until the pips squeak

Originally coined by the First Lord of the Admiralty and Unionist election candidate Eric Geddes in an election promise to "squeeze the German lemon until the pips squeak", made during a speech in Cambridge on 10 December 1918 and reported the next day by the Cambridge Daily News.

Churchill was looking back to a statement made in 1918 by the British politician and businessman Eric Campbell Geddes. A Unionist candidate in the General Election of that year (seen as a 'khaki' election), he was pressed to make clear his position on war reperations to be extracted from Germany. An account of his speech at Cambridge, 10 December 1918, appeared in the Cambridge Daily News of the following day. According to this report, Geddes said: 'The Germans, if this Government is returned, are going to pay every penny; they are going to be squeezed as a lemon is squeezed - until the pips squeak.

2006 October 26, Elizabeth Knowles, What They Didn't Say: A Book of Misquotations:

Martyrs are desperate to demonstrate their self-flagellatory capabilities in the hope that someone out there actually cares. If they think their peers or bosses really do, then they are seriously deluding themselves; I'm afraid the Martyr will be exploited until the pips squeak.

2011, Andrew Holmes, Pains in the Office: 50 People You Absolutely, Definitely Must Avoid at Work!:

It's also possible that this Dennis is based on the real-life Labour firebrand, Denis Healey (b. 1917), the shadow of Chancellor of the Exchequer 1972-1974. In the run-up to the 1974 general election, Healey was particularly on point, promising that when Labour took back the government ten days later (Febrary 28), he'd “squeeze property speculators until the pips squeak,” as well as “wring the neck of the Housing Finance Act.”

2015, Darl Larsen, A Book about the Film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, page 101:

I’m no fan of the Labour leader, but if you take a look at the supposedly Marxist plans he and John McDonnell have put forward, they’re not exactly planning to tax the rich until the pips squeak.

2019 May 11, James Moore, “Sod the Rich List, we should be publishing a 'Tax Contributor' list that can be a badge of honour”, in The Independent:

In the meantime he will continue to squeeze the Iranian economy until the pips squeak because clearly it is bothering them.

2019 September 22, Tim Newark, “Trump strikes right tone in necessary face-off with Iran”, in The Express:

(UK) Until the maximum amount has been extracted.


whose ox is gored

Who is suffering or losing out in a given situation.


how's every little thing

TESSIO: Buon Natale, everybody. Buon Natale... (he smiles at Tom Hagen) Hi, Tom, how's every little thing?
HAGEN: (helping him with the presents) Wonderful, Sal.

1973, Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather Part II (screenplay, second draft)

(colloquial) A greeting, asking about a person's life; how are you?


the nerve of

This store charged me twice the price for this item! The nerve of them!

Followed by a pronoun or personal name(s), expresses disapproval or anger about something done or said by the referred person(s).

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see the, nerve, of.


out for a duck

From the use of duck to mean a batsman's score of 0 in cricket.

The inevitable happened - I was out for a duck and was furious when I got back to the dressing room.

2012, Andrew Flintoff, Ashes to Ashes: One Test After Another:

The batsman out first ball is out for a duck, no matter how fervently and frequently he replays the awful moment in his mind's eye; a missed catch is a drop, however intricate and extenuating the context; and wickets claimed in the post-match bar do not count, even if the bowler believes them "deserved".

2013, Robert Winder, The Little Wonder: The Remarkable History of Wisden:

Shaw's five victims included Australian skipper, David Gregory, out for a duck.

2014, Philip Barker, Lord's Firsts: 200 Years of Making History at Lord’s Cricket Ground, page 98:

(cricket) Having batted no hits for the entire game.


doomed if you do, doomed if you don't

en-adj

doomed if you do, doomed if you don't (not comparable)

Probably coined as a non-profane alternative to damned if you do, damned if you don't.

(idiomatic) A situation where either choice results in a negative outcome; dilemma.


on the pad

The badge showed that he was on the inspector's pad and the telephone numbers suggested that he had connections.

1978, Burgess Laughlin, Job Opportunities in the Black Market, page 5:

New York City police officers "on the pad" were found to receive up to $850 a month to protect a single dealer.

2002, Samuel Walker, Charles M. Katz, The Police in America: An Introduction, page 325:

But I swear to you, Dave, I never got any free action because of my badge, and I never went on the pad.

2011, James Lee Burke, A Dave Robicheaux Ebook Boxed Set:


on the pad

From the sense of "to pad" meaning to practice highway robbery.

. I crown thy nab with a gage of bene-bowse, And stall thee by the salmon into the clowes; To maund on the pad, and strike all the cheats,

I go on the pad.

1788, John O'Keeffe, The Prisoner at Large:

As for why I went on the pad, 'tis simple: I was poor as a church mouse.

1986, Maggie Mackeever, Lady Sherry and the Highwayman, page 218:

(archaic, slang) Practicing highway robbery; robbing travelers on the public roads.


upon the pad

A rogue, a very caner I, sir, one that maunds upon the pad.

For Offences of this Nature, she was thrice burnt in the Hand, after which she marry'd one Humphry Jackson, a Butcher, who was taught by her to leave off his Trade, and go upon the Pad in the Day time, while she went upon the Buttock and Twang by Night;

1748, Capt. James MacKlecan, A General and True History of the Lives and Actions of the most Famous Highwaymen, Street-Robbers, Pirates, &c., page 414:

But the one restraint was as irksome as the other, and Harry Simms abandoned the needle, as he had scorned the grammar, to go upon the pad.

1895, The New Review - Volume 13, page 681:

Should our case be ne'er so bad, We will never be so mad As to go upon the pad Whilst our life endureth.

1968, George de Forest Lord, Poems on Affairs of State: 1685-1688, edited by G. M. Crump:


do you need to use the bathroom

(chiefly US, South Africa, Canada, euphemistic, interrogative) Used to ask if one's interlocutor needs to urinate or defecate.


has left the building

Derived from Elvis has left the building.

Organisational capital is typically described as dead. It is what has been left behind after human capital has left the building.

2008, Jan Mouritsen, Organisational Capital: Modelling, Measuring and Contextualising, Routledge, →ISBN, page 24:

The quality-control department has left the building and anyone with a halfdecent memory of a half-remembered match is out there publishing his memoirs. The scraps, the scrapes, the sessions — oh, what fun we had. Except we didn't have much fun, did we? Most of them are poor.

2012, Fred Eyre, Kicked into Touch: Plus Extra Time, Random House, →ISBN, page 9:

When a Risk Taker gets a hold of an idea, reason has left the building. And with it go concern for other people's feelings, attention to details, and longrange planning.

2012, Bethany Palmer, The 5 Money Personalities: Speaking the Same Love and Money ..., Thomas Nelson, →ISBN, page 29:

Just as I can run through a long succession of too many negative "what if" scenarios, my mom is equally efficient at producing a long list of what could go right. Of course, she generally takes it a step beyond into the absolute impossibility of positivity after the logic train has left the building; I find her rosy interpretations rather annoying and frustrating.

2012, Joelle Burnette, Cancer Time Bomb: How the Brca Gene Stole My Tits and Eggs, Joelle Burnette, →ISBN, page 40:

Sales 1.0 —and its outdated and ineffective sales tactics— has left the building. Today's Sales 2.0 is fueled by tools.

2013, Josiane Feigon, Smart Sales Manager: The Ultimate Playbook for Building and ..., AMACOM, →ISBN, page 47:

(idiomatic, humorous) Something is gone and never coming back.


blow wide open

The figurativeness relies on a metaphor where things that were formerly concealed (hidden from view) are now being thoroughly exposed (brought out in the open), as if by an explosion (compare blow (something) up (vt) and blow (something) away).

(figuratively, transitive) To expose (problems, lies, or corruption).


neti neti

And so: The indication of Brahman is Neti, Neti — Not this, Not this, for beyond saying Neti, Neti, there is nothing else possible — for It is Truth beyond Truth

1970, Rohit Mehta, The Call of the Upanishads (1999 edition), p. 257 (quoting the Upanishadic figure, Ajatasatru of Kasi)

The multiethnic crowd wore gym clothes, traditional Indian garb and a few political T-shirts. […] [M]ost said they were drawn by the mix of yoga and politics — and a chance to say neti-neti to President Bush.

2004 July 20, Michael Ordona, “Going to the mat for Kerry”, in Los Angeles Times, retrieved 2019-10-22:

[T]he Brihadaranyaka Upanishad uses negatives to describe God: "The Divine is not this and it’s not that (Neti, neti)," Sage Yajnyavalkya tells his students.

2014 September 3, Vithal C Nadkarni, “Of Angels & Crocodiles”, in India Times, The Economic Times, retrieved 2019-10-22:

(Hinduism) In Vedic and subsequent Hindu philosophy, the doctrine of "not this, not that", which holds that Brahman (the Supreme Being, God) has absolutely no specific characteristics and cannot be described in positive terms.


I'm telling a lie

"I seen one fellow in Jerusalem, wait, I'm telling a lie, it was in Alex, when I went there for a bit of leave, one fellow with a complete foxhunt on his back."

1956, Anthony Burgess, Time for a Tiger (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 16:


not worth the powder

An allusion to gunpowder being wasted on small birds etc.

not worth the powder and shot (alternative)

(colloquial) Not worth the time or effort.


not worth the powder and shot

not worth the powder
not worth the powder#English

Alternative form of not worth the powder.


it's a free country

"No, indeed! and I shan't do sitch a thing, Benjamin. This treatment is a newity to me, and what I won't put up with. I have a hundred and fifty dollars at use, besides a bed and twenty sheep, to good; and I don't crave to live in a house where a body musn't call a young woman by her given name to her face. I will call her Betsy as much as I please ; it's a free country, and no one can stop me. I did intend to stop while summer, but I shall quit to-morrow morning and I will talk just as I please."

1832, James Fenimore Cooper, The Pioneers, or The Sources of the Susquehanna; a Descriptive Tale, pages 169–170:

RN: You think you should not have gone?
TN: Yeah, I think it was a bad one to do. It was a good idea, but we shouldn't have gone to the University of Maryland … It was the motliest crew you've ever seen.
RN: Well, that's my view about going to the universities. Well, I hope it didn't bother you too much.
TN: No, it didn't. It was just—I know, I was just embarrassed because the Chinese issued a complaint.
RN: A complaint about what?
TN: Oh, you know, that they were being rude to the chairman—they were insulting Chairman Mao. There was nothing we could do! It's a free country!

1972, James Warren, “More Nixon Tapes A selection from recordings in the National Archives”, in The Atlantic:

:I might say the young people in the back that had the banner which I couldn't read—it was already torn down when I saw it—you know, this is a free country. And I'm President, and I think it's very good—even when people express themselves that way—I'm not embarrassed by it. I think the reaction of all of you, because you were disturbed, did its job. There's no need for me to embarrass them. So, I think it's a proper place in our country for people to raise a banner or to ask the President a difficult question or to shout out a criticism.
I don't have any problem with that. It's a free country. I want to keep it that way.

1979, Jimmy Carter, “Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), page 1573:

"You can do what you want... it's a free country!"

Said when others seek to restrict one's behavior as a way of pointing out that an action is not illegal or forbidden.


says you

Hot dogs are the best food ever! — Says you!

My car is the fastest car in this whole parking lot! — Says you. Prove it, let's race.

a statement of disagreement or disbelief, especially when highlighting hypocrisy


however one slices it

any way one slices it
any way one slices it#English


by any stretch

Clipping of "by any stretch of the imagination".

With its barred windows and fading paper signs announcing the various forms of its artery cloggers du jour, it couldn't by any stretch be called inviting.

2011, Marcia Clark, Guilt By Association:

I can see nothing in that case which supports the proposition that a right conferred on an individual by the articles of a company to remain as president until removed in general meeting, and which is unrelated to any shareholding, can, by any stretch, be described as a class right.

2011, Alan J. Dignam, Andrew Hicks, Hicks & Goo's Cases and Materials on Company Law, page 464:

I wasn't genetically tied to her by any stretch which gave me some comfort.

2014, Emivita -, By Any Means Necessary: My Personal Struggles with Good and Evil:

But Louie Ray's mama was a gem, and while the Kirklands weren't rich by any stretch, they were a little better off than us.

2017, Frank Griffin, Touched by Fire, page 75:


cooking on gas

cooking with gas
cooking with gas#English


between two stools

From an old proverb, "Between two stools, one falls to the ground", which dates from 1390. This, in turn, is most likely a translation of the medieval Latin proverb labitur enitens sellis herere duabus ("he falls trying to sit on two seats").

Accusing the opposition of attempting to "sit between two stools," he further explained: We will unite with no party, as a party -- and with individuals of all parties, if we believe them to be sincerely the friends of the people.

1967, Walter Hugins, Jacksonian Democracy and the Working Class:

There are many obstacles to the attainment of position, these being largely caused by clergymen or lawyers; moreover, the native is sometimes apt to come to grief “between two stools,” or from want of decision in professional or business matters, while secret enemies injure the position, though the marriage partner benefits it.

1996, Alan Leo, Astrology for All, page 168:

Sleep, however, was my only refreshment: I was as it were between two stools; one of my friends did not think it necessary, and the other never intended, to send me any supper.

2011, Dixon Denham, Hugh Clapperton, Narrative of Travels and Discoveries in Northern and Central Africa:

Military leaders become nervous about being sucked into combat with limits and provisos typical of political compromises in a democracy, but which risk leaving their effort between two stools: too much to avoid embroilment, but not enough to win.

Not fitting neatly into either of two categories or positions.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see between, two, stool.


caught between two stools

Scientists are caught between two stools. On the one hand, they have been brought up to apply rigorous experimental procedures to precisely defined problems with results that have to meet standards of peer review. On the other hand, they are being told that such reductionism is insufficient and that unless they broaden the scope of their work they will suffer reduced support.

2011, Mohammed Saad, Girma Zawdie, Theory and Practice of Triple Helix Model in Developing Countries:

No matter how hard they tried to clarify their position, the universalists found themselves “caught between two stools”—that is, Nazism and Austrofascism— rejected by the former and rejecting the latter.

2014, Janek Wasserman, Black Vienna: The Radical Right in the Red City, 1918–1938:

As a result, they are caught between two stools: on the one hand, they model their social integration on traditional gender roles and struggle to live by these standards, even though these roles are at odds with what they actually feel; and on the other hand, they feel that these gender roles constrain them and diminish their sense of their personal identity, either because they cannot live by the standards these roles imposed on them or because their aspiration to put them selve first encourages them to refuse to allow themselves to be hemmed in.

2016, Laurent Vidal, Alain Musset, Waiting Territories in the Americas, page 214:

Unable to fit into either of two conflicting categories, and as a result likely to fail.


as much sinning as sinned against

From William Shakespeare's King Lear: "I am a man more sinned against than sinning."

(of a person). Whose bad acts are possibly outweighed by the bad actions of others towards them.


no skin off one's teeth

From a confusion of no skin off one's back/nose with by the skin of one's teeth.

No skin off our teeth, right, boys?

2014, George Donnelly, Lando Cruz and the Coup Conspiracy:

IT IS NO skin off our teeth to grant that other creatures may have their wants, needs, and passions as well as varying degrees of intelligence, geniality, and perhaps compassion.

2014, John Edward Terrell, A Talent for Friendship:

So you're not interested in learning? No skin off my teeth.

2015, Glenn Beck, Agenda 21: Into the Shadows, page 321:

(informal, idiomatic) Of no consequence to one.


head

the family that sleeps together keeps together

Parody of the family that prays together stays together. Originally coined by Hugh Hefner in the 1960s to refer to the way sexual intimacy creates bonds between a married couple, the phrase was adopted by others who reinterpreted it to refer to incest.

In such families incest serves to protect its members against separation anxiety (Eist and Mandel 1968; Gutheil and Avery 1977; Woodbury and Schwartz 1971). Their motto would probably be "The family that sleeps together keeps together."

1984, Amnon Carmi, Hanita Zimrin, Child abuse, page 135:

The family that sleeps together keeps together! In short: A bold but academically challenged German undresses an unconscious Valkyrie, and finds it a whole lot scarier than killing a singing dragon.

2001, Robert Thicknesse, Simon Key, The Times Opera Notes: An Accessible Yet Scholarly Guide to Over 90 Major Operas, page 153:

Family Theatre's maxim "The family that prays together stays together," could apply to Falcon Crest if "prays" were changed to "preys." “The family that sleeps together keeps together” is another possibility. At least the intermarrying is not as bizarre as it is in Wagner's The Ring of the Nibelungs, in which Siegmund commits both incest and adultery with his married sister, Sieglinde, and their son Siegfried takes his aunt Brünhilde as his wife.

2014, Bernard F. Dick, The President’s Ladies: Jane Wyman and Nancy Davis, page 236:

(humorous) A supposed motto describing the dynamics of incest.


here's hoping

In every instance the veteran landlord was requested to imitate the custom of the cupbearers to kings, and taste the liquor he presented, by the invitation of "After you is manners," with which request he ordinarily complied by wetting his lips, first expressing the wish of "Here's hoping," leaving it to the imagination of the hearers to fill the vacuum by whatever good each thought most desirable.

1823, James Fenimore Cooper, chapter 13, in The Pioneers:

"Good!" cried Mr. Damon, […] "Ho! for the cavern and the lost city of Kurzon."
"And the idol of gold," said Tom Swift to himself. "I hope we can get it ahead of Beecher. Perhaps if I can help in that—Oh, well, here's hoping, that's all!" and a little smile curved his lips.

1917, Victor Appleton, chapter 21, in Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders:

The good news is, it still ain't over for France, and despite the loss of Henry and Petit for two (here's hoping) and one game respectively, les Bleus are looking a bit better.

2002 June 24, “World Cup: Brazil Carves Up Turkey”, in Time, retrieved 2019-11-19:

The new MoMA is also more physically welcoming, and in many ways more workable. […] It remains to be seen if this expansion will suffer the overcrowding that plagued the last, but here's hoping.

2019 October 17, Roberta Smith, “MoMA’s Art Treasure, No Longer Buried”, in New York Times, retrieved 2019-11-19:

HES's [Historic Environment Scotland's] most recent 2019 inspection suggests that the pier remains in a "poor" condition, but includes the note: "A community group is reported to be interested in acquiring the pier." Here's hoping.

2023 December 13, Dr Joseph Brennan, “Railway heritage remains at risk”, in RAil, number 998, page 49:

An expression of desire that an event or outcome identified in the context will actually occur.


not on your nellie

'Not on your nellie. Nobody's to know about this.

2007, John Lawton, Bluffing Mr. Churchill:

'Not on your nellie,' Anna said. This latest phrase had been overheard in the kitchens of the hall, and was redeployed for the first time now.

'No, Doctor. If I killed you, I would miss the satisfaction of abandoning you here, without a time machine, beyond any hope of salvation.' The Master waggled the blaster. 'The key'. 'Not on your nellie'.

2014, Alastair Reynolds, Doctor Who: Harvest of Time, page 241:

not on your Nellie
not on your Nellie#English


not on your Nellie

“We can stand on each others shoulders and help each other over. Who wants to go first?” “Not on your Nellie!” said Professor Sluggy.

2006, Michelle Gannon, Woll the Wizard of Love and Laughter, page 68:

No matter what propagandists promote, the state government does not love you or your automobile; no sir-ee, not on your Nellie.

2014, Denis J. Linehan, The Shadows of August, page 49:

But were any of those going to quell the uprising? Not on your Nellie, Dean.

not on your nelly
not on your nelly#English


DNT

(Internet, advertising) Initialism of Do Not Track.


gone by lunchtime

A reference to a sudden termination of employment, when an employee is told to pack up their belongings and be "gone by lunchtime".

Foreign policy could not remain with Lockwood Smith who told visiting US Senators that New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy would be "gone by lunchtime."

2017 April 8, Audrey Young, “Long list of people glad to see Murray McCully gone”, in New Zealand Herald:

It's a meaningless race to the bottom of populist politics that undermines the complexity of tackling poverty as an endemic, intergenerational issue; that reduces it to something comfortably dealt with in the space of an electoral cycle – gone by lunchtime, perhaps?

2017 September 6, “Editorial: Poor are the biggest losers in high-stakes political game”, in The Dominion Post:

And the BBC's own Nicky Campbell has queried if the pair will be "gone by lunchtime" following allegations from the comedian's ex-girlfriend Rebecca Humphries.

2018 October 9, “Katya Jones and Seann Walsh to be booted off Strictly by lunchtime, claims BBC presenter”, in Irish Mirror:

I'll tell you what the Aussies would do - this guy would be gone by lunchtime.

2018 October 29, Dan Satherley, “Immigrant drug lord Karel Sroubek should be 'gone by lunchtime' - Simon Bridges”, in Newshub:

Kaikoura District Council chief executive Stuart Grant said the group wanted “ECan gone by lunchtime. This is a chance to gut the organisation. If water is staffed by ECan, it is doomed.”

2018 December 12, David Williams, “What Canterbury's water-bottling case tells us”, in Newsroom:


color me

Well, color me surprised! I wasn't expecting you here.

Oh, phew. Color me relieved.

(followed by an adjective describing an emotion) I am (adjective).


GFBD

(military slang) Initialism of God forgives, brothers don't.


UCGC

(US, military (Marine Corps)) Initialism of unit, corps, God, country: in descending order of importance.


no tickee, no washee

A phrase stereotypically attributed to Chinese laundry workers in centuries past, who would only return a customer's washing when the ticket (receipt) was presented.

Dr. Weiss said that what he had said was, "No grant, no research, no tickee, no washee."

1974, New York (State). Office of Employee Relations, Grievance and Disciplinary Arbitrations (volume 2, page 118)

'I don't need money. I need information.'
'And if I don't proffer this information you'll take your business elsewhere?' Buzz nodded toward the tram car. 'No tickee, no washee. […]

1999, James Ellroy, The Dudley Smith Trio, page 191:

It was really important to keep the slip of paper, given as a receipt because No tickee, no washee!

2002, Barbara Ann Lambert, Rusty Nails & Ration Books, page 326:

(Canada, US, slang) Something is not to be had without an exchange; there will be no deal without the required consideration or recompense.


NGCI

(UK) Initialism of no gluten-containing ingredients.


sick to the back teeth

"Passengers are sick to their back teeth of paying for boardroom largesse and eye-watering fares."

2019 December 18, Andrew Roden, “Rail fares to rise by an average of 2.7% in January”, in Rail, page 17:

(British, idiomatic) Extremely annoyed about, fed up, tired of.


OTSOG

dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants#English


one's own boss

Questioned on his relationship with the Ministry of Transport, Dr. Beeching said that he was "his own boss" to a large extent and that he could not recollect a veto by the Minister on any proposal, although it was true that in a number of matters B.T.C. plans had to be cleared with the Government.

1963 January, “"A lot of worry" for Dr. B.”, in Modern Railways, page 3:

In a position to make decisions or take a course of action without referring to or being overruled by another person.


q.e.d.

Now let any right line meet four harmonicals in A, C, B, D, and if thoſe harmonicals be parallel, the thing is evident; but, if they interſect in V, draw ECF parallel to VD, the line moſt remote from C; then, by the firſt part, EC#61;CF, and AD#58;AC#58;#58;VD#58;EC or CF. Therefore AD#58;AC#58;#58;BD#58;CB. q.e.d.

1803, “The Mathematical Repository, Nº 63”, in The Gentleman’s Diary, or The Mathematical Repository; an Almanack for the Year of Our Lord 1803: […], London: Printed for the Company of Stationers by Nichols and Son, […]; [a]nd sold by George Greenhill, […], →OCLC, page 33:

Prop[osition] VI. One substance cannot be produced by another substance. Demonst[ration]. In the preceding proposition we have seen that there cannot in the nature of things be two Substances of the same attributes, or that they have anything in common (by Prop. II.); and so (by Prop. III.) one cannot be the cause of, or be produced by, another: q.e.d.

1870, Benedict de Spinoza [i.e., Baruch Spinoza], R[obert] Willis, “[The Ethics.] Part I.—Of God.”, in Benedict de Spinoza; His Life, Correspondence, and Ethics, London: Trübner & Co., […], →OCLC, page 418:


Q. E. D.

If death, ſaid my father, reaſoning with himſelf, is nothing but the ſeparation of the ſoul from the body;—and if it is true that people can walk about and do their buſineſs without brains,—then certes the ſoul does not inhabit there. Q. E. D.

1759, [Laurence Sterne], chapter XIX, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, 2nd (1st London) edition, volume II, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 168:

Theorem 2. The Angles B, C, at the Baſe of an Iſoceles Triangle ABC, are equal to each other; and a Line AD biſecting the Angle BAC, divides the Baſe into two equal Parts, and is perpendicular thereto. For becauſe the Line AD biſects the #92;angleA, that is, makes the #92;angleBAD#61;#92;angleCAD, and Side AB is #61;AC, and AD common to both, the #92;triangleABD#61;#92;triangleACD; #92;angleB#61;#92;angleC, and #92;angleADB#61;#92;angleADC; #92;becauseAD#92;perp to BC. Q. E. D.

1775, Benjamin Donn, “An Essay on Plane Geometry”, in The Geometrician: Containing Essays on Plane Geometry, and Trigonometry: […], 2nd edition, London: Sold by J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, book I (The Introduction), paragraph 59, page 10:

Ergo, Reuben Butler might take possession of the parish of Knocktarlitie, without forfeiting his friendship or favour—Q. E. D.

1818 July 25, Jedediah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], chapter VI, in Tales of My Landlord, Second Series, […] (The Heart of Mid-Lothian), volume IV, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Company, →OCLC, page 120:

[I]f the Son [of God] be in nature equal to the Father, he is also equal in Godhead, which is a word expressing nature; and if equal in Godhead, equally God supreme. Q. E. D.

1823, Daniel Waterland, “A Second Defence of Some Queries Relating to Dr. Clarke’s Scheme of the Holy Trinity: In Answer to the Country Clergyman’s Reply”, in The Works of the Rev. Daniel Waterland, D.D. […], volume III, Oxford, Oxfordshire: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, query III, page 165:

quod erat demonstrandum
quod erat demonstrandum

Alternative form of Q.E.D. (“initialism of quod erat demonstrandum”).


sparks fly

(informal) Used to describe a verbal or physical confrontation of an angry or heated nature taking place.

(informal) Used to describe two people who are romantically or sexually attracted to each other.


NHI

As incensed as the public gets at appallingly brutal killings–the ones that blow away innocents–police expend little sympathy on criminal-to-criminal mayhem. An acronym drifts unwritten about the system; those are NHI crimes–No Human Involved. Such talk is severely not part of official policy […]

The cops got an actual rubber stamp that says NHI.

2002, Lynn Breedlove, Godspeed, page 24:

According to the old unwritten code of the Los Angeles Police Department, Dovon's was a nothing murder. “NHI-No Human Involved,” the cops used to say.

2015, Jill Leovy, Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America, Spiegel & Grau, →ISBN, page 6:

no human involved
no human involved#English

(slang) Acronym of no human involved (“describing a crime committed against a person deemed societally undesirable”).


Queen Anne's dead

In reference to Anne, Queen of Great Britain, who died in 1714.

(colloquial) That is yesterday's news; everybody knows that already.


star in the east

A discreet warning that one’s trouser fly is undone.


thanks, but no thanks

An expression of gratitude for the offer of something that one does not want or is not interested in (often used sarcastically or impolitely)


as provided for

As provided for in the new city charter, it has 51 members, compared with 35 in the Council it succeeds.

(Regarding an action): Under the conditions stated (within or by a given document).


promises, promises

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

(humorous) A response to a promise suggesting doubt that the promise will be kept.

(humorous or sarcastic) A response to a threat, implying that the threat is empty and, often, also that it is ineffective because it involves something that the person threatened would actually like to happen.


going, going, gone

Often used by an auctioneer to indicate that an auction is closing with the convention that once the word "gone" is said no further bids will be accepted.


lato sensu

From Latin lātō sēnsū and sēnsū lātō, both meaning the same. Various misspellings exist, such as lato senso, latu sensu, senso lato and sensu latu, which can be attributed to ignorance of the underlying Latin grammar causing analogical leveling of the endings. (The only grammatically correct alternative form is sensu lato, which is also commonly found in English.)


que sera sera

que sera (canonical)
sera (canonical)
que será, será (alternative)

/ˈkeɪ sɛˌɹɑː sɛˈɹɑː/

An ungrammatical hispanicization of the artificial Italian language phrase "che sara sara", from standard Italian quel che sarà, sarà (“what will be, will be”), coined by American composers Jay Livingston and Ray Evans for use as the title to their 1956 song “Que Sera, Sera” (as such, this phrase represents an artifice based upon an artifice).

bor

whatever happens, happens
whatever happens, happens

"whatever happens, happens", "whatever will be, will be". Ostensibly employed to express a personal philosophy of fatalism and acceptance of the future.

Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)


que será, será

/ˈkeɪ sɛˌɹɑː sɛˈɹɑː/


I couldn't of said it better myself

I couldn't have said it better myself#English

Misspelling of I couldn't have said it better myself.


let's get this circus on the road

"Then he'd take a quick look at the script and say, 'Let's get this circus on the road.' The cameras would turn."

1982, Norm Goldstein, Frank Sinatra: Ol' Blue Eyes, page 57:

The keys were in the ignition. "Come on," Jargodin said. "Let's get this circus on the road. I'll follow you."

1994, Jim Ranie, Jargodin: The Moonlighter, Brisbane: Jim Ranie, page 232:

(idiomatic) Let's start; let's begin (a journey, undertaking, etc.).


weird flex, but OK

weird flex but OK (alternative)
weird flex but ok (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-weird flex, but OK.wav

In an ACU blog written in 2010, GATA's claim to fame is that they are the "oldest continuously named social club on the ACU campus" (weird flex, but OK).

2018, Lauren Franco, "Pink and green since 1919, ACU's oldest club", The Optimist (Abiline Christian University), 12 October 2018, page 10

To the girl who kept sending snapchats during lecture with her front flash on...weird flex but ok

2018, Courtney, quoted in "Shoutout," The Badger Herald (University of Wisconsin), 13 November 2018, page 21

Pencil – Doing assignments in pen? Weird flex but ok.

2019 September, Abby Paul, “What essential school supply did you forget?”, in The Bridge, University of Alberta, page 15:

Much like when an actor in a play breaks the fourth wall and speaks to the audience, but the other characters on stage, who also witnss the actor speaking and acting, don't understand to whom the actor is actually talking, and in this case neither does the actor himself, as it is an unconscious address. One is left asking, "why are you telling me this or doing this?" Or in more modern lingo, "that's a weird flex, but OK."

2020, Bethany Morris, Chase Kelly O'Gwin, Sebasteinne Grant, Sakenya McDonald, Subjectivity in Psychology in the Era of Social Justice, Routledge, →ISBN:

(Internet slang) Used to indicate that one finds an action or statement to be showy and strange, and possibly unwittingly unflattering to the speaker.


I'll be in my bunk

From a scene in the episode "War Stories" (2002) of the television series Firefly, in which Jayne Cobb reacts to seeing courtesan Inara walk off with a female client by stating, "I'll be in my bunk."

It was exhausting in all the wrong ways, but I made it through the two weeks without succumbing to temptation. Will I give up for good? Hell no. But I now appreciate it a whole lot more.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be in my bunk.

2013, James Haydon, "Going Without: Masturbating", Vertigo (University of Technology, Sydney), Issue 2 (2013), page 12

Speaking of people in the Thor movies, Idris Elba—Marvel's Heimdall, and the guy everyone wants to be the new James Bond—just set the date for his first turn as the host of Saturday Night Live. People's Sexiest Man Alive will take the stage in studio 8H on March 9 and will be promoting his new Netflix film, Turn Up Charlie. Said fans everywhere, "I'll be in my bunk."

2019 February 21, Angela Watercutter, “Thor Is Going to Be Playing the Hulk”, in Wired:

I'm still working my way through the Bao Bun Bennie menu (plus the curry-spiced hash browns are godlike), but the Crispy Fried Chicken French Toast is also... Well, let's just say I'll be in my bunk.

2019, Rosemary Rowe, in Gail Johnson, "Notables share ideal Vancouver days", The Georgia Straight, 13 June 2019, page 13

(fandom slang) Used to imply that one needs to excuse oneself to privately indulge in a pleasurable activity, particularly masturbation.


if you see what I mean

if you know what I mean
if you know what I mean#English

Alternative form of if you know what I mean.


can a duck swim

rhetorical question
rhetorical question#English

(colloquial, rhetorical question) A rhetorical question in response to a question whose answer is an emphatic yes.


can a duck

(colloquial) An emphatic "yes"; shortening of Can a duck swim?


that'll do it to you

"Yup. I guess this blond-haired guy pistol-whipped him, out of jealousy over a woman."
"That'll do it to you, all right."

2004, Thomas Sparrow, Northwoods Standoff, Bluestone Press, →ISBN, page 164:

Chong: You look back and realize how silly it was. What it was was success. That'll do it to you. That's why groups break up.

2008 October 23, Chris Riemenschneider, “Where there's smoke, there's ... Cheech and Chong”, in Star Tribune:

Then you add on top the penalties, especially in crucial situations, that'll do it to you. That'll get you beat.

2019 October 27, Jarvis Landry, “Cleveland Browns Postgame Quotes 10/27”, in New England Patriots:

(colloquial) That will have that effect on one.


the curtain falls

But she's not gone yet and I've made arrangements for one more pig-sticking party up country before the Monkeys come in and the curtain falls for good.

2009, Hugh MacLennan, Return of the Sphinx, McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, →ISBN:

Probably its leader Paul Berenger is keen to bequeath it as his final legacy before the curtain falls for him.

2019 April 22, T.P. Saran, “Electoral Year and Reforms Due”, in Mauritius Times:

(idiomatic) The end of something has come.


the knives are out

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-the knives are out.wav

(informal, chiefly UK) People are angry.


one will know the reason why

'Sir, I know what to do,' retorted Mrs Pipchin, 'and of course shall do it. Susan Nipper,' snapping her up particularly short, 'a month's warning from this hour.'
'Oh indeed!' cried Susan, loftily.
'Yes,' returned Mrs Pipchin, 'and don't smile at me, you minx, or I'll know the reason why! Go along with you this minute!'

1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:

When the negro smashes into your drawing room some day in the future with a repeating rifle in his hand, his flat nostrils dilated, his yellow eyes and teeth gleaming, you will make good on your protestations of absolute equality or he will know the reason why.

1906, Thomas Dixon Jr., sermon at New York's Baptist Church:

She will be a respectable man's wife, or I will know the reason why!

2011, Bertrice Small, The Dragon Lord's Daughters:

One will demand or expect justification; used in threats.


bone apple tea

From a food photo uploaded on Facebook by Dunta Pickett on 1 August 2016, which was captioned “My BIRTHDAY dinner to myself...bone Apple tea.” It was screenshotted and posted on the Worldstar Hip Hop Facebook page and spread as a meme in a few days.

Whoever gets this car next is going to be pissed because the steering wheel is covered in oily dressing. Bone apple tea!

2016 November, Jesse Standing, “Review: Abandoned Salad”, in The Moot Times, University of Calgary, page 10, column 4:

He takes the other spoon, and we each dig out a bite of this gunk. I’m breathing through my mouth so I don’t have to smell so much of it, but all that means is I’m starting to taste it on the air instead. / “Ready?” Perry asks. / “Sure,” I say. “Bone apple tea.” / Perry laughs, and I hope there’s nothing called a bone apple that can be made into a tea, I’m just trying to be smartass while I can still talk without retching.

2017, L.A. Fields, “King of Fruits”, in Steve Berman, editor, His Seed: An Arboretum of Erotica, Unzipped Books, →ISBN, page 93:

“Bone apple tea,” they say to each other as they grill chicken and saute broccoli.

2022 April 1, Good Boy, “The goodest boy”, in The Bull, volume 97, Searcy, Ark.: Harding University, page 4A, column 3:


bitten by the same bug

By refusing to acknowledge the painful reality that most Americans had been bitten by the same bug that afflicted Roosevelt, Lodge, and Beveridge, the anti-imperialists were letting the people off the hook and in their own way preserving the American sense of innocence.

1984, Stuart Creighton Miller, "Benevolent Assimilation": The American Conquest of the Philippines, page 253:

The subject area of the book is in rapid, if not turbulent, change. It is surprising how many of our colleagues have been bitten by the same bug. New ideas, perspectives, approaches, and projects arise everywhere.

2000, N. G. Roling, M. A. E. Wagemakers, Facilitating Sustainable Agriculture, page xxv:

Maybe he had just been bitten by the same bug that infects Jack the Ripper fans and devotees of other horrendous but unsolved crimes.

2001, James Jessen Badal, In the Wake of the Butcher: Cleveland's Torso Murders:

(informal) Having the same enthusiasm or motivation.


ish ka bibble

Supposedly a borrowing from Yiddish, with disputed origins. One theory is that it is a corruption of the German nicht gefiedelt ("not flustered"). Another possibility is that it comes from German ich kaan bedibbert ("I am abashed"). Possibly a fake Yiddishism.

Guess they thought we would crawfish, But there was never a word or a quibble ; When they offered us freights, among others, We said "Let 'em come, ish-ka-bibble."

1913, The Santa Fe Magazine - Volume 8, page 74:

Surveying your individual reasons, Nature remarks "Ish ka bibble" in a bored tone and goes on to run the square and the level over the job.

1914, Steam Machinery: A Magazine of Men, Machinery and Methods:

"Guess I'll do some diving from the raft today," I said, pointedly, to Sonny. "Ish ka bibble," Sonny said.

1989, Helen Harris Perlman, The Dancing Clock, and Other Childhood Memories, page 95:


ratione temporis

(law) By reason of time (for example, referring to the temporal scope of a law or of a court's jurisdiction).


YMMD

LOLROTFL, YMMD!!!
May I quote those words occasionally?

2007 November 21, Jürgen Exner, “Re: Calling a SQL Server Stored Procedure from within Perl”, in comp.lang.perl.misc (Usenet):

(Internet slang) Initialism of you made my day.

I made my own Kindle case. (I make bags: it's just something I do. Some people make jam: I make cases.) It's simply a padded slip case (made from rather exciting fabric, though!) to contain it and protect it from knocks and scratches. When I want to use it, I take it, and clip my light to it. It's perfect for me, but YMMD.

2012 May 28, a l l y, “Re: Ask Umra: Kindles”, in uk.media.radio.archers (Usenet):

your mileage may differ
your mileage may differ#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of your mileage may differ.


your mileage may differ

your mileage may vary
your mileage may vary#English


LOLROTFL

(Internet slang, dated) Initialism of laughing out loud, rolling on the floor laughing; also LOLROFL.


LOLROFL

(Internet slang, dated) Initialism of laughing out loud, rolling on the floor laughing; also LOLROTFL.


ROTFC

(Internet slang) Initialism of rolling on the floor crying.


LMAOOL

(Internet slang, mildly vulgar) Initialism of laughing my ass/arse off out loud.


LMFAOOL

(Internet slang, vulgar) Initialism of laughing my fucking ass/arse off out loud.


EEE

embrace, extend and extinguish
embrace, extend and extinguish#English

(marketing) Initialism of embrace, extend and extinguish.


or not

anot (alternative Singapore)
ornot (alternative Singapore)

Emphasizes that a particular claim or idea makes no difference regarding what can or has happened.

"I bet the green car will make it unscathed!" said Mildred. Suddenly, there came a loud crunch from the racetrack. "Or not," she sighed.

A sardonic response to a new event that contradicts what the speaker has just stated.


don't get me wrong

I'm just a bit possessive of him, but don't get me wrong. I'm not so sure I'd kill the groupies that he tags along. It's really not his fault they're there, but that don't mean a thing— I'm still the one he's with, the only one to whom he sings.

Used to clarify that something does not have a meaning that could be misinterpreted.

félreértés ne essék

used to clarify that something could be misinterpreted


IIWII

Most of the real professionals have slid sideways into Pro Audio or are too busy doing their work to wade through the muck. ¶ So what! IIWII (it is what it is) If you don't like it what choice do we really have but to leave? Just my opinion...

1997 October 11, Eric Blackmer, “Re: Scott flame...New rules in the house!!!...was:Annual AES awards”, in rec.audio.pro (Usenet):

I don't accept what is happening but I know it will be the same until Al passes. I do think you are right in that his inner circle (Madden, Otto, Hendricks, etc) tell him what he wants to hear or they wouldn't be close to him. That just supports what he already "knows". IIWII.......MR

2009 October 14, Momma Raider, “Re: The Al jockers sure are quiet”, in alt.sports.football.pro.oak-raiders (Usenet):

it is what it is
it is what it is#English

(rare, Internet slang) Acronym of it is what it is.


say la vee

I tried that once in an AOL thing called "The Arena", I can't remember who the celebrity was, but I posed some divinely thoughtful, inspired, well-crafted question, and they chose one, instead, that querried her favourite colour, quelle banel. I had mentioned my web site in my question, hoping for some international exposure, but say-la-vee!

1997 August 16, PRINCESSPK, “Re: Opinions wanted for magazine article”, in alt.showbiz.gossip (Usenet):

Filled up the Ashton with Capstan and had a totally British drive home. Thanks to the wizardry of Ashton and Imperial Tobacco, that first smoke in a new pipe was sweet as a nut. Unfortunately I was forced by circumstances to drive a '95 Ford Escort wagon rather than a Roller, Bentley or Aston Martin, but say la vee.

2001 April 25, David H. Crehore, “Re: OT?:pipe musings on the drive home”, in alt.smokers.pipes (Usenet):

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling

(slang, often humorous) Pronunciation spelling of c'est la vie.


this is where I came in

this is where we came in
this is where we came in#English


turn of speed

They are larger than any boats previously stationed at Newhaven, are considerably more comfortable, and have a turn of speed that places them well in the forefront.

1939 June, G. W. Tripp, “The Modern Railway Steamer”, in Railway Magazine, page 392:

Of a boat or ship, the ability to move fast when needed.


it me

Shortened version of the phrase "it's me" in mock-African-American Vernacular English, dropping the verb.

(Internet slang, humorous) This represents me or my feelings.


Taco

This is the Taco theory: Trump Always Chickens Out. […] The key difference between this and the “Taco” theory is that the safe haven status of the US was never really in doubt; the world order was never on the cusp of a generational change.

2025 May 2, Robert Armstrong, “The US market’s surprise comeback”, in Financial Times, archived from the original on 2025-05-29:

Alternative letter-case form of TACO; acronym of Trump always chickens out.


I'll tell you

Well you've got all the rights to his money, I'll tell you.

(idiomatic, colloquial) Synonym of I can tell you.


dragged through the garden

“Okay, I think it's coming in now: one cheeseburger cooked under a hubcap to the rare side of medium rare, dragged through the garden with two eggs sunny-side up on top; French fries, and a side of grits.”

2007, Ronnie Blackwell, Serve It Cold, page 150:

'How do you want your burgers? Plain or dragged through the garden?'
'What?'
'Plain or with fixings?'

(informal) Of a burger, hot dog, etc.: served with a large variety of toppings and condiments.


run through the garden

dragged through the garden
dragged through the garden#English

Synonym of dragged through the garden (“served with a large variety of toppings and condiments”).


These things are almost indestructable. The trick of the trade would be to make sure you took your wall thickness into account when installing the boxes. It's a bit easier to work if the box is a bit too deep. GL2U.

2003 November 15, DaveG, “Re: Receptacle boxes stick out too far”, in alt.home.repair (Usenet):

Romeo
You guys go ahead. I'm gonna sit this one out. GL2U.
Besides, I don't think this is such a good idea. 😟

2015, William Shakespeare, Brett Wright, YOLO Juliet, New York, NY: Random House, →ISBN, page unknown:

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of good luck to you.


YGTBKM

“He fired back at her, blaming her for their breakup, saying she was self-absorbed and always put her own needs above his. He predicted that by the time their senior prom rolled around, she would regret letting him go. To which Claire responded: YGTBKM. SWL.” ¶ “Translation?” ¶ “'You've got to be kidding me. Screaming with laughter.'”

2008, Maureen Smith, No One But You, New York, NY: Dafina Books, →ISBN, page 109:

you've got to be kidding me
you've got to be kidding me#English

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of you've got to be kidding me.


SWL

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of screaming with laughter.


next to no time

The roads are very quiet today – we'll be home in next to no time.

When I was a child I spent next to no time with my father.


MAHA

Modeled after MAGA. Popularized by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in 2024 but earlier uses exist.

I’ve got the hashtag. #MAHA: Make America Healthy Again.

2020 April 7, “Make America Healthy Again: #MAHA”, in The Rush Limbaugh Show:

He shared the phrase "Make America Healthy Again" on social media, along with the abbreviation "MAHA," not unlike MAGA (Make America Great Again), which Trump still uses.

2024 August 26, Chrissy Bobic, “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Has Coined a Term To Explain His Most Important Cause”, in Distractify:

MAHA went viral across social media and led to an explosion of questionable claims regarding health and wellness.

2024 August 26, Mikael Thalen, “MAGA turns to roadkill-eating anti-vaxer with a brain worm to ‘Make America Healthy Again’”, in The Daily Dot:

The MAHA commission calls for studies on the broad schedule of childhood vaccines, more research into potential adverse effects of vaccination, and “true” placebo studies of those childhood immunizations, echoing many of Kennedy’s longtime rallying points around vaccine safety.

2025 May 22, Sarah Owermohle, “First MAHA health report calls for reassessing medicines, processed foods, pesticides”, in CNN:

(US politics) Acronym of Make America Healthy Again


IDEK

Mercutio
K, have u been dreaming about Queen Mab 👸 again?
Romeo
IDEK who that is.

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


O$P$

2024 March 18, “Teen arrested for locking Chai Chee flat, leaving O$P$ note”, in The New Paper:

(Singapore) Abbreviation of owe money, pay money: an admonition to debtors, especially by loansharks (Ah Longs).


BIW

(business, philosophy, economics) Abbreviation of business is war.


before one knows it

before you know it


don't ask me

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


don't ask

(informal) Used to say that something is too strange, embarrassing, or complicated to explain.

ne petu

say that something is too strange complicated to explain


before one knows where one is

before you know where you are


sympathy is between shit and syphilis

An allusion to the alphabetical position of the word sympathy in a dictionary.

Murphy stared out of the window. "If you're looking for sympathy, take a look in Webster's dictionary. Try between 'shit' and 'syphilis'."

I told you before if you are looking for sympathy, it's in the dictionary between shit and syphilis. Other than that you get nothing from me.

2007, Carl E. Prichard, Silent Agony, page 100:

"Sympathy. Wait, let me get it right. Okaaay, I know. You're supposed to look in the dictionary. That's it! Then you'll find sympathy between shit and syphilis. There! That's it!"

2010, Chip Giles, The Conch Killers, page 56:

The master chief I call Boomerang, who knows that sympathy is the word that sits in the SEAL dictionary between shit and syphilis, reminded me that if we were going to take the fuckin' tangos down, I'd better stop wasting time […]

2012, Richard Marcinko, John Weisman, Detachment Bravo:

Everyone knows sympathy is between shit and syphilis in the dictionary, and you don't want either of them, but Ted was about to get at least one!

2013, Mark D Holroyd, Frog Tales, page 225:

2022, Famously quoted by Sarah Platt during the 23/3/22 edition of Coronation Street. Although the word ‘shit’ was changed to ‘shame’ due to the watershed nature of the show.

(colloquial, vulgar, humorous, derogatory) A dismissal of a person seeking sympathy, telling them to look elsewhere.


Molex to SATA, lose all your data

(computer hardware, Internet) Using a Molex-to-SATA adapter to power a storage device may lead to loss of data, as a poorly designed and unreliable connector may cause damage by failing in an unsafe manner.


GOA

G.O.A. (alternative)
G. O. A. (alternative)

(US, law enforcement) Initialism of gone on arrival (“where the intended target was not present at the location that was sought when an agent arrived”).


if I'm not mistaken

Used before stating something that the speaker believes to be correct


couldn't be more different

head

couldn't be more different (past perfect couldn't have been more different)

couldn't have been more different (past perfect)

An ironic phrase meaning how something is completely different to another entity.

Japan couldn't be more different than the United States.

(idiomatic) Two entities that have virtually nothing in common.


tell me another one

pull the other one
pull the other one#English


tbf

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


press F to pay respects

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-press F to pay respects.wav

From a prompt in the PC version of the 2014 video game Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare which directs the player to press the F key to touch a fallen soldier's coffin during a funeral cutscene.

The sundry restaurant comings and goings that made our digital readers press F to pay respects will be covered by food critic Hillary Brown in her year-end wrap-up in the Jan. 9 issue.

2018, Blake Aued, "Give the People What They Want", Flagpole, 26 December 2018 - 2 January 2019, page 6

Press F to pay respects to friends who have midterms this week.

2019, "Off The Record", The Student Life (Claremont Colleges), 29 March 2019, page 6

Whether you're reading this as an escape from the buzz of events or found it discarded on a chair somewhere (press F to pay respects), let me take this opportunity to give you a warm welcome to Southampton.

2019, Charlotte Colombo, "A New Chapter!", Wessex Scene (University of Southampton), September 2019, page 2

(Internet slang, humorous, often sarcastic) Used to convey that credit, recognition, or sympathy should be given.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
press F to pay respects


and a half

three and a half

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see and, a, half.

That guy was an idiot and a half.

Strolling along, minding my own business
Well, there goes a girl and a half

1977, “Peaches”, performed by the Stranglers:

(colloquial) An intensifier, used to emphasize great extent or degree.


I tell you

(idiomatic, colloquial) Synonym of I can tell you.


I tell you

From Etymology 1, or a calque of Hokkien 我共汝講 /我共汝讲 (oá kā lí kóng, “let me tell you something; listen up”).

calque

Today weather fucking hot I tell you.

Luckily for us your son earns a good living. I tell you. I don’t know what we did when Jack was in school.

1989, Eleanor Wong, Jackson on a Jaunt, or, Mistaken Identities, page 1, lines 18–20:

(Singapore, Singlish) Used to draw attention to something one has to say.


namsayin'

“[…]All a guy has to do is be a shoulder to cry on, tell a sob story about him, and bam, you're in there. Not that I need to stoop so low. That's just for those who can't get a girl, namsayin'?” He stroked the fuzz on his chin and winked at Olivia, who giggled at his antics.

2012, Jaime Reed, Fading Amber, page 131:

do you know what I'm saying?
do you know what I'm saying#English

(slang) Contraction of do you know what I'm saying?.


ikr

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


COF

[…]PSE (porn star experience) means you up the ante a bit in the bedroom with a bit of COF, Spanish, Tromboning, CIM, maybe even CIMWS (never my thing)—and for the really adventurous, Greek[…]

2017, Samantha X, Back on Top: Confessions of a High-Class Escort, Hachette, →ISBN:

(prostitution slang) Initialism of cum on face.


one's father was born before one

One was born into a privileged position; one inherited one's wealth and status.


TIFU

From r/TIFU, a community on Reddit where users post about embarrassing incidents from their lives.

(Internet slang, Reddit slang, vulgar) Initialism of today I fucked up.


YSK

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of you should know.


to spare

I made it to my appointment with time to spare.

As a result of this winter's diversions, there is now carriage siding accommodation to spare at Wolverhampton High Level, and facilities have been offered to stable W.R. stock if necessary, as indeed it may be during the peak months of the summer service.

1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services - Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 99:

I did not really wonder, after sampling the "Settebello's" standards of comfort and service, that even on a midweek day in autumn there was not a seat to spare, despite the cost.

1960 March, G. Freeman Allen, “Europe's most luxurious express - the "Settebello"”, in Trains Illustrated, page 140:

She has talent to spare!


freaking gosh

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

Minced oath of the expletive fucking God!

(minced oath, euphemistic) Used to express surprise


et passim

And throughout (used in citations after a page number to indicate that further information can be found in other locations in the cited resource)


all lives matter

Coined in reaction to the slogan black lives matter.

(US, politics, often offensive) A response to "black lives matter" (the phrase, its political and social movement), suggesting that African-American people should not be singled out for special attention.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see all, lives, matter.


white lives matter

Coined in analogy to black lives matter.

(US, politics, offensive, white supremacy) A phrase used to protest against "black lives matter" (rally call, political and social movement) mostly by white people, to protect their traditional white prerogatives and privileges.


police lives matter

black lives matter
black lives matter#English

(US, politics, law enforcement) A phrase used to counter "black lives matter", rallying people to defend police officers and their use of lethal force in carrying out their duties.


WLM

white lives matter
white lives matter#English

(US, politics, offensive, white supremacy) Initialism of white lives matter.


black lives matter

Originally used in the form of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media (2013), protesting against the deaths of African Americans at the hands of the police.

police brutality
police brutality#English

(politics, originally US) A rallying call and statement of protest, concerning police brutality and racially motivated violence against black people.

黒人の命は大切 (こくじんのいのちは大切たいせつ, kokujin no inochi wa taisetsu) (the most common media translation)


SOAB

(derogatory, slang, vulgar, offensive, euphemistic) son of a bitch


LOCKSS

Acronym of lots of copies keep stuff safe.


blue lives matter

Coined in analogy to black lives matter; the color blue is frequently used for police uniforms.

police lives matter
police lives matter#English

(US, law enforcement, politics) Synonym of police lives matter.


one engine in steam

There are eight 4-wheel coaches of the open toastrack type, but provided with roofs, and during the holiday season, usually beginning at Whitsuntide, trains are run as required on the one-engine-in-steam principle.

1941 July, “The Isle of Man Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 315:

A change seems likely on the Axminster-Lyme Regis branch [...]. We hear also that one-engine-in-steam operation will probably be introduced on this line.

1960 March, “Talking of Trains: S.R. branch report”, in Trains Illustrated, page 135:

(rail transport, UK) A principle in railway signalling where only one train or locomotive is allowed to run on a section of single-track line, such as a branch line, at any one time.


shot heard round the world

shot heard 'round the world (alternative)

From the 1837 poem Concord Hymn by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The opening volleys of the Battles of Lexington and Concord during the American Revolution.

A 1951 home run by Bobby Thompson of the New York Giants


I'll pass

No thank you: used when asked whether one wants or needs something, etc.


and I oop

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From a 2015 YouTube video in which drag queen Jasmine Masters exclaimed "oop!" mid-sentence when she accidentally hit her testicles while talking.

At around 10 PM I said I was just gonna take a 5 minute nap and I ended up sleeping through the entire thing. And I oop...

2019 May, Kyle Estimos, “Relay For Life”, in Charger Territory, page 7:

The famous place to get ice cream in I.V. surprisingly also has a selection of sandwiches, treats, and I oop — coffee.

2019 November 20, Linda Chong, “Searching for the best Iced Latte in Isla Vista”, in The Bottom Line, University of California, Santa Barbara, page 5:

“And I oop! Sorry, you just became a part of the cancel culture. Cancelled!” Bella said, and I cracked the fuck up.

2020, Tabeitha Pollard, Felicity and Jason 3: A Southern Love Story, unnumbered page:

(Internet slang) Used to humorously convey embarrassment or shock.


tough tushie

I’m climbing stairs! you may say, or “I got to the gym everyday!”^([sic]) Tough tushie. Even if you work out every day, the deterioration begins the second you sit down.

2020, Kelly Turner, Sitting is Killing You So Get Off Your Butt Diets in Review:

(colloquial, slang, chiefly US) get over it; grow up


grip oneself with both hands

But, as the saying goes, I gripped myself with both hands. It grew upon my mind, once I could face the facts, that, terrible as our position was, there was as yet no justification for absolute despair.

1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 224:

In every-day life he is inclined somewhat on the excitable side, but as an alderman he apparently grips himself with both hands, and settles down for the welfare of the town as a whole.

1916 February 11, The Northern Herald, Cairns, page 19:

The lady, with a do-or-die expression, gripped the wheel, her husband gripped himself with both hands, looking as miserable as a dog at a dance.

1927 July 18, The Herald, Melbourne, page 6:

(obsolete) To ready oneself for action or bravery; to gird up one's loins.


park and bark

(theater, slang) Denoting a performer who speaks or sings while stationary, without moving or dancing.


in a while, crocodile

Modification of a lyric from the song See You Later, Alligator (1955), chosen for the rhyme.


after a while, crocodile

From the song See You Later, Alligator (1955), chosen for the rhyme.


HTFU

HTFU means you pull yourself out of a warm bed, suit up and jump on your bike even if the weather is awful.

2015 April 26, Karl Stade, “Winter cycling: your complete survival guide”, in The New Daily:

(see title)

2016 March 9, Frank Strack, “Rule #5 : Cycling's relationship with HTFU”, in Cyclist:

“You know what I applied this morning? Some HTFU cream,” Tucker says. “What’s that?” A grin. “Harden the fuck up.”

2017 June 20, Christopher Solomon, “The Hayduke Option”, in Outside Magazine:

“Now put a little HTFU cream on and strap in.” “What's HTFU cream?” “Harden the fuck up,” Hayden said.

2019, Justin Sloan, George S. Mahaffey Jr., Syndicate Wars:

(slang) Initialism of harden the fuck up.


in tatters

Its financial plans for 2020-24, published last December, lie in tatters. TfL Chief Financial Officer Simon Kilonback told his board in June: "It is unlikely, even with significant external support, that we will return to any similar plan or levels of investment in the medium term."

2020 July 15, Mike Brown talks to Paul Clifton, “Leading London's "hidden heroes"”, in Rail, page 45:

Most polls give the left, divided between Socialists, ecologists and far-left parties, less than 30 percent of the vote in a France drifting rightward. The once-proud “gauche” is in tatters.

2021 September 2, Roger Cohen, “The French Left Is in Disarray, but Here Comes Anne Hidalgo”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(figurative) Ruined, destroyed, wrecked.


hark who's talking

look who's talking
look who's talking#English


& hoc genus omne

For quotations using this term, see Citations:& hoc genus omne.

et hoc genus omne
et hoc genus omne#English


now for

Charley: I did it! I did it! I beat the game! I defeated the mother ship! And now for the super fantastic secret message!

1999, Mona the Vampire, "The Nefarious Computer Virus" (season 1, episode 2b)

(idiomatic) Used to introduce something that is to occur or be presented next.


too good to be true

He wants to give you two million dollars? That's just too good to be true!

Remember the old saying that if something looks too good to be true, then it almost certainly is?

2021 December 1, Nigel Harris, “IRP snuffs out 'levelling up'”, in RAIL, number 945, page 3:

(idiomatic) Appearing to be exceptionally good, and therefore arousing suspicion of illegitimacy.

te goed om waar te wees

appearing to be exceptionally good, and therefore arousing suspicion of illegitimacy


say nothing

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(MLE) A standard formula to end a conversation, i.e. bye, see you soon.


say none

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mission accomplished

I just finished wrapping up the presents. Mission accomplished! Now for the next thing...

(colloquial) Used to express that a task, or set of tasks, has been completed.

任務完成 /任务完成

used to express that a task, or set of tasks, has been completed


save the drama for your mama

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Chosen for the rhyme. First use appears c. 1992. See cite below.

save the drama for your momma (alternative)

They are gonna get all the play / But when it comes to me, save the drama for your momma

1992, Lawrence A. Stanley (editor), Rap, The Lyrics, page 162:

asks you for ID and the best you can do is your library card, save the drama for your mama and leave quietly.

1999, Gabe Fied, Inside New York, page 279:

This corny thing I saw on TV just kind of came to me, so I'm all, "Save the drama for your mama."

2002, Dana Johnson, Break Any Woman Down And Other Stories, page 92:

I'm just telling you the criminal court version. You can just save the drama for your mama. Because I don't want to hear it.

2005, Nane Quartay, The Badness, page 207:

Save the drama for your mama. In fact, spare your mama, too. Nobody likes drama. If you see something going down—tongues wagging, people complaining, plots hatching—stay out of it.

2010, Erin Bried, How to Build a Fire And Other Handy Things Your Grandfather Knew, page 92:

(slang) Refrain from inciting drama (rumor, lying, or an exaggerated reaction to life events).

(slang) Synonym of suck it up (with the implication that one's mother is not present to care about one's feelings).


curiouser and curiouser

/ˌkjʊəɹɪəsə n̩ ˈkjʊəɹɪəsə/

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/ˌkjʊɹiəsɚ n̩ ˈkjʊɹiəsɚ/

From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) by the English author Lewis Carroll (1832–1898): see the quotation.

"Curiouser and curiouser!" cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English); "now I'm opening out like the largest telescope that ever was! Good-bye, feet!"

1865 November (indicated as 1866), Lewis Carroll [pseudonym; Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], “The Pool of Tears”, in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, London: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 15:

Greco-German ‘Fingergate’ Gets Curiouser and Curiouser [title]

2015 March 20, Robert Mackey, “Greco-German ‘Fingergate’ gets curiouser and curiouser”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-01-18:

(idiomatic) Used to describe or react to an increasingly mysterious or peculiar situation.

kummallisempaa ja kummallisempaa

used to describe or react to an increasingly mysterious or peculiar situation

(quote from the translation) furcsul, egyre furcsul


down cold

they've got it down cold

(US, informal) Mastered perfectly; especially, mastered perfectly through memorization.


how say you

How say you, gentlemen of the jury?

How ſay you ſir, can you deny all this?

c. 1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Sims [and Peter Short] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

(formal) With regard to a thing said or asked about, as when one asks an opinion: what do you say? What is your opinion?


the dickens you say

the devil you say
the devil you say#English


last time I checked

(literally) As I last remember; last I recall.

"Are you a woman?" "Last time I checked."

(figuratively) Yes; affirmative; obviously.


last I checked

last time I checked
last time I checked#English

Alternative form of last time I checked.


I've burnt myself

I've burned myself
I've burned myself#English


I'll be dipped in shit

“Oh shit,” Jonah said and grinned. “Your wife saw me? Damn, partner! That's one sharp woman you married. But I'll be dipped in shit if I didn't get lucky that night,” he howled with the passion of his wolf personality, […]

2009, Douglas V. Maurer, South of Paradise, page 27:

“I'll be dipped in shit! So that's where all this is going. Talk about clever. Good work, Maggie! Really good work!”

When Virgil stopped talking, Buddy shifted in his chair to look at him. “You're working on a fucking movie?” he said incredulously. “You?” “Sort of.” “I'll be dipped in shit.”

(vulgar, colloquial) An expression of astonishment or disbelief.


falling off the bone

Of cooked meat; very tender so that it does not remain attached to the bone.


I have a toothache

Indicates that the speaker's tooth hurts.


appetite comes with eating

Calque of French l'appétit vient en mangeant, first used by François Rabelais.

(idiomatic) Starting an activity increases one's desire to continue it.

appetitten kommer mens man spiser

starting something increases your desire to continue it


is the sky blue

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rhetorical question
rhetorical question#English

(colloquial, rhetorical question) A rhetorical question in response to a question to which the answer is an emphatic yes.


I ask you

"Brain-dead kids. Born losers. No-hopers the lot of 'em. I mean, as a taxpayer, what do they effin' teach 'em in school these days? I ask you!"


this is why we can't have nice things

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-this is why we can't have nice things.wav

Said to have been popularized by American stand-up comedian Paula Poundstone.

"This is why we can't have nice things," said Dorrie's father, breaking into her thoughts. "Like appliances."
Dorrie glanced over at the corner of the ballroom-declared-kitchen to see him lifting several tacks out of a pot of clam chowder with a slotted spoon.

2016, Jen Swann Downey, The Ninja Librarians: Sword in the Stacks:

This is why we can't have nice things, darling / Because you break them, I had to take them away / This is why we can't have nice things, honey, oh / Did you think I wouldn't hear all the things you said about me? / This is why we can't have nice things

2017, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, “This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things”, in Reputation, performed by Taylor Swift:

"This is why we can't have nice things," said a Mountain to a man, "You don't yet respect the impermanence of living ...and the permanence of life."

2020, Alex Almeida, Wandering Tales volumes 1 & 2:

(humorous) Expressing reproach when somebody harms or damages something.


nanny nanny boo boo

na-na na-na boo-boo
na-na na-na boo-boo#English

Alternative form of na-na na-na boo-boo.


strap on the boots

(informal, sports) To prepare to play a field sport; to take up playing a field sport.


IHNJH

(Internet slang, rare) Initialism of I have no joke here.


IHNTA

(Internet slang) Initialism of I have nothing to add.


IJLS

(Internet slang) Initialism of I just like saying.


IJWTS

(Internet slang) Initialism of I just want to say.


gerrout

(informal, representing slurred pronunciation) Get out.


sounds about white

For quotations using this term, see Citations:sounds about white.

(colloquial, often humorous) Expressing that something (which was done or said by a white person) is the kind of thing the speaker would expect a white person or white people to do.


stab yourself and pass the dagger

This is what is done by strong drink; in fact, some drinkers, when they have wished the bottle passed, have cried, “Stab yourself, and pass the dagger!”

1889, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Salt-cellars, page 275:

“Here,” he said, passing it to her, “stab yourself and pass the dagger.” Monica had had only one glass of champagne at the party, and Revelstoke, who never drank much, had taken little more.

1958, Robertson Davies, A Mixture of Frailties, page 217:

'Stab yourself and pass the dagger!'
In response to this dramatic cant, Smith poured himself a drink and passed the bottle.

1976, Forbes Bramble, The Strange Case of Deacon Brodie, page 96:

(slang) Help yourself to the alcoholic drink and then pass the bottle.


there one has it

And there one has it. Chamberlin had not been able to persuade representatives of so much as a single other agency to subscribe to his "pessimistic view of the situation" […]

1995, Frank Kofsky, Harry S. Truman and the War Scare of 1948, page 113:

there you have it
there you have it#English


just friends

Jack has confirmed that, contrary to the rumors that he and Jill are dating and are planning to marry, he and Jill are just friends.

And thanks to my particular brand of romantic dysfunction - the one where I lose interest in every guy I sleep with as soon as the deed is done - after , we'll finally be able to go back to being the kind of just friends we're supposed to be.

(Can we date this quote?), Mira Lyn Kelly, Just Friends: A Moira McTark Re-Release - Sexy Friends to Lovers, Mira Lyn Kelly:

“Oh, my God.” Cora found herself laughing. It felt like forever since she’d laughed, too. “You know that’s going to set the rumors off again.” Even Ygara had thought she and Janae were a couple. The truth was that Janae had been more than interested, though she’d taken it gracefully when Cora had turned her down. Now that the awkwardness had settled, they could be just friends.

2017 November, N. K. Jemisin, Mac Walters, chapter 13, in Mass Effect Andromeda: Initiation, 1st edition (Science Fiction), Titan Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 241:

Nick had asked her to be his date for the wedding. It had been under the guise of "just friends," but I knew better because Nick didn't do just friends with women.

Participants in a two-way non-romantic friendship.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see just, friends.


two-forty on a plank road

The passion of young New York is for horses — fast horses — two-forty on a plank road.

1852, G. Henry Howard Paul, Dashes of American humour, page 206:

[…] some that remained, running to and fro, with white rags suspended on broom-handles, and an old darky had a bleached salt-sack tied to a limb of a tree, waving it at the rate of two-forty on a plank-road.

1862, Frank Moore, The Rebellion Record, a Diary of American Events, page 474:

(Canada, US, slang, obsolete) A very fast speed.

In Canada, where trotting is also a very favourite amusement, and whence came the famous trotting mare Flora Temple, a very “fast” young lady is generally spoken of as “two forty on a plank road.”

(Canada, US, slang, obsolete, by extension) The quality of being "fast", i.e. immoral in one's habits.


AITA

From r/AmITheAsshole, a community on Reddit where users ask for feedback on whether they behaved inappropriately in interpersonal conflicts.

A number of Am-I-The-Asshole scenarios raced through his mind. AITA if I tell her I have a highly contagious disease and she'd better check in to the Bounty Bay's ER right now?

A few weeks ago, a post went viral in which the author seeks a public verdict on the question “AITA for asking my roommates to remove their dildos from the bathroom mirror in a way that was not kind?”

2023 May 13, Van Badham, “The culture of mistrust is bleeding into our personal lives. No wonder there’s a sex recession”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(Internet slang, Reddit slang) Initialism of am I the asshole/arsehole?.


since Skippy was a pup

Skeeter inhaled through his nose. "Then I thought I heard something, and—you know how the grass in my backyard is long near the fence?"
"Should be," Robert Lewis said. "You haven't cut it since Skippy was a pup."

1994, Walter Dean Myers, The Glory Field, page 227:

(colloquial) Since a very long time ago.


nothing to choose between

It seems to me that there is nothing to choose between the two men, and, that cases may be put in which reckless indifference to the fate of a person intentionally subjected to deadly injury is, if possible, morally worse than an actual intent to kill.

1883, James Fitzjames Stephen, A History of the Criminal Law of England:

A natural consequence of this view is sheer agnosticism or scepticism: if a news story is totally balanced, there is nothing to choose between the two positions.

2012, Communicating Risks to the Public: International Perspectives, page 169:


who wants to know

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Albert: Adam and Eve on a raft! Is that Eunice Carruthers?
Eunice: Who wants to know?
Albert: Al's Diner! You waitressed for me back in '78, '79! I'd never forget that pretty face!
Eunice: Well, Mr. Ramsey! How do you like that? I didn't recognize you without your apron!

1998, Alison Bechdel, Split-Level Dykes to Watch Out For,, page 119:

(idiomatic) A retort to a question posed by a stranger, when one does not want to either confirm or deny.

that's for me to know and you to find out


IDEFK

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


idek

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


TACO

Coined by journalist Robert Armstrong in 2025 for the Financial Times on May 2 in a newspaper column. Named after President of the United States Donald J. Trump

named-after

This is the TACO theory: Trump Always Chickens Out," Armstrong wrote on May 2.

2025 May 28, Aimee Picchi, “Trump was asked about the "TACO" trade and called it a "nasty question." Here's what it means.”, in CBS News, archived from the original on 2025-06-01:

The “TACO” trades, first coined by the Financial Times, are one of the ways Wall Street has managed to profit from the chaos of the Trump administration.

2025 May 28, Ali Bianco, “Trump’s not happy about Wall Street’s name for tariff flip-flops”, in POLITICO, archived from the original on 2025-06-01:

(US, politics, business, neologism) Acronym of Trump always chickens out.


SMDH

(Internet slang) Initialism of shaking my damn head (used to show that one does not approve of something or cannot believe it, in either a sarcastic or more emphatic form than SMH).


check your privilege

The idea that the dominant lack the tools to recognize their role in systems of oppression is currently in the cultural ascendant. It underpins the instruction to ‘check your privilege’.

2017, Clare Chambers, “Ideology and Normativity”, in Aristotelian Society, →DOI:

Although many privileged groups may recognize the disadvantage of another group, for instance the underrepresentation of individuals from working-class backgrounds in elite occupations such as law and banking, they may not recognize or accept their own “over-privilege.” The objective of such training would be to get advantaged employees to check their power and privilege, and reflect on this alongside other components of socioeconomic inequality, such as race, gender, faith, and sexuality.

2017, “Integrating Talent and Diversity Management”, in The Oxford Handbook of Talent Management, Oxford University Press, →DOI:

(used imperatively) Used to urge someone to examine their own speech and actions for bias or presumption due to social privilege and to curb or check any such bias or presumption.

used to urge someone to examine their speech and actions

反求諸己 /反求诸己 (fǎnqiúzhūjǐ, literally “self-reflect”) (no equivalent exists)


never sick at sea

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A phrase that comes from a verse in H.M.S. Pinafore, an 1878 comic opera:
Captain: I am never known to quail At the fury of a gale, and I'm never, never sick at sea!
All: What, never?
Captain: No, never!
All: What, never?
Captain: Hardly ever!

Claude Augustus had not been in prison, so he said; was not a bigamist, was never sick at sea, and all those things they ask Tommies were all right about him, anyhow.

1901, Ménie Muriel Dowie, Love and His Mask, page 106:

My final thought on all of my local and national on-air colleagues that I've befriended and respected for all these decades: I'm not knocking them, but while most morning show hosts and radio and TV sportscasters and anchors went home to their wives and kids an hour or more outside of Toronto to play it safe, I went out. I lived it. I always answered the bell and was never sick at sea. Well, almost never.

2017, John Gallagher, Big League Babble On:

Farmington School is forever endeared to us for having given us a sailoress secretary, who is 'never never sick at sea,' and is a member of our family—Miss Eleanor Cushman, of New Bedrord whaling ancestry.

2022, Wilfred T. Grenfell, Forty Years for Labrador:

Having all the qualifications and abilities one could possibly ask for (or almost, anyway)


your reputation precedes you

(used when meeting someone for the first time) I have heard much about you.


ISTG

Alternative form: istg

OMG, for a second I thought you were Cameron Mason! ISTG you just did an impeccable impression of the way he came across at one point when he was attacking me. (No offence intended to Cameron here, but he did sound that way.)

2003 July 6, J.J. Chambers, “Re: Becker/Chambers -- the plot thickens”, in rec.arts.drwho (Usenet):

“ISTG [I swear to God],” she said, standing naked on one foot, the other bent and crossed above her knee, her fingers tapping methodically in the air a few inches from her toes as she was presumably fixing a crease in her Suit in the RW [Real World].

2017, Bryan Hope, The Rhino's Horn, Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page unknown:

(Internet slang) Initialism of I swear to God.


WTFDYM

Alternative form: wtfdym

(Internet slang, text messaging, vulgar) Initialism of what the fuck do you mean?.


wdym

Alternative form: WDYM

Nothing is worse than entering adult life and realizing how many new things you have to buy. Like, wdym sheets and rent and a vacuum and work clothes cost $10,000?

2024 May 10, Hannah Oh, Daisy Maldonado, “50 College Graduation Gifts That Say, “I’m So Effing Proud of You!””, in Cosmopolitan:

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of what do you mean?.


wtfdym

Alternative form: WTFDYM


what's your pleasure

what's your poison
what's your poison#English

(informal) Synonym of what's your poison.


a God's name

Euery man can ſay Bee to a Battledore, and vvrite in prayſe of Vertue, and the ſeuen Liberall Sciences, threſh corne out of the full ſheaues, and fetch vvater out of the Thames; but out of drie ſtubble to make an after harueſt, and a plentifull croppe vvithout ſovving, and vvring iuice out of a flint, thats Pierce a Gods name, and the right tricke of a workman.

1599, [Thomas] Nashe, “To His Readers, Hee Cares Not What They Be”, in Nashes Lenten Stuffe, […], London: […] [Thomas Judson and Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and C[uthbert] B[urby] […], →OCLC:

I fulfild his requeſt: and comming to him, dauncer quoth hee if thou daunce a Gods name God ſpeede thee: I cannot follow thee a foote farther, but adieu good dauncer, God ſpeed thee if thou daunce a Gods name.

1600, William Kempe, Kemps nine daies vvonder:


one should live so long

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-one should live so long.wav

"I invest here. But when this planet is fully industrialized, I'll get a quarter of their industrial production. Power generators, warp units, computer systems—everything, fur-head, for the rest of my life."
"You should live so long," Offenhouse said quietly, and sipped his drink.

1994, W. R. Thompson, Star Trek: The Next Generation: Debtor's Planet:

I went over and kissed her. "Grandma, when I move out will you come live with me?"
"I should live so long."
That is so my grandma.

2013, Ellen Levine, In Trouble, page 139:

one should be so lucky
one should be so lucky#English

(informal, sarcastic) Synonym of one should be so lucky (“it is highly doubtful”).


QTS

Qualified Teacher Status
Qualified Teacher Status#English


be there and be square

From the phrase be there or be square. Originally in The Simpsons, episode "Mayored to the Mob", aired in 1998.

All nerds welcome. Be there... and be square.

2000, Network World, volume 17, number 40, page 74:

(slang, humorous) Used to encourage someone to go somewhere considered nerdy.


begging your pardon

I beg your pardon
I beg your pardon#English

(somewhat archaic) Alternative form of I beg your pardon.


go commit

Person 1: I hate this world, I want to die

Person 2: go commit

(imperative) To commit (do) something, usually negative acts such as hurting oneself or commit suicide


denial is not just a river in Egypt

denial is not a river in Egypt
denial is not a river in Egypt#English

Alternative form of denial is not a river in Egypt.


I have a disability

আমি প্রতিবন্ধী আছি

indicates that the speaker has a disability


do tell

Abbreviation of the hortative phrase “please do tell me more.”

You say you're an astronaut? Do tell.

An idiomatic expression of mild interest or surprise within a conversational context.


have it your own way

have it your way
have it your way#English


I'm here all week

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Stereotypically uttered by a stand-up comedian.


try the veal

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-try the veal.wav

Stereotypically uttered by a stand-up comedian working in a venue that sells meals.


SKSK

Reduplication of SK (literally “stop keying”).

reduplication

(TTY/TDD) Used to indicate the end of a conversation and that one is hanging up and/or the other person should.


mile a minute

He talks a mile a minute.


go bail

To pay bail in order to get an accused defendant out of jail after an arrest or pending trial or appeal.

"No, young fellah my lad, there is no use deceiving yourself. I'll go bail for it that nothing has ever been written upon this paper."

1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

(figurative) To be certain; to be sure of something.


from your lips to God's ears

The expression originated in Yiddish (פֿון דײַן מויל אין גאָטס אויערן), spoken by Ashkenazi Jews in Europe. It was adopted into English due to the influence of Ashkenazim who immigrated to the United States.

"Heaven help us," she said. "From your lips to God's ears," said Stan Pittman as he walked up to her desk.

"From your lips to God's ears! May our enemies," I said, "have as much good health as I understand what is happening with you and what this game is about!"

2009, Sholem Aleichem, Tevye the Dairyman: And, Motl the Cantor's Son, page 64:

(informal) Used to express the speaker's wish that a preceding statement by another speaker were to come true.

iz tvojih usta u božije uši

из твојих уста у божије уши


tell us another one

He said his reaction was “oh, sure, tell us another one.”

2009, Al Ver Burg, Lost Potential, page 52:


tell us another

"As explained by Professor Summerlee, our cameras have been tampered with by the ape-men when they ransacked our camp, and most of our negatives ruined." (Jeers, laughter, and 'Tell us another!' from the back.)


talk shit, get hit

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-talk shit, get hit.wav

(vulgar, often sarcastic) Speaking disrespectfully or lying in belittling or derogating ways will incur physical violence.


pigs may fly

"Pigs may fly. Yes, sir, pigs may fly - but they don't. It is not worth arguing with you. Challenger has filled you with his nonsense and you are both incapable of reason."

1913, Arthur Conan Doyle, “(please specify the page)”, in The Poison Belt […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:


no fuss, no muss

(informal, slang) Implying that there are no complications or hindrances.


have a safe trip home

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see have, a, safe, trip, home.


a' God's name

SIL. What, a' God's name, could come into the heads
Of this people to make them rebel?
ERN. Why, religion; that came into their heads
A' God's name.
GER. But what a devil made the noblemen
Rebel? they never mind religion.

1661, Samuel Tuke, "The Adventures of Five Hours", in 1876, Robert Dodsley, William Carew Hazlitt, A Select Collection of Old English Plays, page 217


new year, new me

(colloquial) expression indicating a person's intention to adopt significant personal changes or improvement at the start of a new calendar year


like a scalded dog

Shoot, Sniffer jerked away and took off like a scalded dog.

2010, R. Harper Mason, Lyin' Like a Dog:

More often, he would buck like a scalded dog. If I could keep him circling in one direction, I could ride him. If I ever turned his head loose, he'd generally pile drive me again and disappear out from under me.

2012, Jean Larremore, Self-Portrait of a Texas Cowboy: Ass Over Teakettle, page 54:


all sixes and sevens

at sixes and sevens
at sixes and sevens#English


head

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-that accounts for the milk in the coconut.wav

(humorous) That explains everything (in response to a satisfactory explanation).


mark my word

Tyson: Don't sweat it! Next time I meet up with that whoosh Kai, I'll show him who's king of the Blades! You mark my word, kid.

2002, Beyblade, "Day of the Dragoon" (episode 2)

(rare) Alternative form of mark my words.


ain't that the truth

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-ain't that the truth.wav

(colloquial) That is very true; I agree (often with a gloomy or pessimistic tone).


honi soit qui mal y pense

Borrowed from Middle French honi soit qui mal y pense (literally “shamed be whoever thinks bad of it” or “shame be to him who thinks evil of it”).

bor

honni soit qui mal y pense (alternative)

I am at this period, viz. in 1812, living in a cottage; and with a single female servant (honi soit qui mal y pense), who, amongst my neighbours, passes by the name of my "housekeeper."

1821 September–October, [Thomas De Quincey], “[Part II.] Introduction to the Pains of Opium.”, in Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, 2nd edition, London: […] [J. Moyes] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1823, →OCLC, page 119:

Order of the Garter
w:Order of the Garter

w:royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom

The motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter, still used in the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom.

hańba temu, kto widzi w tym coś nieprzystojnego


and have done with it

and be done with it
and be done with it#English


what's not to like

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What's not to like about Robin Hood? I'll steal from the rich and give to a poor bear: me.

1964, William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, Hey There, It's Yogi Bear (motion picture), spoken by Yogi Bear (Daws Butler):

[…]–one would think that this comedy offered satisfactions for gender theorists, feminists, queer theorists, Marxists, and ecocritics alike. What's not to like in As You Like It?

2009, Linda Woodbridge, “Country Matters: As You Like It and the Pastoral-Bashing Impulse”, in Harold Bloom, editor, William Shakespeare: Comedies, Infobase Publishing, →ISBN, page 23:

Kill white people and get paid for it? What's not to like?

2012, Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained (motion picture), spoken by Django (Jamie Foxx):

(informal, rhetorical question, sometimes sarcastic) Rhetorically implying that what is spoken of is undoubtedly good.


like a martin to its gourd

like a martin to his gourd
like a martin to his gourd#English

Alternative form of like a martin to his gourd.


the sun sets on something

As the sun set on his running career, McGough – pronounced “McGeow” in Monaghan – reinvented himself as a masseur, learning that trade first via the Celtic football team.

2018 February 16, Frank McNally, “All-Star (and Ulster) Scot – An Irishman’s Diary about The Runner McGough”, in The Irish Times:


make a day of it

To spend the day enjoying oneself by engaging in pleasurable activities.


have a night of it

`One might think from the look of you that you had been having a night of it.' I only groaned by way of answer. I had, indeed, been having a night of it, such as I hope never to have again.

1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:

To spend a night uncomfortably or unpleasantly, such as in pain, under duress, in illness, etc.


GUR

(golf) Initialism of ground under repair.


the wrong side of

She looked to be the wrong side of forty.

Two weary, worn-out men, one of them on the wrong side of forty, a rocking-stone to take off from, a trembling point of rock some few feet across to land upon, and a bottomless gulf to be cleared in a raging gale!

Older than (the stated age, typically a decade).

the wrong side of the tracks, the wrong side of the law, the wrong side of history

Used in various other expressions to refer to an inimical or disfavoured condition.


the last I heard

(informal) Used to introduce one's most recent information on a subject, while acknowledging that things may have changed since the speaker was informed.


last I heard

the last I heard
the last I heard#English


I'll leave it up to you

I will let you be in charge; you can make the decisions or choices.


be thankful for small mercies

Even though things are bad, you should remember that the situation could be worse and therefore be happy about the little things that are good.

樂天知命 /乐天知命

even though things are bad, you should remember that the situation could be worse


if these walls could talk

(idiomatic) Used to denote a location with an interesting or controversial history.


exeunt omnes

From Latin exeunt omnēs (“they all exit; exit all”).

(theater) In plays, an instruction that all actors should leave the stage.

kaikki poistuvat

in plays, an instruction that all actors should leave the stage


you better believe it

you'd better believe it
you'd better believe it#English

Alternative form of you'd better believe it.


after us the deluge

‘After us the deluge,’ was retorted with a laugh: / ‘If bread's the staff of life, they must walk without a staff.’ / ‘While I've a loaf they're welcome to my blessing and the chaff.’

1861, Christina Rossetti, A Royal Princess:

“How about, ‘After us the deluge,’” said Paul. “Hmm?” Doctor Pond tried to make sense of the quotation, seemingly decided that it was some archaic, pleasant sentiment for those who understood poetry, and smiled.

[1952, Kurt Vonnegut, Player Piano, page 152:

A nihilistic expression of indifference to whatever happens after one is gone.


third time lucky

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


stick a fork in me, I'm done

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-stick a fork in me, I'm done.wav

A pun on the senses of done meaning "finished" and "fully cooked".


Mega

Rather he was outlining the Mega (Make Europe Great Again) project in support of the far right across Europe.

2025 February 18, Nathalie Tocci, “This assault on democracy has left Europe reeling – and alone”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Alternative letter-case form of MEGA (“Make Europe Great Again”).


MEGA

Make Europe Great Again
w:Make Europe Great Again

(European politics) Initialism of Make Europe Great Again.


that's done it

(UK, informal) Used to express annoyance or announce that one has reached the limit of one's patience or temper.

(idiomatic) Used to announce a successful solution to a problem.


I put it to you

I put it to you that the accused planned the attack beforehand.


have several seats

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-have several seats.wav

(idiomatic, humorous, African-American Vernacular) A directive for someone to calm down or modify their attitude, and to refrain from speaking about an issue in which they have limited knowledge or experience.


I'll be dipped

I'll be dipped in shit
I'll be dipped in shit#English

(euphemistic, colloquial) Ellipsis of I'll be dipped in shit (“expression of astonishment”).


what do you want

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-what do you want.wav

(informal) Indicates that the listener is paying attention to the speaker, and wishes to know why they were approached or interrupted.

咩呀？

to indicate that the listener is paying attention

(informal) A rude greeting, implying that the speaker does not wish to engage in formalities.


head

a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle

/ə ˈwʊmən ˌniːdz ə ˈmæn laɪk ə ˈfɪʃ ˌniːdz ə ˈbaɪsɪkl̩/

/ə ˈwʊmən ˌnidz ə ˈmæn laɪk ə ˈfɪʃ ˌnidz ə ˈbaɪˌsɪkəl/

Nothin' much to say I guess / You're just the same as all the rest / Been tryin' to throw your arms around the world / And a woman needs a man / Like a fish needs a bicycle / When you're tryin' to throw your arms around the world

1991 November 18, “Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World”, in Bono [stage name; Paul David Hewson] (lyrics), Achtung Baby, performed by U2:

a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle#English

Alternative form of a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.


piece by piece

Rather than tackling the entire project at once, work on each assignment piece by piece.

When the war with Japan broke out the F.M.S.R. had a busy time, but it could not make up for the lack of other communications or for general shortage of military equipment, so, piece by piece, it fell into Japanese hands.

1950 October, R. A. Marshall, “Kuala Lumpur, an important Malayan Railway Centre”, in Railway Magazine, page 705: