself Pro? S my D" — likely a reference to the new MacBook Pro's lack of an SD card slot.

2016 November 1, Melanie Ehrenkranz, Razer computers’ ‘S my D’ tweet is the definition of sexism in tech, https://www.mic.com/articles/158278/razer-computers-tweet-apple-s-my-d, Mic:

Coach: That dumbass frigate can S my D. That's about a warship performing oral sex on another warship.

2021 October 16, James Austin Johnson (actor), “Football Press Conference Cold Open”, Saturday Night Live, National Broadcasting Company


wysiwyg

Alternative letter-case form of WYSIWYG.


all is not lost

Damaged Hologram: --alled Reapers. [static]... the Citadel... [static] ...overwhelmed... [static] ...only hope... [static]...
Damaged Hologram: --[static] act of desperation... [static] ... the Conduit... [static] ... all is lost [static]
Damaged Hologram: ...cannot be stopped... [static] ...cannot be stopped... [static]

2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Ilos:

There are still chances of recovery or success.


let it snow

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From the song "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945.

Christmas season
Christmas season#English

(colloquial) Used around the Christmas season to express anticipation of snowfall.

Jule Styne
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Sammy Cahn


if you know, you know

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“They’re very if you know, you know,” says Sam Millen-Cramer, a 28-year-old marketing specialist, who wears his £15 Mountain Warehouse zip-up with baggy pants from Margaret Howell […]

2023 January 5, “Forget the luxury fleece”, in Financial Times:

“[…]Anatomy of a Fall doesn’t fit into any of those categories,” Messineo, the YouTuber who made the dancing video to Hüller’s monologue, told me. Instead, he suggested, it has “if you know you know” appeal.

2024 March 5, Gabriella Paiella, quoting Messineo, “Why ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ Became One of the Most Memed Films of the Year”, in GQ:

(informal, humorous) Used to signify a reference or allusion to something that is only understood by certain groups of people.


love is love

(21st century) Love in LGBTQ relationships is equivalent (e.g. in genuineness, validity, personal experience, etc.) to love in heterosexual relationships.


later, tater

“Later, tater,” she said, trying to keep the tremble from her voice.

2015, Jamie McGuire, Among Monsters, page 9:

“Later, tater.” Austin waved and disappeared.

2019, Erin McCarthy, Ghosts Like It Hot:

“I gotta go,” she said. “Later, tater.”

2019, Emma Chastain, Notes from a Former Virgin: Junior Year, page 137:

(slang, Canada, US) Au revoir, see you soon.


silence is violence

(21st century) Inaction or indifference in regards to violence that is aimed at oppressed groups is tantamount to direct violence against those groups.

(uncommon) Silence in certain settings can be perceived or interpreted as unfriendly or hostile.


NLT

(Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of now listening to.


VBNMW

(US politics) Initialism of vote blue no matter who (“vote for any politician in the Democratic Party regardless of their record”).

Trumpster diving

voting for conservative politicians regardless of their record


From a phrase read from a ship's bell by a character in the 1996 movie White Squall. The phrase itself means "Where one of us goes, we will go together," or "We will go together with any one of our members."

But this particular image, posted in March by the Utah-based fashion, beauty, and parenting influencer Jalynn Schroeder to more than 50,000 followers, is accompanied by a series of hashtags that includes the initialism WWG1WGA—“Where we go one, we go all”—a motto used by adherents of the QAnon conspiracy theory.

2020 August 18, Kaitlyn Tiffany, “The Women Making Conspiracy Theories Beautiful”, in The Atlantic:

Their rallying cry is "where we go one, we go all," a line from the 1996 Jeff Bridges sailing adventure "White Squall" that they misattribute to President Kennedy. The phrase is frequently abbreviated to "WWG1WGA," which Roseanne Barr — one of several celebrity QAnon supporters — tweeted in June 2018.

“Where we go one, we go all,” erupted the crowd in a QAnon chant that’s frequently abbreviated to WWG1WGA in online messaging boards like 4chan, where the cult began.

2024 January 23, Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, “A Creepy QAnon Chant Rises at Trump’s Rally—and He Nods and Smiles”, in The New Republic:

(US politics) Initialism of where we go one, we go all: a popular slogan of QAnon believers.

NCSWIC

nothing can stop what is coming; slogan, meaning referring to mass arrests of opposing politicians or violence


away in a hack

Jimmy had said to me earlier 'the trick is to give them what they want' and it doesn't take long to work out that its laughs and tears, and if you can work a nice bust in a tight sweater in the story, you're away in a hack.

(Ireland, informal) Doing well; embarked on a successful course of action.


that and a nickel will get you on the subway

She's got love in her heart for Dennis Monahan, and that and a nickel gets a ride on the subway.

"Well, damn it. I am the president. Doesn't that mean anything to him?"
"Arbo's smart-ass answer to that would be, 'That and fifty cents will get you on the subway.'"

2011, Nick Arbuiso, The Day the Money Stopped, page 60:

that and a nickel will buy you a cup of coffee#English

(US, informal, humorous) Synonym of that and a nickel will buy you a cup of coffee.


that and a nickel will buy you a cup of coffee

A reputation is only useful to dime novelists, boy. That rep and a nickel will buy you a cup of coffee.

2011, James Ankrom, The Reaper, page 83:

“My gut tells me that he is, but with that and two bucks, I can get a cup of coffee, but not much else,” growled Max.

2012, Walter A. Turner, The Back Bay File, page 307:

"[…] I guess you got a medal when you got your arm shot off, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I got the Purple Heart. That and a nickel will get you a cup of weak coffee at the Busy Bee Cafe."

2013, James Ward Lee, A Texas Jubilee: Thirteen Stories from the Lone Star State:

“That and four bucks will buy you a cup of coffee,” Sunny said.

2019, Renee George, Thank You For Not Shifting:

that and a token will get you on the subway

(US, informal, humorous) Dismisses the mentioned thing as worthless or futile.


that and a token will get you on the subway


seven come eleven

(gambling) A superstitious incantation hoping for a favorable initial (comeout) roll of seven or eleven in the game of craps.


maskee

(historical, Anglo-Chinese pidgin) Never mind; of no consequence.


no great scratch

Among the spinners there was one, / Whose name was Samuel Patch; / He moped about, and did his stint / Folks thought him no great scratch.

1857, Samuel Griswold Goodrich, Peter Parley's Thousand and One Stories of Fact and Fancy, page 350:

No great scratch whether there's anythin' to kick at or not, but they know better'n to kick me, though they ain't no love for Henry, and he gives them heels plenty of room, […]

1921, Jessie Graham Flower, Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the Great North Woods, page 24:

A private might say, "McClellan thinks he's something, but he's no great scratch."

2001, John D. Wright, The Language of the Civil War, page 206:

(archaic, slang) Not much good; something of little value or importance.


I hope I may be shot

We average more physical, moral, and intellectual force than any people on the face of the airth ; we are a right-minded, strong-minded, sound-minded, and high-minded people, I hope I may be shot if we ain't.

1838, Ralph Griffiths, George Edward Griffiths, The Monthly Review, volume 147, page 10:

I wish I may be shot
I wish I may be shot#English

(colloquial, archaic) Alternative form of I wish I may be shot.


I wish I may be shot

It's a joke — if it isn't, I wish I may be shot.

1842, William Harrison Ainsworth, Ainsworth's Magazine, page 90:

(colloquial, archaic) A form of mild swearing used to emphasize the truth of an assertion; accompanied by if and the opposite of the assertion.


until the cows freeze over

Mixed metaphor combining until the cows come home + when hell freezes over.

blend

(humorous) For a very long period of time.


should see the other guy

Oh my God, what happened to your face?
 Yeah, I'm a little scratched up, but you should see the other guy.

(informal, humorous) Implying that there has been a fight and the other party came off even worse.


half again

Half again as long

George just talked to a friend of his downtown; he has a new job for Gus! And, it pays half again as much as he's been making.

1965, Robert Riley Crutcher, “What's Buggin' Hazel”, in William D. Russell, director, Hazel, season 4, episode 22, spoken by Dorothy Baxter (Whitney Blake):

Maji orbits the Vamshi binary giant stars. Vamshi-A is a blue star of spectral class A4III which burns at half again the temperature of Sol. Vamshi-B is an aging red giant of class M5III, over 220 times the size of Sol.

2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Maji planet description:


want to bet

“You want to bet?” Workman bunched his lips. He inhaled through his nose, the nostrils flaring as he studied Vaughn. Then he conceded the argument.

2011, George Harmon Coxe, Never Bet Your Life:

Are you sure? Do you really think so? (as a skeptical rebuttal to a claim)


wanna bet

“Oh, he'll make it,” said Knox.
Justin snickered. “Wanna bet?”
Knox's smile thinned.

(colloquial) Alternative form of want to bet.


the ghost walks

An allusion to a scene in Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

Ask the regular staff at any theatre when the ghost walks and the chances are that the answer will be — on a Friday, ie pay night (unless that happens to be on a Thursday!).

2010, John Harper, editor, Tales of Haunted Places:

(theater, humorous) The manager comes to pay the company's salaries.


wheels are turning

The transfer wheels are turning a bit faster as the European window comes closer and closer to being slammed shut.

2013 January 29, Avi Creditor, “Soccer: Closing transfer window could have impact on Americans Abroad”, in Sports Illustrated, retrieved 2022-01-07:

As you read this, bureaucratic wheels are turning to permit a towering three-block-long complex of 1,586 apartments to arise in front of Pier 40.

2016 February 5, George Capsis, “A Hospital or Condos?”, in WestView News, retrieved 2022-01-07:

"[T]his decision will reassure the public and the international community that our justice system is working, albeit the wheels are turning slowly."

2017 November 21, Colin Perkel, “4 Grenada officers charged with manslaughter in 2011 beating death of Toronto man”, in The Star, Canada, retrieved 2022-01-07:

(idiomatic) Progress is currently being made with respect to an ongoing process or other matter.

I don't know what thoughts are going through his little mind, but I'm sure the wheels are turning.

1982 December 30, Marguerite Kelly, “Aggressive 4-Year-Old”, in Washington Post, retrieved 2022-01-07:

But now, eight years after the Mandela election, the wheels are turning again, ideas are coming.

2002 October 16, Douglas Rodgers, “Birth of a nation”, in Guardian, UK, retrieved 2022-01-07:

Mr. Raemisch has gained a reputation as an outspoken reformer and has made clear that he wants to make significant changes. […] Mr. Raemisch's staff members have gotten used to his directness, and to his sudden silences. "When he's quiet, that's when he's at his best, because his wheels are turning," said Kellie Wasko, his deputy.

2014 March 15, Erica Goode, “After 20 Hours in Solitary, Colorado’s Prisons Chief Wins Praise”, in New York Times, retrieved 2022-01-07:

(idiomatic, of mental activity) Considerable thinking or other cognitive activity is occurring.


how did it go

A question inquiring about the outcome of an antecedent event.


see an argument

I can see an argument that it was the best movie of the year.

To believe an opinion has enough justification to sustain a debate about it, whether or not the opinion is ultimately true.


is your head cold

S, an army drill sergeant, asks A, a basic trainee who has not removed his hat on entering a building, 'Is your head cold?' A is initially puzzled but comes to see that what S meant is that A is to remove his hat.

1978, The Southwestern Journal of Philosophy, volumes 4-9, page 94:

“Is your head cold, Mr. Wade?” With a sheepish look, Clete swept his hat off.

2010, Yvonne Harris, The Vigilante's Bride, page 57:

(humorous) Drawing attention to a person's rudeness in not removing their hat.


across the way

Nearby on the opposite side of a street or area.


tell me something I don't know

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-tell me something I don't know.wav

(sarcastic) Said in response to someone who is stating something obvious.


enough to put in one's eye

You will not sell enough to put in your eye. It is not in the cards.

1947, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Appropriations, Government Corporations Appropriation Bill for 1948, page 31:

And the aggregate is not enough to put in your eye.

1962, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services, Inquiry Into the Strategic and Critical Material Stockpiles of the United States, page 2512:

There are a few advantages to breast-feeding . Breast-fed babies have fewer intestinal-tract diseases, fewer cases of diarrhea, and some immunity benefits, but not enough to put in your eye.

2006, Joan D. Hellstrom, Susan D. Findlay, Connie E. Ray, From Grandma to You: Childcare Wisdom for a New Generation, page 41:

(informal, in negative constructions) The smallest amount worth considering; a whit or jot.


no big deal

We couldn't get it to work, but it's no big deal. We still have time.

Used to indicate that something is trivial or unimportant.


DYOR

Alternative letter-case form of dyor (“do your own research”).


diversity is perversity

(derogatory) The advocacy or pursuit of diversity in human society tends to engender chaos and dysfunction.


I'm going to hell for this

(slang) Said as a response to laughing at or when making an offensive joke


on the drum

(idiomatic) Money in the form of paper currency or coins, paid immediately at the time and place of a transaction, especially to a soldier as pay or bonuses.


as soon as look at someone

He aren't^([sic]) got no more morals than a lobster, as would pinch his best friend's finger off as soon as look at him.

1888, George Manville Fenn, Mother Carey's Chicken, page 72:

He'd throw at you as soon as look at you. He terrified hitters. He'd just rear back and pump that fastball, and nobody ever hit him.

2004, Johnny Pesky, Phil Pepe, Few and Chosen Red Sox, page 139:

(colloquial) Immediately, without giving someone a chance to react or defend.


you break it, you bought it

you break it, you buy it
you break it, you buy it#English

Alternative form of you break it, you buy it.


no word of lie

no word of a lie
no word of a lie#English


won't someone think of the children

think of the children
think of the children#English

Alternative form of think of the children.


the camera never lies

A photograph or an image is always an honest representation of a person or an object.


God willing and the creek don't rise

Lord willing and the creek don't rise#English

Alternative form of Lord willing and the creek don't rise.


play or pay

(gambling, archaic) Either continue with a gambling arrangement or forfeit the money.


become one with one's inner self

From a scene in the Babylon 5 episode “The Parliament of Dreams.”

(euphemistic, humorous) To lose consciousness, especially as a result of alcohol consumption.


two can play at this game

two can play that game
two can play that game#English

Alternative form of two can play that game.


turn about is fair play

turnabout is fair play
turnabout is fair play#English

Alternative form of turnabout is fair play.


LATP

local anesthetic
local anesthetic#English

(medicine) Initialism of local anesthetic transperineal: a kind of biopsy.


TRUS

(medicine) Initialism of transrectal ultrasound.


don't spare the horses

An allusion to traditional horse-drawn carriages.


WAGMI

we're all gonna make it
we're all gonna make it#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of we're all gonna make it An expression of comradery.


and I don't mean maybe

(informal, idiomatic) Indicating that one is serious and not joking about a matter.


slava Ukraini

Transliteration of Ukrainian сла́ва Украї́ні (sláva Ukrajíni, literally “glory to Ukraine”). A patriotic salute originating in the Ukrainian War of Independence at the end of World War I, together with its response interjection heroiam slava. The phrase is in the dative case, with Украї́ні (Ukrajíni) being the dative form of the noun Украї́на (Ukrajína). It indicates the recipient of the action or the indirect object.

translit

сла́ва Украї́ні

“READY, AIM” … with the shout of “AIM!” Burlak suddenly pressed forward his body and with tremendous defiance shouted “SLAVA UKRAINI!” […] Passing several bunkers enroute to the west, Vasyl Motuk noted the “Death to Stalin!” “Slava Ukraini!” “We’ll Be Back!” and “You’ll Hear From Us Soon!” inscriptions crayoned upon the bunker walls.

1997, Michael O. Logusz, Galicia Division: The Waffen-SS 14th Grenadier Division 1943-1945, Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer Military History, →ISBN, pages 161 and 358:

Gleb is proud to be graduating from GISS. He thanks his mother, stepfather, stepbrother and his grandfather Vasya Kotov for all their help and support. SLAVA UKRAINI!

2014 June 11, “Gulf Islands Secondary School Class of 2014”, in Gulf Islands Driftwood, 54th year, number 24, Ganges, B.C., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 9, column 4:

And to our Ukrainian friends in this moment of agony, I say we are with you, and we are on your side. Your right to choose your own destiny is a right that the United Kingdom and our allies will always defend. And in that spirit I join you in saying slava Ukraini.

2022 February 24, Boris Johnson, “PM statement to the House of Commons on Ukraine: 24 February 2022”, in gov.uk, archived from the original on 2022-02-24:

I am proud to be here with all of you in this beautiful church, to try to address to you and speak in solidarity of all the people of Maryland that we stand with the brave, proud people of Ukraine. This has united the people of Maryland, America, and the world. Slava Ukraini.

2022 March 1, Larry Hogan, quotee, “Hogan attends prayer service for Ukraine, severs Maryland’s sister state status with Leningrad”, in The Star Democrat, Easton, Md., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 4, column 1:

Andrew dedicated his life to the Ukrainian community and a free and independent Ukraine. Slava Ukraini! In his teenage years Andrew was a champion long distance cyclist.

2022 March 2, Turner & Porter Funeral Directors, “GREGOROVICH, Andrew”, in The Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton, Ont., →ISSN, →OCLC, “Obituaries” section, page G6, column 2:

Anyone who wants proof that this [sic] really me: democracy obsessive, please no more populists, science is real, wombats, ultralights, Royal Enfields, Cambodia, policy, plagues, puffins, possums, pangolins, planes and a llama. Slava Ukraini!

2022 December 22, Matthew Daigle, quoting Dominic Cardy, “Where’s Cardy? MLA says Twitter account was hacked”, in Daily Gleaner, Fredericton, N.B., →ISSN, →OCLC, page A1, columns 3–4:

He clinked glasses with Yeva and the others. / “Slava Ukraini,” they said. / “Slava Ukraini,” he repeated, taking a healthy swig from his glass. It was cool and sweet in his mouth and burned a bit down his throat, enough to keep it from tasting like children’s juice. / “Where’s Svitlana?” he asked.

2024 February 20, Matt Gallagher, chapter IV, in Daybreak: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Atria Books, →ISBN:

To all the [R]epublicans who just booed me and my colleagues on the House floor for Ukraine flags here’s my answer — screw (Vladimir P)utin and Slava Ukraini!

2024 April 24, Justin Papp, quoting Bill Pascrell, “Flag fracas: Republicans ‘infuriated’ by show of support for Ukraine”, in Valley Morning Star, volume 112, number 74, Harlingen, Tex., →OCLC, page 11A, columns 2–3:

Let us support the good people in what my father always called “the old country.” I want to go there, back to visit the ancestral village. I want everyone there to be free and safe. President [Kamala] Harris can help make that happen. Slava Ukraini!

2024 October 20, Susanne Sklar, “Supporting Ukraine”, in Centre Daily Times, volume 136, number 91, State College, Pa., →ISSN, →OCLC, “Letters to the Editor” section, page 9A, column 6:

Russian invasion of 2022
w:Russian invasion of Ukraine

(neologism) A greeting and farewell indicating support for Ukraine, now in reference to the Russian invasion of 2022.


DOOM

Alternative form of doom (“didn't organize, only moved”).