next thing one knows

([Milton Dosantos]) just said they were on the roof and the next thing they knew, they were flat on their backs

1990 July 22, “2 Roofers Hit by Lightning, Man Critically Injured”, in South Florida Sun - Sentinel:

He had three fingers on one hand because one of them had been shot off, and he'd sit there doing this and next thing you know, out would come this three-dimensional folded cage or a box or cranes or snails. Really remarkable.

Roy: You remember the woman from last night? She seemed lovely, right?
Moss: She was a delight.
Roy: Yeah. We get outside, there's a group of tramps, two of whom she knows by name. She starts screaming at them, "You owe me money! You owe me money!" She thinks that the tramps owe her money. Next thing I know, it all kicks off. I'm running for my life. It was a horrible evening, a really horrible evening, and she's a really horrible woman.
Moss: Right. But you slept with her?
Roy: Yeah.

2007 September 28, Graham Linehan, The IT Crowd, Season 2, Episode 6

(idiomatic, colloquial) suddenly, out of the blue.


no rights reserved

Modelled on earlier all rights reserved.

The owner of a work, or other copyright holder, releases the work into the public domain.


help wanted

Indicates that a position of employment is open.

szukamy pracownika

(the exact position replaced the word pracownik)


as you do

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

I bought a dozen melons before heading home, as one does.

I was memorising the dictionary, as you do, when I came across a strange word that I hadn’t seen before.

(colloquial, humorous) Used to indicate unusual or unexpected behavior.

mint/ahogy bárki/mindenki más

indicating an unusual or unexpected situation


another county heard from

US, from finding out the results of the very close 1876 US presidential election one county at a time.

another country heard from (alternative)

Used to note the addition of a new voice to an existing discussion.

1876 United States presidential election


are you deaf

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

(idiomatic, sarcastic) A rhetorical question asked to confront a nondeaf interlocutor who has failed to hear something.


tldr

(chiefly Internet slang) Alternative form of tl;dr.


circle gets the square

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A phrase commonly used by the host of the game show Hollywood Squares.

"You guys are going to mock me for this aren't you?"
"And circle gets the square!"

(humorous) An affirmative response; often used sarcastically.


I'm hot

Indicates that the speaker is hot (i.e. feeling the sensation of heat, especially to the point of discomfort)


don't feed the troll

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

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


lmk

(Internet slang, text messaging) Alternative letter-case form of LMK (“let me know”).


head

sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me

The earliest recording dates from March 1862 in the US, but is implied to have been used earlier.

sticks and stones (alternative)
sticks and stones may break my bones (alternative)

(idiomatic) A response to taunting proclaiming the speaker's indifference.

ei haukku haavaa tee

a response to taunting proclaiming the speaker's indifference

la bave du crapaud n'atteint pas la blanche colombe

Was kümmert's die Eiche wenn die Sau dran schabt

lāṭhī aur patthar merī haḍḍiyõ ko toṛ sakte ha͠i, lekin śabd mujhe kabhī coṭ nahī̃ deṅge

लाठी और पत्थर मेरी हड्डियों को तोड़ सकते हैं, लेकिन शब्द मुझे कभी चोट नहीं देंगे

kije i kamienie kości mi połamią, ale słowa nigdy mnie nie zranią

xotʹ gorškóm nazoví, tólʹko v péčku ne stavʹ

хоть горшко́м назови́, то́лько в пе́чку не ставь


BIBO

(nautical) Initialism of bulk in/bags out: a type of bulk carrier that takes in bulk cargo and is equipped to bag it, to provide bagged cargo for disembarkment.

bulk in/bags out

(control theory) Initialism of bounded input, bounded output.


pigs might fly

pigs can fly (alternative)
pigs may fly (alternative)

"I'm sure he'll pay you back tomorrow." "Yeah right, and pigs might fly."

(idiomatic) A response (often with a hint of sarcasm) to a situation which one thinks that there is no chance of ever occurring.


pigs can fly

(idiomatic) Alternative form of pigs might fly.


RTB

(military) Initialism of return to base.


BCNU

(Internet slang) Abbreviation of be seeing you (a goodbye).


think again

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


God does not play dice with the universe

From a quotation of Albert Einstein, "I, at any rate, am convinced that [God] does not throw dice" [Jedenfalls bin ich überzeugt, daß der nicht würfelt.], by which he expressed his dissatisfaction with the preeminence of probability in the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. Einstein himself used variants of the phrase at different times. (See Albert Einstein on Wikiquote.Wikiquote).

Copenhagen interpretation
Copenhagen interpretation

Probability (as applied in the Copenhagen interpretation) is an unsatisfactory basis for understanding quantum mechanics.

Albert Einstein
Copenhagen interpretation


LQTM

Mustn't.... feed... the troll... Mustn't... feed... the troll.... ¶ Arrgggghhhh. ¶ A .483 slugging percentage does NOT mean that Stewart has a 48.3% chance of getting an extra base hit on (sic) his next at bat. ¶ LQTM LQTM LQTM

2001 May 16, Chuck Van Den Corput, “Re: OPS - an index for dummies”, in alt.sports.baseball.tor-bluejays (Usenet):

I'm sitting here LQTM, recalling Barry's explanation of my backing up instructions on the hand-held CB.

2012 June 7, Janet Wilder, “Re: was "Our Maiden Voyage", now JEEP towing”, in rec.outdoors.rv-travel (Usenet):

(Internet slang) Initialism of laughing quietly to myself.


lmao

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


LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-that's for me to know and you to find out.wav

(informal, colloquial, somewhat childish) A phrase used to reply to a question whose answer the speaker does not want to reveal.

a phrase used to reply to a question whose answer the speaker doesn't want to reveal

dat is voor jou een vraag en voor mij een weet

это тайна за семью печатями (Eto tayna za semyu pechatyami, literally “It's a secret behind seven seals”)


time you got a watch

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-time you got a watch.wav

(humorous, sarcastic) A phrase used to reply to the question what time is it?.


to what do I owe the pleasure

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-to what do I owe the pleasure.wav

At that moment the headmaster Mr Grave entered the classroom without knocking, his long coat flapping behind him like a cape. The naughty kids at the back of the class who had been texting throughout the lesson quickly hid their mobile phones under the desk. “Ah, Mr Grave, to what do I owe the pleasure?” said Miss Midge, smiling.

2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], “The Midget”, in Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN, page 109:

(formal or humorous) A question asked to know the reason for being visited by the interlocutor.


what was someone smoking

Suggesting the smoking of mind-altering drugs.

The SGZ is primarily a signal that Alfa Romeo is back in business as serious maker of serious cars although the Zagato body puts one in mind of the FI team owner whose response to a new car was to ask his designer 'What were you smoking when you designed that?'

1996, Mark Lawrence, A to Z of sports cars, 1945-1990, page 1943:

“...We don't want to live there. It's dark, creepy and it stank. What were you smoking when you bought this place? Hope you bought it real cheap, where is your change at?”
“Shut the hell up”, James snapped back. “I'm your daddy and you going to live where I move you”.

2005, Gemäse Simmons, Worth Fighting For!: The Tragedies & Triumphs of Professor Renee ..., page 25:

Bush and company had a fantasy that we could bring democracy to Iraq and it would cause a domino effect in the Middle East. Suddenly every Arab nation would embrace democracy. What were they smoking?

2007, Lee A. Iacocca, Catherine Whitney, Where have all the leaders gone?, page 82:

(idiomatic, humorous) Used to express surprise about someone's uncharacteristic or wacky, offbeat past actions.


as good as it gets

The best available under the circumstances.

so gut es nur geht

the best available under the circumstances


what the eff

“Don't take this the wrong way, Archie,” Arla begins, “but what the ef are you talking about?”

2014, Michael Griffo, Starfall (The Darkborn Legacy), New York, NY: Kensington Publishing Corporation, →ISBN, page 94:


pics or it didn't happen

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-pics or it didn't happen.wav

Suggesting the denial of the veracity of a report of the event by demanding pictures thereof as proof.

pictures or it didn't happen (alternative)

Pug Nose: “Oh, he will.”
“Pics or it didn't happen.”

2013, Jade C. Jamison, Quickies: Sexy Short Stories and Other Stuff, page 89:

“I just got out of the shower,” I explained. Will pointed down, asking playfully, “Pics or it didn't happen.” “No pics,” I snorted. “No Snapchats, no video. Sorry.”

2014, Jessa Holbrook, While You're Away, Penguin, →ISBN:

Don’t think, just post it. “Pics or it didn’t happen” – that is the populist mantra of the social networking age. Show us what you did, so that we may believe and validate it.

2015 February 26, Jacob Silverman, “‘Pics or it didn’t happen’ – the mantra of the Instagram era”, in The Guardian:

This normative expectation is perhaps best captured in the popular colloquial phrase: “Pics or it didn't happen.”

2016, Jan E. Stets, Richard T. Serpe, New Directions in Identity Theory and Research, page 147:

“Nah. It can be so fake. People just post things that make them look good. You never get the whole story.” I look at my phone in my hand. Pics or it didn’t happen! Ruby likes to say.

2016, Aimee Friedman, Two Summers, Point, →ISBN, page 195:

(Internet slang, humorous) Used to request a picture of a reported event, especially on an Internet forum.

有圖有真相 /有图有真相

used to request a picture of a reported event

(Internet slang, humorous) Used to demand verifiable evidence for a statement.


IDGAS

(Internet slang, vulgar) Initialism of I don't give a shit.


how's life

An informal greeting roughly equivalent to how are you


how's things

An informal greeting roughly equivalent to how are you?


& uxor

The plaintants made motion to have publication of witnesses taken 1 and 2 Philip and Mary, between one Thomas Shrub, then plaintant, and now deceased, whose daughters and co‐heirs the plaintants wives are, and Henry Barnard, touching lands in the occupation of the defendant ; and ordered, the plaintants shall exhibit a bill for publication against the defendants, and call them by the subpœna to answer, and then order shall be taken : Clarke & uxor, Papwell & uxor, Stockes plaintants, Eve Mellers and Wodham defendants.

16th Century, (authorship uncertain) Reports or Causes in Chancery, Stevens and Sons; page #134


stick a fork in something

From the practice of sticking a fork in meat in order to determine whether it is done (cooked).

I'd play the last level with you, but I'm out of lives. Stick a fork in me!

(idiomatic, informal) Used to indicate that something or someone is finished, or, in a broader sense, defeated or ruined.


do you need help

Asks the interlocutor if they require assistance.

คุณต้องการความช่วยเหลือหรือเปล่า

kun dtɔ̂ng-gaan kwaam-chûai-lʉ̌ʉa rʉ̌ʉ-bplàao


another country heard from

Paula greets her, “Ah, another country heard from. Please enter our most humble domain. Here, sit down. “

2001, John Simon, Temple of the Jaguar, →ISBN, page 141:

Affronted, Mutt flounced back to the fireplace, pawed the quilt into a pile, and lay down with her back pointedly to Kate. "great," Kate said, "another country heard from."

2007, Dana Stabenow, A Deeper Sleep, →ISBN, page 276:

another county heard from
another county heard from#English

Alternative form of another county heard from.


l'istesso tempo

From Italian l'istesso tempo (“the same tempo”).

der

(music) Indicates that the following movement should be played at the same tempo as the last, often employed when switching from simple to compound metres or vice versa, to clarify that the tempo stays the same in reference to the beats felt, not the time signature.


ex vi termini

From Latin, ēx (“out of”) + vī, ablative singular of vīs (“force”) + terminī, genitive singular of terminus (“word”).

The claim of a privilege seems rather, ex vi termini, to imply a superior power...

1906, Edmund Burke, quotee, edited by William Jennings Bryan, The World's Famous Orations, volume 6: Ireland, page 28:


TIL

TIL that scientists call the universe's average color "cosmic latte".

Kids played with yo-yos in Ancient Greece? TIL.

(Internet slang, Reddit slang) Initialism of today I learned....


thanks for your help

Expresses appreciation of assistance provided or services rendered by the interlocutor.


I have a question

Indicates that the speaker wants to ask a question.


someone's blood runs cold

(literal) One feels a physical shock upon realizing a direct threat to one's life, similar to the loss of blood in the brain. It affects the entire body for a few minutes, but does not cause the person to lose consciousness.

Little Oliver's blood ran cold, as he listened to the Jew's words, and imperfectly comprehended the dark threats conveyed in them.

1838, Charles Dickens, chapter 18, in Oliver Twist:

[M]y blood ran cold and my heart turned to water, for there, before the cave, rolled wolves, many and great.

1891, H. Rider Haggard, chapter 13, in Nada the Lily:

Her blood ran cold, and her heart seemed pressed in an iron vice.

1908, W. Somerset Maugham, chapter 9, in The Magician:

His "blood runs cold" imagining the wrath of Weinstein.

2004 January 12, Jeffrey Ressner, “Sundances with Wolves”, in Time, archived from the original on 2013-06-30:

Here, he read of dreadful crimes that made the blood run cold.

1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], chapter 20, in Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC:

"Why, it mikes yer blood run cold: they 'ang a man on the stige; oh, it mide me creep all over!"

1897, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter 7, in Liza of Lambeth, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, published [1921], →OCLC:

"It just makes my blood run cold to read about it. And to think that the man who did it is still around the country somewhere—plotting other murders."

1914, Lucy Maud Montgomery, The Man on the Train:

[T]he prospect of doing hard time in an American penitentiary was about the only thing that made Pablo Escobar's blood run cold.

2009 February 24, John Otis, “Colombia's Drug Extraditions: Are They Worth It?”, in Time:

(idiomatic) One experiences a visceral feeling of fear, horror, dread, or strong foreboding.

einem gefriert das Blut in den Adern

One experiences a visceral feeling of fear, horror, dread, or strong forboding


I don't care

Indicates that the speaker has no interest or emotional investment in the topic at hand.


you know what I mean

I think there's a value to having a reverence for something bigger than yourself, you know: "There's something out there." Sure, you know what I mean?

2011, Phil Zuckerman, “Mother Was An Exorcist” (chapter 1), in Faith No More, page 31:

Like when you've sung along with a song a thousand times but you know it so well that the words don't even mean anything anymore. They're just bits of air coming out of your mouth. You know what I mean?

2001, Susan Perabo, The Broken Places, page 141:

I'm trying not to stare down there / While she talks about her tough time / Girl of your dreams / You know what I mean

2020, The 1975, “If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)”, in Notes on a Conditional Form, track 16:

I mean, Psalm 95 was a huge help, but you know what I mean 🙂

(colloquial) You are familiar with the situation I am describing; used to establish common ground with the interlocutor


lost in the shuffle

We have allowed ourselves to be "lost in the shuffle" of American priorities in the '70s, but we should never lose sight of ourselves and our goals as our priorities.

1975 July, Gil Scott-Heron, “Lost in the Shuffle”, in Ebony, volume 30, number 9, Johnson Publishing Company, page 28:

We get lost in the shuffle, and in the end we don't even know that we have needs - much less know what these needs might be.

1987, Robert Subby, Lost in the shuffle: the co-dependent reality, HCI, page 39:

That's the way things happen in AIDS Action. The Board makes a very clear mandate and then whatever the executive director and senior staff feel should happen is what actually happens...and the Board action gets lost in the shuffle.

1988 December 4, Judy Haris, Laurie Livingston, “Going Public”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 21, page 9:

In the occasional highly publicized case, then, the best interests of the child may be lost in the shuffle.

1992, Michael G. Kalogerakis, Handbook of psychiatric practice in the juvenile court: the Workgroup on Psychiatric Practice in the Juvenile Court of the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Pub, page 24:

(idiomatic, informal) Failing to stand out or receive attention as a result of a larger-scale change or transformation.


I'm full

Indicates that the speaker does not wish to continue eating.

お腹がいっぱいになりました

おなかがいっぱいになりました


make yourself at home

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

اِجْعَلْ نَفْسَكَ فِي مَنْزِلِكَ

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

どうぞ気楽にして下さい

どうぞきらくにして下さい


as above, so below

The concept was first laid out in the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus: "That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that which is Above, corresponds to that which is Below, to accomplish the miracles of the One Thing."

(occultism) What happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels; the microcosm and macrocosm behave alike.

Emerald Tablet
Hermes Trismegistus
as above, so below

jak nahoře, tak dole

what happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels

ce qui est en haut est comme ce qui est en bas

quod est superius est sicut quod est inferius


VES

Initialism of vent, enter, search (“a firefighting and rescue strategy”).


ICCL

couldn't care less
couldn't care less#English

EVVK

abbreviation used to express an uncaring opinion towards a subject


excetera

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling


exetera

(nonstandard) Pronunciation spelling of et cetera.


winner, winner, chicken dinner

→ Mandarin: 吃雞 /吃鸡 (chījī) (calque)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-winner, winner, chicken dinner.wav

Possibly originating in casinos as a stock cry of croupiers whenever a patron won.

[In Las Vegas casinos] When you win, you’ll hear the stickman say, “Winner, winner, chicken dinner” and get high-fives all around. This sure beats pushing buttons and waiting for a bunch of cherries.

1998, Davis, Alan, Alan Davis' the fun also rises travel guide North America : the most fun places to be at the right time, →OCLC:

(childish) An expression or declaration of victory, especially in a game of chance.


are you OK

/ɑː juː əʊˈkeɪ/

[ɑ̟ː ju̟ː əʊˈkʰeɪ]

[ɑ̟ɹ ju̟ː oʊˈkʰeɪ]

Asking if the listener is OK (e.g. not hurt).

汝好勢無？ /汝好势无？

lí hó-sè--bô? / lír hó-sè--bô? / lú hó-sè--bô?


what's your job

Inquires about the subject's current occupation.

งานของคุณอะไร

add ครับ (kráp) (male speaker) or คะ (ká) (female speaker) to the end to make the question more polite

công việc của bạn là gì? (generic, replace bạn with the appropriate pronoun)


RUOK

(Internet, Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of are you OK.


what are you doing

汝咧創啥？ /汝咧创啥？

lí le̍h chhòng siáⁿ? / lír lér chhòng siáⁿ? / lí lé chhòng siáⁿ? / lí teh chhòng siáⁿ?

汝咧做啥？

lí le̍h chòe siáⁿ? / lí teh chòe siáⁿ? / lí lé chòe siáⁿ? / lír lér chòe siáⁿ?

汝咧作啥？

lí le̍h chò siáⁿ? / lí teh chò siáⁿ? / lú le̍h chò siáⁿ? / lú teh chò siáⁿ? / lú le̍h chòe siáⁿ?

汝咧啥潲？

lí le̍h siáⁿ-siâu? / lí lé siáⁿ-siâu? / lír lér siáⁿ-siâu? / lí teh sáⁿ-siâu?

bạn đang làm gì? (generic, replace bạn with the appropriate pronoun)

Anna! Hi! What’re you doing?

2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

Used to ask what the interlocutor is currently doing.

All of a sudden, he pulled her arm down towards his crotch and began humping it. "Ahh! My God! What are you doing? Stop that! Stop that!"

2009, Stephen Goldfinger, The Comedian and the Urologist's Daughter, page 135:

Used to tell the interlocutor to stop what they are currently doing.


I want to go to the toilet

Indicates that the speaker feels the urge to go the toilet.


if that

My car is so old that, if I were to sell it, I would get a hundred pounds, if that.

"There is not much to discuss, so today's meeting should be over in half an hour, if that."


enjoy your meal

Used to wish someone enjoyment of the meal they are about to eat.


this is the life

Ah, this is the life. All dressed up on an ocean liner with your favourite cocktail in hand, enjoying a nice relaxing evening.

2008, Gary Wood, Don't Wait for Your Ship to Come In... Swim Out to Meet It:

(informal) An expression of bliss, an expression of happiness with one's current situation.


ikt

(text messaging) Initialism of I knew that.


I miss you

An expression of sorrow or sadness about the absence of a family member, close friend, lover or spouse.

あなたがいなくて寂しい (あなたがいなくてさびしい, anata ga inakute sabishii, literally “you are not here and (I am) sad”)

会いたくて寂しい (あいたくてさびしい, aitakute sabishii, literally “(I) want to see and (I am) sad”)

(あなたに)会いたい ((あなたに)あいたい, (anata ni) aitai, literally “(I) want to meet you”)

보고 싶어 (bo-go sipeo, literally “I want to see you”)

я скуча́ю по тебе́ (ja skučáju po tebé) (ja skučáju po tebé (ja skučáju po tebé), literally “I am longing for you”)

мне тебя́ не хвата́ет (mne tebjá ne xvatájet, literally “there is not enough of you for me”)


PERRL

Drunk-drivers always fail the PERRL test.

(emergency medicine) Initialism of pupils are equal, round and react to light.


I would

Presumably short for "I would have sex with them".

Look at that chick hanging out by the entrance. — I would!

(slang, idiomatic) Used to denote that the speaker finds another person sexually attractive.


I don't fancy yours

"I don't fancy yours!" I said to Davoh, and broke into a trot to reach her first.
"Finders, keepers!" I puffed as I drew alongside. She grinned, tossed her dark hair and went on talking to her friend about something too important to be interrupted […]

(slang, idiomatic, humorous) Used to reserve the right to chat up an attractive woman who is with an unattractive woman.


are you single

Used to ask whether the interlocutor does or doesn't have a (romantic) partner.


is anyone sitting here

Used to ask whether a seat near the interlocutor is currently occupied (by someone temporarily absent).


sorry I'm late

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Used to apologise for not arriving on time.

entschuldigen Sie bitte, dass ich mich verspätet habe


DRY

The general principle here is DRY: Don't Repeat Yourself (HTOO). If you duplicate information in two or more places, sooner or later, you'll forget to update one of the copies […]

2005, Greg Wilson, Data Crunching: Solve Everyday Problems Using Java, Python, and More:

software engineering
software engineering

don't repeat yourself
w:Don't repeat yourself

(software engineering) Acronym of don't repeat yourself (“software development principle aimed at reducing repetition”).


your place or mine

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-your place or mine.wav

sexual intercourse
sexual intercourse#English

A question proposing sexual intercourse: shall we go to your home or mine to have sex?


suck my cock

(idiomatic, vulgar, offensive) An expression of discontent or aggravation to another party.


can we say

>Walter Thurmond Bishop, Thurmond's nephew and the chief federal
>bankruptcy court judge for South Carolina,
Can we say NEPOTISM?

2003, TravIsGod, “OT: I guess the more they complain...”, in alt.sports.football.pro.dallas-cowboys (Usenet):

Wanna become a Debbie Downer? Then give in to your self-doubts and start listening to all the naysayers (believe me, there will be naysayers and it may come from the unlikeliest of places, like perhaps your BFF. Can we say jealous? Not everyone has the ability to pursue their own delicious dreams!)

2010, Vicki Salemi, Big Career in the Big City:

Used sarcastically to draw attention to a motive or agenda.


I take it

I take it you're not a very big fan of the carrot?

(idiomatic) Used to express one's understanding of another's position.


raised by wolves

Were they raised by wolves? What exactly are you expecting them to do at your reception, dance on the tables?

2001, Kim Shaw, The New Book of Wedding Etiquette:

Do you think I was raised by wolves? Do I really seem that clueless to you?" He said nothing; nothing at all.

2001, Antoinette Stockenberg, Tidewater, page 60:

I thought that Carl was saying these negative things to me out of love, but then over time, the words he spoke grew more and more harsh by the day. He would ask me insulting things like, "were you raised by wolves?

2009, K. B. Whitaker, Fifty-Seven, page 11:

“Tell me, Drool, have you always known you were raised by wolves?” “Aye. I want to go outside and have a wee on a tree, now, Pocket. You want to come?” “No, you go, love, I'm going to stay here and shout at the old ladies."

2010, Christopher Moore, Fool, page 250:

However, he'd not been raised by wolves, and as he put the food down, he held his chair for the guest. “Care to join us?”


raised in a barn

Momma's all the time telling us to act like we weren't raised in a barn. Ole Miz Hawkins must've been raised in her daddy's milk barn, instead of in the house with the china cups like she claims.

2005, Tammy Robinson Smith, Emmybeth Speaks, page 9:

“Raised in a barn, some people. Raised in a muck-filled, stinking barn.” Mag and Morgan stared at the grumbler's departing back until he was gone.

2006, Philip J. Carraher, The Necklace of Stones, page 140:

"No, thanks, we'll keep them with us." "Peggy always got on to me if I didn't ask for people's coats. 'George, you weren't raised in a barn, ask them if you can take their coats.'" The imitation sounded accurate

2008, Laurell K. Hamilton, The Lunatic Café, page 275:


does the Pope shit in the woods

en-au-does the Pope shit in the woods.ogg

A combination of the two rhetorical questions is the Pope Catholic? and does a bear shit in the woods?. Compare is a bear Catholic?.

"You still interested in a writing job?" he asked. […] Is the Pope Catholic? Does a bear shit in the woods? Or, as one of the guys had said a few weeks before, Does the Pope shit in the woods? A writing job. “Yeah,” was all she could say.

2009, Iris Rainer Dart, Til the Real Thing Comes Along, Grand Central Publishing, →ISBN:

"I asked her if she would like a coffee. She turned round, smiled and said: 'Does the Pope shit in the woods?' The wife was aghast. Of course I got the blame!”

2009, James R. Vance, Killer Butterfly, The eBook Sale, page 233

"[…] do you understand that last point about combining two jokes together?" […] I almost replied 'Does a bear shit in the woods?' but then I […] saw the chance to answer in a way that would show I understood them perfectly. "Does the pope shit in the woods?" There was a huge round of applause from the invisible audience, in fact it wasn't just a round of applause, ...

2014, John Byrne, "Rapt In an Enigma" - "A True-life Tale of the Paranormal Unlike Any You Have Read Before", Lulu Press, Inc, →ISBN:

Rhetorical question
rhetorical question#English

(idiomatic, humorous, vulgar) Obviously! Rhetorical question in response to a question where the answer is an emphatic yes.


see you when I see you

(informal) Used as a farewell, when the next time the speaker and interlocutor will meet is not known.


see you in hell

"See you in hell, candy boys!"

1994 November 27, Greg Daniels, “Homer Badman”, in The Simpsons, season 6, episode 9, spoken by Homer Simpson (Dan Castallaneta), production code 2F06:

A farewell which implies that the person addressed is about to die and be damned; often uttered in bravado by one adversary to imply that the other adversary may defeat them in some conflict but in the end both will be dead and in hell, making the victory a Pyrrhic one.


catch you on the flip side

This phrase comes from when radio DJs played vinyl records. The disks had two sides - on a 45 RPM disk, sides A & B. The song that the record company wanted to promote most heavily would go on the A side. So when a DJ played that side, they'd sometimes say, "And now on the flip side...", and play side B, the lesser known track.

If you come back to America, just hit me up / 'Cause this is crazy love, I'll catch you on the flip side

2019, “California”, in Norman Fucking Rockwell!, performed by Lana Del Rey:


not if I see you first

(informal, usually humorous) Used as a reply to see you, see you later, see you soon etc., implying that, if the speaker sees the interlocutor first, the speaker will avoid them.


do bears shit in the woods

does a bear shit in the woods
does a bear shit in the woods#English

(colloquial, rhetorical question, mildly vulgar) Alternative form of does a bear shit in the woods.


time's up

Alternative form: time is up

Near-synonym: time is ripe

“Time’s up,” the proctor announced at the end of the third section. “Put your pencils down. There will be a fifteen minute break. You are encouraged to use the bathroom during this time.”

2008, Rick Lax, Lawyer Boy, St. Martin’s Press, page 28:

The deadline has passed; there is no more available time.


think nothing of it

A polite way to dismiss thanks as unnecessary


it's raining

落雨囉 /落雨啰

lo̍h-hō͘--lo͘ / lo̍h-hō͘--lo͘h / lo̍h-hǒ͘--lo͘

don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining

piss on someone's leg and tell them it's raining


ROTGLOL

(rare, Internet slang) Initialism of rolling on the ground laughing out loud.


I'm a guy

(informal) Indicates that the speaker is male.


to save one's life

I can't dance to save my life.

After she began to have a Governoress for Stuyvesant Jimpson and an Imported Nurse for the little Evelyn Jimpson her memory began to blur in spots and she couldn’t have done up the Dishes to save her life.

1902 September 7, George Ade, “Modern Fables By George Ade. The Modern Fable of the Troubles of the Unemployed and the Danger of Changing from Bill to Harold.”, in Idaho Daily Statesman, Boise, Ida., page 16, column 5:

(informal) at all (Used with "can't", "couldn't" etc. to emphasize a lack of skill.)

She wouldn't eat baked beans to save her life.

(informal, hyperbolic) under any circumstances; [I'd] rather die than...(Used with "will not", "would not" etc. to emphasize refusal.)


if memory serves

But A. P. H. has told us how he has demonstrated, at least twice, that indeed a cheque need not be on paper. Once, if memory serves, he used a table napkin; on the other occasion it was the label of an almost empty wine bottle.

1954, The Accountant, volume 130, page xxxiii:

If I have correctly remembered the details.


how are you getting along

(informal) A greeting roughly equivalent to how are you.


how's everything

An informal greeting, asking how a person's life is going.


how goes it

The phrase is a regular Early Modern English equivalent of how's it going (when neither progressive tenses nor do-support were obligatory). As such it could have survived through regional dialects. Nevertheless modern usage is likely a calque of German wie geht es, perhaps additionally also Dutch hoe gaat het, Danish hvordan går det, etc.

Here comes the Lady Paulina's Steward: hee can deliuer you more. How goes it now (Sir.)

c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 300, column 2:

‘Scotty, man, how goes it?’ Bennie said, patting me warmly on the back as we shook hands.

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

(idiomatic) An informal greeting roughly equivalent to how are you.


monkeys might fly out of my butt

En-au-monkeys might fly out of my butt.ogg

Popularized by the 1992 film Wayne's World. Likely a variation on pigs might fly.

‘I am sure he'll pay you back tomorrow.’ ‘Yeah right, and monkeys might fly out of my butt.’

(Canada, US, slang, vulgar) A response to a suggested situation that one thinks has no chance of ever occurring.


if it's not one thing it's another

Many problems are happening simultaneously or in close succession; there is always another problem arising, continually (in life; in one's life; in this place; etc).


if you ask me

B.W. Wooster: If you ask me, art is responsible for most of the trouble in the world.
R. Jeeves: An interesting theory, sir. Would you care to expatiate upon it?
B.W. Wooster: As a matter of fact, no, Jeeves. The thought just occurred to me, as thoughts do.
R. Jeeves: Very good, sir.

1992 May 3, “Comrade Bingo”, in Jeeves and Wooster, Series 3, Episode 6:

Some damned fool made him an American officer; but if you ask me, I think he's neither flesh nor fowl nor good red herring. He changed sides once so he wouldn't lose his property, and if you ask me, he's ready to do it again.

(informal) Used to introduce one's opinion, without being asked for it.


if you don't mind me saying

He addressed him politely: 'If you don't mind me saying so, you look a bit worried.' Salman answered him frankly: 'Well if I wasn't worried, do you think I'd come here to sell a thermos flask?'

1991, Shaukat Ṣiddīqī, God's own land: a novel of Pakistan:

Used to introduce one's opinion about something to which offence could be taken


what's the difference

“Genies, fairies, whatever, what's the difference, bring them here I want to talk to them,”

2010, Patricia O'Grady, Tales of the Whosawhachits: Key Holder of the Realms:Book 1:

(idiomatic) (rhetorical question) The difference does not matter; so what?

"I don't see why it's any more ridiculous to wear flowers on your hat than on your dress," protested Anne. "Lots of little girls there had bouquets pinned on their dresses. What's the difference?"

1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, chapter XII, in Anne of Green Gables:

What's the difference between new Windows programs and old ones? If you're paying close attention, you'll notice subtle differences in the way new 32-bit Windows programs look. Dialog boxes, for example, are likely to have tabbed pages ...

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see what, is, the, difference.


keep the change

And she handed me twenty dollars / For a two fifty fare, she said / "Harry, keep the change."

1972, Harry Chapin, “Taxi”, in Heads & Tales:

An instruction to a taxi driver, waiter etc. to keep the change from the amount handed over as a tip.

köszönöm

said with some emphasis when handing over a banknote with a value not considerably larger than the required sum


NPP

nuclear power plant
w:nuclear power plant


I want my money back

Said to demand a refund for a product or service.


LGB

"[…]The congressman who had an alleged affair with a Chinese spy for several years and inexplicably still sits on the House Intelligence and Homeland Security Committees jumped to Twitter on Christmas Day to attack the Oregon father who delivered the LGB joke during the White House holiday call."

[2021 December 27, Proud Progressive, “Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell Blasts Pathetic Dad Who Said Lets Go Brandon to Biden”, in comp.os.linux.advocacy (Usenet):

Got gas the other day and there were two LGB stickers on the gas pump.

2021 December 27, Frank, “Do you suppose anyone told the venal, senile what LGB means?”, in alt.home.repair (Usenet):

Unfortunately for Brown, the reaction was negative. Despite being a rising NASCAR star, he said it became “extremely difficult” to attract sponsors because major corporations saw his unintentional association with the LGB meme to be divisive.

2022 January 5, “NASCAR rejects ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ sponsorship”, in RT:

That represents a 99.5 percent decline over the last 30 days, leaving a singular LGB coin effectively worthless.

2022 February 13, Technobarbarian, “‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Crypto Coin Turns Into Total Dumpster Fire”, in rec.outdoors.rv-travel (Usenet):

The gift shop is rammed. [...] I'm slightly surprised to see an "LGB" clutch above the till, until I realise it stands for "Let’s Go Brandon", code for "Fuck Joe Biden"[.]

2024 March 15, Jemima Kelly, “How the least divided place in America feels about Trump's return”, in Financial Review, archived from the original on 2024-04-09:

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

(Internet slang, US politics) Initialism of let's go, Brandon.


thanks for coming

An expression of gratitude for coming somewhere, having been invited.

A sardonic expression indicating that the addressee's contribution has been inconsequential.


the race that stops a nation

(Australia, informal) The annual Melbourne Cup horse race.


IDGAF

LYRICAL PROPHETS, "I.D.G.A.F." (Demo from On The Reel Productions) [...] For one thing, the samples they used on "I Don't Give A F..." seemed too cheerful for the lyrics, which take the dozens to violent new heights.

1993 December 10, David J., “LYRICAL PROPHETS, "I.D.G.A.F."”, in HardC.O.R.E., volume 2, archived from the original on 2003-09-05:

(Internet slang, text messaging, vulgar) Initialism of I don't give a fuck.


who's asking

"Are you the owner of this vehicle?" / "Who's asking?"

(defensively) Used to ask a stranger asking a question to identify themselves


DILLIC

(slang, Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of do I look like I care?.


sucks to be you

(slang, offensive) You are in a bad situation, but I have no sympathy/empathy.


case closed

[…]he would no more tell a grunt in uniform what he was really thinking than he'd drop his pants and wag the weasel at a formal diplomatic function.
Some things were simply not done by professionals. Full stop. Case closed.

"And I your God say no angel of mine will ever marry a female human being. And that is final!"
"Positively final?" I asked in a firm, steady voice.
"Yes! Doubly positively final! Case closed!"

2011, Dominick Ricca, "The Salvation of Satan", in Would You Like to Be White? and Other Stories, Xlibris (self-published), page 403 http://books.google.com/books?id=YVr6Rw8UaioC&pg=PA403&dq=case

Expressing finality, that that preceding material is meant as final, not subject to amendation or variation.

The bodies of the deceased were removed from the scene to the Suffolk County medical examiner's office in Hauppauge.[…] As you can see from the report, Nikki Hale was the only one who was impaired. Case closed.

2009, Brad Thor, The Apostle, Atria, →ISBN:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: A case is closed; specifically, a police investigation or similar is resolved.


youth is wasted on the young

/ˌjuːθ‿ɪz ˈweɪstɪd‿ɒn ðə ˈjʌŋ/

/ˌjuθ‿ɪz ˈweɪstɪd‿ɑn ðə ˈjʌŋ/

Origin uncertain. The phrase is often attributed to the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) (see, for example, the 1943 and 1979 quotations), but does not appear to be from any of his published works. It is sometimes also said to be by other people such as the American writer Mark Twain (1835–1910) and the Irish playwright and poet Oscar Wilde (1854–1900): see the 1937 and 2006 quotations.

Mark Twain once remarked that it is a pity youth is wasted on the young. Why do we think youth is wasted on the young? […] It [youth] is only valued after our eyes are dull and step no longer spry.

1937 December 1, “Priceless Possession is Seen in Having Youth and Guarding Its Gifts”, in Mary Harrison Vaughan, editor, The Rotunda, Farmville, Va.: State Teachers College, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 2, column 1:

What is it [George Bernard] Shaw says—a pity youth is wasted on the young. Miss Lanahan, what are you doing with your life?

1943 April, Ann Pinchot, “Rival to My Heart: Part 2”, in Otis Wiese, editor, McCall’s, New York, N.Y.: McCall Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 37, column 1:

The adage that youth is wasted on the young aches your body, for you know that even youth itself, does not have the time to burst forth with all the energy that nature prescribed for it.

1966 October 20, Peter Harris, “Student’s thoughts drift in the fall”, in Fred Thomas, editor, The Daily Tar Heel, volume 74, number 33, Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 2, column 6:

George Bernard Shaw was right on the mark when he suggested that it's a pity youth is wasted on the young.

1979, Joseph F. Coates, “Social Security in the Year 2000: How to Get There and Where will We be when We Do?”, in David Pearce Snyder, editor, The Family in Post-industrial America: Some Fundamental Perceptions for Public Policy Development (AAAS Selected Symposium; 32), Boulder, Colo.: Frederick A[mos] Praeger, Westview Press, →ISBN, page 130:

Maybe someday the old and the young will live together and work together. But like they say, youth is wasted on the young, and I would also say that wisdom is wasted on the old.

1983, Lawrence Bush, “1906”, in Bessie, New York, N.Y.: Seaview/Putnam, →ISBN, part 1, page 56:

It is often said that youth is wasted on the young, but Joseph Szabo's remarkable photographs of that brief span between puberty and baby adulthood seek another determination. As an art teacher (and yearbook photo adviser) to the students of Long Island's Malverne High in the 70s and 80s, Szabo had the opportunity to document the confidential moments of adolescence from which most adults are barred.

2003 November, Edward Helmore, “Teenage Graceland: Joseph Szabo Captures Adolescents’ Secret World”, in Graydon Carter, editor, Vanity Fair, number 519, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 166, column 1:

Any inexpensive dictionary of quotations offers a multitude of entries illustrating youthful irresponsibility such as Oscar Wilde’s ‘youth is wasted on the young’.

2006, Rupa Huq, “Introduction: Youth Culture at the Turn of the Century”, in Beyond Subculture: Pop, Youth and Identity in a Postcolonial World, Abingdon, Oxfordshire; New York, N.Y.: Routledge, →ISBN, page 1:

Young people often fail to fully appreciate or utilize the vitality and opportunities that come with youth.

George Bernard Shaw
Mark Twain
Oscar Wilde

nuoruus menee hukkaan nuorissa

the young fail to appreciate or make good use of what they experience

si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait

е́сли бы мо́лодость зна́ла, е́сли бы ста́рость могла́ (jésli by mólodostʹ znála, jésli by stárostʹ moglá, literally “if the youth were skilful, if the old age were able”)

you can't put an old head on young shoulders


be careful what you wish for

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

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

uważaj, czego pragniesz uważaj na marzenia

¿no querías caldo? ¡pues toma dos tazas!


have I got news for you

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-have I got news for you.wav

You think your neighbours are noisy? Well, have I got news for you: I've been living next door to a nightclub for six years.

(rhetorical, often humorous or ironic) Used to announce a fact of which the addressee was, or appeared to be, ignorant.


head

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.wav

Mr. Cuomo described the Dinkins endorsement as politically significant, but it is unclear just how much it matters. . . . "Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick," to borrow one of the former Mayor's favorite maxims.

1994 October 7, Todd S. Purdum, “The 1994 Campaign: After Wary Weeks, Dinkins Announces Support for Cuomo”, in New York Times, retrieved 2015-09-13:

Better than nothing
better than nothing#English

better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick

better than a poke in the eye with a rusty nail

better than a poke in the eye with a shitty stick

(humorous) Better than nothing; not unsatisfactory but also not a reason for enthusiastic excitement.

lepší než drátem do oka.

litereally:better than (a poke) with a wire in the eye.


non est inventus

And in case of the principal's avoidance and the return of non est inventus (g) upon the execution, the bail shall be obliged to satisfy the judgment out of his own estate

(law) The response of a sheriff on a writ, when the defendant is not found in his county.


mego

You can leave a room without leaving the room by kicking in the MEGO syndrome. Once again, I'm bad at this myself. I'm learning to slow the flow and let MEGO.

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of my eyes glaze over: used to indicate the speaker's boredom or impatience with some subject or activity.

my eyes glaze over

MEGO is usually directed at senior management by engineers and contains a high proportion of TLAs.

1993 May 10, Eric Raymond, editor, The Jargon File:

(Internet slang): information that is too technical or difficult for the audience to understand, though they may be too embarrassed to ask questions or admit their confusion.


non prosequitur

Latin [Term?], meaning "he does not prosecute".

(law) A judgement entered against the plaintiff in a suit where he/she fails to appear to prosecute.


non est factum

(law) A defence in contract law that allows a signing party to escape performance of an agreement that is fundamentally different from what they intended to execute or sign.


this just in

This just in: the presumed murderer of the young woman has been apprehended in a forest near the city.

Said sarcastically with a statement that should be obvious.


EN-AU ck1 couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery.ogg

En-au-couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery.ogg

Presents an example of a minimally simple project that the person or group described is presumed unable to accomplish.

“Deladrieux should have stayed an accountant,” Murphy sighed. “He's got three people working for him but they're just administrative clerks, pencil-pushers, they couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery. That's what you get when you assign engineering jobs to non-engineers.[…]”

2006, G. C. Lemans, Chantier: A tribute to the world's engineers and their partners in life, page 60:

'It'll be a sad day when the British leave. You lot couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery without the Queen, God bless her'.

2023 January 28, Martin Thiebaut, The Nomad Letters, Troubador Publishing Ltd, →ISBN:

But, a tip for everyone reading this, don't use Visa Machine, as it couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery! And I should know, as I have had three breweries and I can!

2018 December 11, Ian Rogers, London to Magadan, Troubador Publishing Ltd, →ISBN, page 47:

(UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, vulgar, slang, idiomatic) Is unable even to organise a project that requires no planning; is incompetent; used to describe someone as greatly incompetent.

couldn't organise a bun fight in a bakery


man is the measure of all things

According to Plato, the phrase was coined by Greek philosopher Protagoras.

(an expression of) the doctrine that all knowledge is subjective, being derived from observations made by humans, and there can be no objective truth

čelovék jestʹ méra vsex veščej suščestvujuščix

челове́к есть ме́ра всех вещей существующих

el hombre es la medida de todas las cosas


I've never heard it called that before

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-I've never heard it called that before.wav

The word "it" refers to a sex act, bodily organ, etc. for which the speaker's phrase might be construed as a euphemism.

is that what the kids are calling it these days

(informal) Used to draw attention to a possible, and usually unintentional, double entendre in the immediately preceding utterance of another speaker.


the genie is out of the bottle

the genie's out of the bottle (alternative)

It's been widely rumored the network was planning to cancel the show, but now the genie is out of the bottle and fans are furious.

This early flawed statement was rapidly updated with entirely accurate information, but it was too late - the genie was out of the bottle.

2021 November 17, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Salisbury: a media own goal”, in RAIL, number 944, page 3:

(idiomatic) Information has been released that will have ongoing consequences.

de geest is uit de fles

information has been released that will have ongoing consequences

I don't think there's any hope of repealing this city's silly parking bylaw. The genie is out of the bottle, sadly.

“The foundations of the concerns about digital platforms were developing during the Obama years […]” said Chris Lewis, the president of the consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge. “The genie is out of the bottle and the issues the public needs resolved are piling up without resolution.”

2020 November 10, Cecilia Kang, David McCabe, Jack Nicas, “Biden Is Expected to Keep Scrutiny of Tech Front and Center”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(idiomatic) Something has been brought into reality that cannot be eliminated or undone.


I'm easy

(informal, following a proposal) I have no strong feelings one way or another but I am ready to comply.


wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am

wham, bam, thank you ma'am
wham, bam, thank you ma'am#English

Alternative form of wham, bam, thank you ma'am.


APDTA

LeI's keep praying for mercy and peace . . . APDTA

2007, Alice Johnson-Muhammad, And the Mind Speaks: Poems-Monologues-Opinions and Lots of Truth!, →ISBN:

I am Khadija, your mother, and I will light your way home. APDTA.

2012, Rene' O'Shea, Blame Rane, page 260:

APDTA! It is a special honor to announce that I have received an offer from The University of Notre Dame

2018 January 25, Salim Turner-Muhammad, “Offer Report: 2019 CB Salim Turner-Muhammad”, in Notre Dame Insider:


do me a lemon

"Do me a favour" (rhyming with "lemon flavour") in Cockney rhyming slang.

(UK, idiomatic, humorous) Expresses disbelief.


this means war

Of course, you know this means war!

1935, A Night at the Opera, spoken by Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho Marx):

Of course, you know that this means war!

1938, 6:20 from the start, in Porky's Hare Hunt, spoken by Rabbit (Mel Blanc):

This means war. This means war.

2024 February 26, Smii7Yplus, 21:26 from the start, in Worms Moments that End in Disaster, spoken by SMii7Y:

An avowal of anger towards someone, suggesting revenge is now sought.


always a bridesmaid, never a bride

Title of a 1917 English Music Hall song by Charles Collins. Later used in a United States advertisement for Listerine mouthwash (implying that the use of mouthwash could improve a woman's chances of marriage).

always the bridesmaid, never the bride (alternative)

Sword Dancer seemed destined to be always a bridesmaid, never a bride, after losing the Kentucky derby by a nose to Tomy Lee and finishing second, beaten four lengths, to Royal Orbit in the Preakness.

1959 June 15, “After Belmont Mishap: Sore but Chipper is Eddie Arcaro”, in The Spokesman-Review, retrieved 2013-04-10, page 10:

"[…]But he was always a bridesmaid, never a bride. He 'assisted.' He wrote pamphlets. He even ghosted biographies for some of the biggies. But he never really got his career off the rocks until Sally died. So he wrote romances for the money."

1997, Jaqueline Girdner, A Cry for Self Help, page 137:

[…]upon Musawi's assassination he was promoted over the head of Sheikh Naim Qassem, to this day Hezbollah's deputy secretary-general—always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

2010, Michael Young, The Ghosts of Martyrs Square: An Eyewitness Account of Lebanon's Life Struggle, page 101:

Said of a person who has potential that is never fulfilled.


ne bis in idem

Latin, meaning "not twice for the same".

(law) The concept that no legal action can be instituted twice for the same cause.


as I live and breathe

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-as I live and breathe.wav

Originally a reference to the speaker’s statement being as true as the fact that the speaker is alive (see sense 1).

Dear Ma'am, why will you chagrine yourſelf about a vile Man, that is not worth,—no, as I live and breathe,—not worth a ſingle Sigh?—

1760, [Arthur] Murphy, The Way to Keep Him, a Comedy in Three Acts: […], Dublin: Printed for G. and A. Ewing, […], →OCLC, act I, page 10:

[O]ch, as I live and breathe, I would consider myself worse than the beast of the field, if I would be so ungrateful to my lady, who is now in distress.

1827, George Boswell, Maria of the Mountain; or, The Castle of Balahana. (Founded on Facts.), London: Printed for the author, by R. Brown, […], →OCLC, page 15:

I hid in one of the empty rooms, and I saw you go by, yes, and as I live and breathe, Liscom Truro, I saw my father following you.

1877 February, “Who Signed It?”, in Frank Leslie’s Pleasant Hours. Devoted to Light and Entertaining Literature, volume XXII, number I, New York, N.Y.: Frank Leslie […], →OCLC, page 60, column 2:

As I live and breathe and eat here in the Wayfarers Inn on this August 21, 1999, I swear to you they're authentic, but of course anything I'd swear wouldn't be worth anything anyway, would it?

2003, James L. Clark, Eddie et alia, Lincoln, Neb.: Writers Club Press, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 282:

As I live and breathe, Thomas, you will not flourish unless you are part of our brotherhood. I swear that on all the saints.

2009, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Summoner’s Prologue and Tale”, in Peter Ackroyd, transl., The Canterbury Tales: [...] A Retelling, London: Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 196:

(dated) Used to declare the truth of a statement with emphasis.

jak babcię kocham

used to declare the truth of a statement with emphasis

Eh? What? Mercy alive! Hilda—Hilda, look here! Bab, as I live and breathe!

1864, Amelia B[lanford] Edwards, “The Torso of the Belvedere”, in Barbara’s History. A Novel (Harper’s Library of Select Novels; no. 241), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, publishers, […], →OCLC, page 171, column 2:

Well, well, as I live and breathe, it's Svend! My, what a great and dangerously huge fellow you have become!

1992, Örn, “When the Footprints Become Covered with Snow”, in Kirsten Wolf, Árný Hjaltadóttir, transl., Western Icelandic Short Stories, Winnipeg, Man.: University of Manitoba Press, →ISBN, page 138:

"As I live and breathe, there's the Pride of Weymouth," cried the captain, moving up alongside him at the rail. "Look at her resting there at anchor, calm as by-your-leave. I never thought we'd see her spars again."

2000, Janette Oke, T. Davis Bunn, chapter 1, in The Sacred Shore, Bloomington, Minn.: Bethany House Publishers, →ISBN, page 11:

"Cornelius Finson, as I live and breathe," she proclaimed, "I ain't seen you in a dog's age. Not that you were ever much of a visitor. Now let me have a look at what you've done to yourself."

2005, Anita Diamant, “Cornelius”, in The Last Days of Dogtown: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Scribner, →ISBN, page 182:

(dated) Used to express surprise at an experience one is witnessing.

jak babcię kocham

used to express surprise at an experience one is witnessing

I sha'n't forget that night, Mr. Simple, as long as I live and breathe.

1833, [Frederick Marryat], chapter XVI, in Peter Simple. […], volume II, London: Saunders and Otley, […], published 1834, →OCLC, page 276:

Even as I live and breathe in this natural world all around me, I still find myself looking, minute-by-minute, with great interest and attention, for the supernatural work—that is—the miracles, the "extra-ordinary" events ordered by God.

2000 May, Terrance L. Weber, “Faith”, in Anchors of Faith: How to Live the Christian Lifestyle, [Bloomington, Ind.]: [Xlibris], →ISBN; republished as How to Cope … with Life, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, 2012, →ISBN, page 29:

This is what I take seriously / My life that lives within me / Lives within me just as I / Live and breathe

2001 March 18, Constance Breen, “As I Love You”, in The Pockets of My Brain, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, published 2012, →ISBN, page 74:

Not for as long as I've got ROBIN WILLIAMS EATS SHIT emblazoned across my chest. Not for as long as I live and breathe, you bastards.

2004, John Saleeby Jr., “Dawn of the Awful Waffle”, in The Awful Waffle: Hi Cholesterol Humor, Lincoln, Neb.: iUniverse, →ISBN:

As I live and breathe day by day. / I feel myself fading away.

2009, Jennie M. Lopez, “Brake Threw”, in If It Takes All Life, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, section 10 (Stormy Weather Hurricane Katrina Poetry), page 119:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see as, I, live, and, breathe.


ISWYDT

I see what you did there
I see what you did there#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of I see what you did there.


strike me pink

Bill slouched up to the tent and entered. When he beheld the magnificent proportions of Robert he said but little - 'Strike me pink!' were the only words the children could afterwards remember - but he produced fifteen shillings, mainly in sixpences and coppers, and handed it to Robert.

1902, Edith Nesbit, chapter 8, in Five Children and It:

Why, strike me pink, I'd sooner drink / With a cove sent up for arson / Than a rain-beseeching, preaching, teaching, / Blanky, cranky parson.

1974, Bill Wannan, With Malice Aforethought, page 85:


what's the big idea

I heard you been chatting up my girl. What's the big idea?

Hey, what's the big idea, you telling everybody I'd left town?

(US, colloquial, often preceded by hey) Used to express surprise or dissatisfaction with an action or statement of another person, especially to that person.


your arse

You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God it's our last

1987, The Pogues, Fairytale of New York:


virtue is its own reward

The Wages of Sin is Death; it’s poor Wages that will not make a Man live; as Virtue is its own Reward, ſo Sin is its own Executioner.

1726, William De Britaine, Human Prudence; or, The Art by Which a Man May Raiſe Himſelf and His Fortune to Grandeur, 12th edition (Dublin: Samuel Fairbrother), § XII: “Of Virtue”, page 73

a good deed is its own reward
a good deed is its own reward#English


Virtue is her own reward

virtue is its own reward
virtue is its own reward#English

Alternative form of virtue is its own reward.


let him who is without sin cast the first stone

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

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

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

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

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

kojto ot vas e bez grjah, neka prǎv hvǎrli kamǎk

който от вас е без грях, нека пръв хвърли камък

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

wie zonder zonde is werpe de eerste steen

joka teistä on synnitön, se heittäköön häntä ensimmäisenä kivellä

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

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

quem nunca pecou que atire a primeira pedra

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


let him that is without sin cast the first stone

let him who is without sin cast the first stone#English

Alternative form of let him who is without sin cast the first stone.


keep hope alive

Even if something seems to become more and more unlikely, do not stop believing in it.


I'm confused

Indicates that the speaker is confounded by something.


bloom is off the rose

The matter was clear as daylight, and would be disposed of in half an hour or so; but during that half-hour he, Soames, would go down to hell; and after that half-hour all bearers of the Forsyte name would feel the bloom was off the rose.

1921, John Galsworthy, chapter 9, in The Forsyte Saga, Part III:

"Thatcher's style, her arrogance, her kind of assertiveness, have suddenly gone out of fashion," said Ralph Miliband. . . . Outside of Britain, too, the bloom is off the rose. Mrs. Thatcher had a warm relationship with President Ronald Reagan, but her standing with President Bush is less certain.

1990 April 8, Sheila Rule, “The World: Quite Enough of Thatcher, or Just a Cyclical Setback?”, in New York Times, retrieved 2012-01-08:

The bloom is off the rose concerning the imperial CEO. Finally shareholders are becoming incensed by these reprehensible bonuses and severance packages.

2007 February 15, Barbara Kiviat, “10 Questions for Carl Icahn”, in Time:

(idiomatic) The person, object, or situation identified in the context has lost its novelty, freshness, appeal, or acceptability.

"I would say that the bloom is off the rose a little bit, yes," said the senior vice president of video retailing for Lorimar Telepictures, Peter Temple, speaking of the home-shopping phenomenon.

1987 March 11, Peter J. Boyer, “Shop-at-Home Program Fails to Show and Tell”, in New York Times, retrieved 2012-01-08:

"I think that for general advertising, the bloom is off the rose. That is a declining revenue model."

2000 February 14, Margaret Popper, “Venture Capitalist Michael Frank: "The Cost of Playing Poker Has Simply Gone Up"”, in Businessweek, retrieved 2012-01-08:

(idiomatic, business, economics) Business is not going well for a particular identified firm or industry, or the overall economy has taken a downturn.


blush is off the rose

bloom is off the rose
bloom is off the rose#English

Alternative form of bloom is off the rose.


who am I kidding

The alternative to that is of course the chilling thought of Lucifer. I don't like the idea of that so much. Who am I kidding though? I kill people! People, who do horrible things, but people none the less.

(rhetorical question) Said by one who, upon the realization that one was kidding oneself, wishes to start thinking in a more sensible, reasonable way.


vel sim.

Abbreviation of Latin vel similia (“or similar (things), or the like”). First attested in the 19th century; the appearance of the abbreviation in New Latin is roughly contemporary.

bor

(somewhat dated) Or the like; or similar.


the old woman is plucking her goose

En-au-the old woman is plucking her goose.ogg

Metaphoric, likening the snowflakes to white feathers.


nome sane

Others showed that their creators were hip to the dialect, as does the cartoon by Jeff Fanzinger (see the photo and cartoon inser following page 160), in which he exploits authentic Ebonics lingo - chillin, main man, dat's whuzzup, and nome sane (a condensed version of "Know what I'm saying?") that has become popular in the black community.

2000, John R. Rickford, Russell John Rickford, Spoken soul: the story of Black English, John Wiley and Sons, page 206:

"Nome sane?" This is not a real question, and there is no answer. Do not reply, "Yes, I know what you are saying."

2004, Molly Katz, New York as a second language: haddabea Neyawka, Andrews McMeel Publishing, page 28:

I am your goddam triumph, nome sane? Most ashamed son of a bitch you're ever going to meet.

2004, Spider Robinson, Very Bad Deaths, Baen, page 213:

(African-American Vernacular) Pronunciation spelling of know what I'm saying.


p.r.n.

Alternative forms: prn, PRN

For example, apart from being given three to four times a day on a time-contingent basis, ibuprofen or naproxen or most other NSAIDs may be taken p.r.n. (as occasion rises) when pain is troublesome and omitted at other times.

1999, Harold Merskey, Dwight Moulin, “Pharmacological Treatment in Chronic Pain”, in Andrew R. Block, Ephrem Fernandez, Edwin Kremer, editors, Handbook of Pain Syndromes: Biopsychosocial Perspectives, Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., →ISBN, page 152:


pro re nata

From the Latin phrase pro (“for”) rē (“thing, matter”) nātā (“born, arisen”): "for what arises".

Dealing with something that arises unexpectedly or out of due course; for special business.

(medicine) Used on medical charts by doctors to indicate that actions may be taken at the discretion of nursing staff depending on the patient's condition.

(medicine, pharmacology) Used on prescriptions to indicate that the medicines may be taken if and when the patients feel the need.


does not compute

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

A phrase commonly uttered by robots in science-fiction stories. The first recorded source is the television show My Living Doll from 1964.


if it isn't

head

if it isn't... (past tense if it wasn't)

if it isn't ... (canonical)
if it wasn't (past)

Shortened from if it isn't ___, I'll eat my hat! or similar construction.

Why, if it isn't Bill! Come on in, Bill!

"Well, well, if it isn't the new kid," said the bully.

Observes, with (sometimes ironic) surprise, that a specified thing or person is present.


audi alteram partem

From Latin audī (second-person singular present active imperative of audiō (“hear”)) + alteram (feminine accusative singular of alter (“the other”)) + partem (accusative singular of pars (“part, side”)).

(law) "Hear both sides." A legal principle of fairness given to ensure that the accused has the chance to refute an accusation.


om mani padme hum

From Sanskrit ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ (oṃ maṇi padme hūm̐), [Term?] (“the wish-fulfilling jewel in the lotus”), internally derived from मणि (maṇi, “wish-fulfilling jewel”) and पद्म (padma, “lotus”). ॐ (oṃ) and हूँ (hūm̐) are not translated.

bor

ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ,

(Buddhism) A mantra associated with Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, the primary mantra of Tibetan Buddhism.


ATL

Initialism of authority to leave, used on a package to advise the deliverer (courier) that the addressee has authorised that the package can be left at the delivery address without being given directly to the addressee or the delivery being signed for.


no glove no love

no glove, no love
no glove, no love#English


TFS

(Internet, Internet slang, text messaging, letter-writing, occasionally used) Initialism of thanks for sending.

letter-writing; occasionally used; letter-writing; occasionally used


up to one's eyeballs

up to one's eyes (alternative)
up to the eyeballs (alternative)
up to the eyes (alternative)

First and foremost (rather than last but not least), I couldn't have done this without my wife Nicki Norman, who serves as sounding board and a voice of rationality and moderation, and who sees the big picture when I'm up to my eyeballs in details.

2010, Peter H. Gleick, Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water:

Deeply engaged in something, to the point of being overwhelmed.


The 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland and the 6 counties of Northern Ireland together make a single United Ireland.


as I was saying

(idiomatic, informal) Used to refer back to one's own previous statement in a discourse.


do not pass go, do not collect $200

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

do not pass go, do not collect £200 (alternative UK)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


don't be a fool, wrap your tool

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

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


sleep tight

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

The word tight is sometimes explained as here meaning “well, soundly”. However, it can just as well be interpreted in its literal sense of “firm, fast”; compare fast asleep.

Sleep tight! Don't let the bedbugs bite!

If one keeps oneself tightly bundled one will sleep warm and rest well.


and his mother

It looks like everyone and his mother has come out tonight.

Anyone and his mother could see through that disguise.

(idiomatic) Serves as an intensifier for an inclusive noun or phrase such as everyone, anyone, each someone or all someones.


everyone and his mother

Golf is supposed to be a gentleman's game, but I curse everyone and his mother out there. I have to win.

1983 January 24, “THE KILLER D”, in Miami Herald:

everybody and his brother
everybody and his brother#English


everybody and his mother

On Thursday the same remark would have applied equally to Tokomairiro; everybody and his mother seemed to be paying us a visit.

1868 February 5, “Clutha Ferry Races”, in Bruce Herald, Bruce, NZ:


liar liar pants on fire

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-liar liar pants on fire.wav


respice finem

Miſtris reſpice finem, reſpect your end, or rather the propheſie like the Parrat, beware the ropes end.

c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], page 95, column 2:

look to the end; consider the final outcome


WRUD

(Internet slang, text messaging) What are you doing?


HRU

(Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of how are you?.


WRU

(Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of where are you.


wake up and die right

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

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

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

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

(informal, used imperatively) Get a grip.


one's got to do what one's got to do

one's gotta do what one's gotta do (alternative)
a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-one's got to do what one's got to do.wav

Sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, even if his helpmate does not share his passion. Perhaps that's part of the attraction. Maybe a man wouldn't be so feverish about his garden if he had to share it with his partner, […]

2000, Warren Schultz, A Man's Garden, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, →ISBN, →OCLC:

(informal) A person must do what he or she feels is necessary or imperative.

do what a person feels is to be done by themselves

ein Mann muss tun, was ein Mann eben tun muss


a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do

one's got to do what one's got to do#English

Alternative form of one's got to do what one's got to do.


spank you

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


YOLO

The phrase (not the acronym) "you only live once" dates to the 19th century according to research by Katherine Martin, head of U.S. Dictionaries at Oxford University Press. It saw a steady increase of usage from 1940 to 2000. Ben Zimmer, lexicographer, found the earliest usage of the acronym from 1993, in a trademark filed for YOLO gear with "you only live once" in small lettering. The acronym was popularized around 2011 by Canadian rapper Drake.
YOLO was entered into the Oxford English Dictionary as a word in 2016.

yolo (alternative)
Y.O.L.O. (alternative)

Making this cake mix eleven years past the expiration date, because YOLO!

“Well, it's too late to turn back now, Brandon,” Ana said. “And anyway… YOLO, right?” Brandon looked like he was about to explode, but finally he rubbed his eyes and nodded. “Yeah. YOLO.”

2014, Sam Jones, yolo, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 132:

“It made me come to this conclusion of, I don’t know, YOLO, let me just try this,” he said.

2021 March 24, Charlie Warzel, quoting James Young, “What Are You Paying for When You Buy a GIF for $25,000?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 2021-03-24:

Individual YOLO decisions can be chalked up to many factors: cabin fever, low interest rates, the emergence of new get-rich-quick schemes like NFTs and meme stocks.

2021 April 21, Kevin Roose, “Welcome to the YOLO Economy”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 2021-04-21:

you only live once
you only live once#English

(slang) Acronym of you only live once, i.e. expressing the view that one should make the most of the present moment.


wyf

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of where('re) you from (where are you from?).


head

one's damned if one does and one's damned if one doesn't

“[…] He’s been there for her, and where has Jack been? He’s gone, long gone.” / “That’s true,” Richard said in a crushing manner, “but he wouldn’t be, had it not been for Glenda getting him involved. He’s only doing what she asked him to do. You’re putting him in a no-win situation; he’s damned if he does and he’s damned if he doesn’t.”

2010, Gail Soberg-Sorenson, chapter 40, in Vengeance, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, page 310:

My job takes a lot of my time and the hours are crazy, but I put Ryan and Whitney first. Dammit, if I didn’t work that would be a problem. It seems like I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t.

2016, Tracee Boyd, “Chapter 13 – Harper”, in Hardheaded in Love, Royalty Publishing House, →ISBN, page 81:

One of the most awkward situations known to humankind (apart from turning up to work in the same outfit as someone else) is receiving a social media contact request from a member of the senior management team. Should you ignore the invitation or accept it on diplomatic grounds? In either case, you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t.

2017, Simon Holland, “Social Media Management”, in How Bad Is Your Boss? Do You Work for a Mentor or a Menace?, New York, N.Y.: Skyhorse Publishing, →ISBN, page 79:

damned if one does and damned if one doesn't#English

Alternative form of damned if one does and damned if one doesn't.


women and children first

The earliest known usage of this phrase is from 1912, when RMS Titanic was sinking.

An exhortation to follow the principle of removing women and children from danger before men.


the party is over

The party's over / But I've landed on my feet / And I'm standing here on this corner / Where there used to be a street

2014, Leonard Cohen, “A Street”, in Popular Problems:

But surely he’d walk it, standing as a revolutionary independent. “Well, my ambitions go way, way, way beyond that. I’m not asking for an invitation to the party – I’m saying the party’s over.”

2014 October 11, Simon Hattenstone, “Russell Brand: ‘I want to address the alienation and despair’”, in The Guardian:

An irresponsible or carefree period has ended; it is time to be serious or take responsibility.


here be dragons

Evidence of the use of this term as a notation on actual historical maps is lacking. The only known appearance of an equivalent phrase in any language on a historical map is of Latin HC SVNT DRACONES (“here are dragons”), placed on the east coast of Asia, on the Hunt-Lenox Globe, which dates from c. 1510. The phrase is simply a variation on HIC SVNT LEONES ("here are lions"), the classical phrase used by medieval cartographers to denote unknown territories on maps.

uder

It's like in those old maps of the world, where the mapmakers wrote, "Here be dragons" on the unexplored parts of the globe.

1994, Steven Henry Strogatz, Nonlinear Dynamics And Chaos: With Applications To Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering, page 11:

The awakening world scrawled ‘Here Be Dragons’ across the unknown territory.

2004, Nornie Campbell, No Dragons Here, page 253:

When the old seafarers encountered uncharted territory, they would find those blank areas on the map marked with the phrase “Here be Dragons” and the image of a sea serpent or a similarly ferocious creature.

2011, Susie Vrobel, Fractal Time: Why a Watched Kettle Never Boils, page 255:

A fanciful notation, commonly attributed to historical maps, held to indicate either the belief that unknown dangers exist in a certain location on the map, or that actual dragons can be found there.

Here be dragons in the shape of London landladies, owners of small hotels ('B. & B.') in the streets off the lower end of Euston Road. . .

1962, Geoffrey Fletcher, The London Nobody Knows, page 16:

. . . let me go into what was the unknown, ‘Here-be-Dragons’, hinterland of science, to find out what made scientists tick. . .

1987, Ritchie Calder, reported in New Scientist, Vol. 114, No. 1559, May 7, 1987, p. 61

Speaking of money... here be dragons... Do you charge?

1993, Incorporated Association of Organists, Organists' Review, Volume 79, Issues 309-312, p. 219

Analytical philosophers mark "Here be dragons" on the part of the intellectual map that belongs to phenomenology.

1997, William R. Everdell, The First Moderns: Profiles in the Origins of Twentieth-Century Thought, page 191:

In undertaking such a task, I realise that I am venturing into uncharted waters, or at least waters for which only charts of the ‘here be dragons’ variety exist.

1997, Charles Jones, The Edinburgh history of the Scots language, page 336:

By extension, used to indicate that which is unknown or uncertain, particularly if it seems to carry some type of risk.


d/b/a

(US, law) Alternative form of dba (“doing business as”).


shurely shome mishtake

Pronunciation spelling of surely some mistake; originally coined by Private Eye in imitation of the slurred speech of a drunken editor, or of the lisping Daily Telegraph editor Bill Deedes.

pronunciation spelling of

[They] were overwhelmed by the buffet, consisting of a "huge bowel [shurely shome mishtake?] of great pink shrimps balanced on their heads, guarded by a three foot ice swan"

1990, Congress for Cultural Freedom, Encounter, volume 74, page 40:

The letter in AI 2.10.97 re the Philips Pavilion makes me wonder again why that 'experience' (copyright PM Millennium Inc) was so easily hated - and panned again by your reviewer. Why, only a few weeks ago your 'Mayo' called it 'Corbusier's Swiss Pavilion'. Shurely shome mishtake?

1997, John McKean, “Hard to see what's in front of your eyes”, in The Architect's Journal, volume 206, page 27:

Surely this was worthy of comment, if not a headline: "UK drink-driving limit allows binge drinking - shurely shome mishtake?"

2004, Paul Blezard, “Binge and Drive”, in New Scientist, number 2464:

The Star also reports: "A public farewell is being planned next week in Brisbane's football stadium to accommodate all his millions of fans." The Wrap is not sure how big the stadium is, but thinks this might be a case of shurely shome mishtake?

2006 September 13, Mark Oliver, “The Wrap - No Love Lost”, in The Guardian:

(UK, informal) Highlights a mistake, actual or perceived, which the writer feels is ironic or humorous.


shome mishtake shurely

shurely shome mishtake
shurely shome mishtake#English

Alternative form of shurely shome mishtake.


the devil you say

the deuce you say (alternative)
the dickens you say (alternative)

An expression of surprise at something stated by another. In modern usage usually sarcastic, implying that the statement was obvious.


Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve

From the Abrahamic Adam and Eve narrative. Popularized by televangelist Jerry Falwell in the late 1970s United States.

(derogatory, offensive) A phrase indicating the notion that only heterosexual relations are valid.


TWSS

that's what she said
that's what she said#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of that's what she said.


something like

When they had done, she gave Ashiepattle a whistle, and told him how to use it. If he blew into the one end of it, everything which he wished far away would be scattered to all sides, but if he blew into the other end it would all come together again; and if the whistle were lost or was taken from him, he had only to wish for it and it would come back to him. That is something like a whistle, thought Ashiepattle.

1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 173:

"I say!" exclaimed Scrubb. "That's something like! Think of sleeping in a bed again."

(informal, dated) A fine example or specimen of something.


ISHYGDDT

(Internet slang) Initialism of I seriously hope you guys don't do this: indicating disapproval of some habit previously mentioned.


what's that

(colloquial) What was that? Synonym of say again.


what was that

(colloquial) What did you just say? Synonym of say again.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see what, was, that.


word has it

Word has it you're looking for a new job.

[…] the “New Amazon,” who word had it, could “outdrink, outswear, [and] outswagger the men.”

2009, Catherine S. Ramírez, The Woman in the Zoot Suit, page 66:

People who gossip are saying that..., there is a rumor going around that...


quod google

The one thing missing is the interactive lisp shell of emacs; but here too, Larry Clapp (quod google) has written vim and perl scripts for communicating between vim and a lisp (maybe only CMUCL) process.

2003 April 7, Dorai Sitaram, “Re: Lisp development not using emacs.”, in comp.lang.lisp (Usenet):

(Internet) Which one should Google. (Used after a term to indicate that more information on the term can be found through a Google search.)


me neither

"I don't go there any more." / "Me neither."

"I never go there." / "Me neither."

"Would you go there?" / "No way." / "Me neither."

"I can't go there." / "Me neither."

"Neither of us go there." / "Me neither."

"I saw no one." / "Me neither."

"I'm not going anywhere today." / "Me neither." (Compare: "I'm going nowhere today." / "Me too." go nowhere is an idiom.)

(colloquial) Used to say that a negative-containing statement of the previous speaker applies to the speaker as well.


not your father's

From an advertising slogan for the Oldsmobile car, "this is not your father's Oldsmobile".

This is not your father's computer programmer. The days when the typical information technology professional sat in a cubicle all day hunched over a keyboard, a can of Jolt Cola and a half-eaten Twinkie within arm's reach, seem about as quaint now as a genuine whistle-stop political campaign in the mass media age.

2001, Leslie Jaye Goff, Get Your IT Career in Gear!, →ISBN, page 3:

Make no mistake about it, this ain't your dad's Final Fantasy. If you want an effiminate spikey haired main character with amnesia or serious social issues that must shoulder the burden of fighting a great and ancient evil, you're not going to find that here.

2005, Shoeless Wayne Santos, “Final Fantasy XII”, in GameAxis Unwired, page 54:

Just as this isn't your father's army — it's also not your father's VA. The bureaucracy is bigger, the forms have multiplied, the benefits have become more complicated.

2011, Peter S. Gaytan, For Service to Your Country: The Essential Guide to Getting the Veterans' Benefits You've Earned, →ISBN, page xv:

(idiomatic) Recently changed, made unconventional through modernisation.


what are you looking at

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(rhetorical question, somewhat hostile) Expresses discomfort because the interlocutor is looking at something; usually, this is said when the interlocutor has been staring at the speaker.


not to say

“Without an engaged audience, there’s no route to stardom.” ¶ That’s not to say that Sophie thinks the internet celebrity is dead. They may just have to work a little harder for it.

2024 June 26, Stephanie McNeal, “Influencers Aren’t Getting Famous Like They Used To”, in Glamour:

Used to clarify a statement: not intended to mean.


that's wassup

that's what's up
that's what's up#English

Alternative form of that's what's up (“that's true”).

(A hostage taker speaking to a child) -- Is it good? -- No doubt. -- It's gonna be okay. -- Cool. -- You'll be home soon. -- That's wassup.

"A'ight", Zaire said nonchalantly. "Cool, that's wassup. So I tell you what, I'ma go grab me a burger".

2011, Ni-Ni Simone, Upgrade U, page 224:

“That's wassup, Todd! Nice too meet you mayn'e”. Antonio had no need to elevate his voice. The deep baritone carried itself over the bass line in the back ground.

2010, Rafael Solece, Street Sinuata, page 109:

(slang) This is excellent; this is cool. Used to express approval


hay is for horses

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hey is for horses (alternative)
hay is for horses and cows (alternative)

Neverout. Hay, Madam, did you call me? / Miſs. Hay; why, Hay is for Horſes.

1731 (date written), Simon Wagstaff [pseudonym; Jonathan Swift], “Dialogue I”, in A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation, […], London: […] B[enjamin] Motte […], published 1738, →OCLC, page 107:

(sarcastic) Said as a retort to someone saying hey (any sense of the interjection), used to indicate that the speaker disapproves of the usage of the word "hey", perhaps due to a dislike of informal speech.


absque impetitione vasti

(law) Without impeachment of waste, i.e. without accountability for waste, without legal liability for waste.


in the abstract

With reference to theoretical, not practical, considerations.


bless someone's heart

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A conventional shortening of a wish May God bless (your/her/his/etc) heart.

Used to express gratitude. (Compare bless you, God bless you.)

My dog can't fit in her puppy bed anymore, but she still tries, bless her heart.

They're having a hard time getting used to the food down here. They don't like grits — bless their hearts, they don't even like sweet tea.

We just moved my dad to a senior community, and I need to make sure he changed his gas service over to his new address. Bless his heart—he doesn't remember things the way he used to!

2002, Hack Proofing Your Identity In The Information Age, →ISBN, page 9:

“Bob had my permission to travel with Mister Jackson. Mister Jackson asked for his help, and I agreed.”
“They must have tricked you, bless your heart. How could you know what they were plotting,” Mistress Dean said in her most sympathetic tone.

2004, Larry Michael Ellis, The Life and Legend of Robert "Black Bob" Renfro, →ISBN:

"Bless her heart, she doesn't have the fashion sense God gave a billygoat."

2008, Jerry Deriso, Save Me A Place In Heaven, →ISBN:

(especially Southern US) Used to soften criticism or express pity. (Compare the British usage of bless (expression of endearment or belittlement).)


Semper Gumby

A play on the official Latin motto semper fidelis, with reference to Gumby, an animated clay character.


EMILY

Or, remember EMILY: Early Money Is Like Yeast — it makes dough grow.

1993, Lisa Berger, Feathering Your Nest: The Retirement Planner, page 132:

I admonish my campaign workers to remember EMILY: Early Money Is Like Yeast. Men and women give to institutions, programs, and campaigns that are successful. They give to programs that are popular.

2005, Jerold Panas, Mega Gifts: Who Gives Them, Who Gets Them, page 155:

Remember the acronym EMILY: Early Money Is Like Yeast. It grows and grows. The money you put away in your twenties will be a huge pot of gold for your future.

2009, Andrea Syrtash, How to Survive the Real World: Life After College Graduation:

Acronym of early money is like yeast, i.e. it "raises dough", or makes more money.


tell it to the judge

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

Al slid off Rhodes's back and moved away from him, hands in the air. “I was just being helpful.” “Tell it to the judge,” Rhodes said, and he took off after Frankie.

2012, Bill Crider, Murder of a Beauty Shop Queen: A Dan Rhodes Mystery, page 162:

“Wait a minute, you don't understand, I wouldn`t kill my best friend!” Robert continued yelling. “Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say, tell it to the judge.”

2011, Steven W. Moore, Her Husband's Crossing: A Man Remembering His Past and His Love for One Woman, page 130:

“What? No. No! That's not true — he — wait just a —” stammered Fancy. Kinslow cut him off, “Tell it to the judge!”

2008, Allan Michael Hardin, Sidetracked, page 48:

(idiomatic) I do not believe what you said.

talk to the hand
talk to the hand#English

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


NINA

(historical) Initialism of no Irish need apply (in job advertisements).


oic

(Internet slang) Alternative form of OIC (“oh, I see”).


ALM

all lives matter
all lives matter#English

(US politics) Initialism of all lives matter.


I am HIV positive

human immunodeficiency virus
human immunodeficiency virus

Indicates that the speaker is a carrier of the human immunodeficiency virus.


boom goes the dynamite

Coined by Brian Collins, a college student from Ball State, during a collegiate basketball sportscast.

Brown and Paden ride the Silverado chairway to heaven. And...boom goes the dynamite.

2006 November, Susan Schnier, “The Bomb Squad: A day in the boots of Squaw Valley's snow-safety patrol”, in Skiing, page 126:

"Fine, have it your way." ¶ And boom goes the dynamite! ¶ I had won the battle.

2006, Bradley Myers, I Was a Teenage Dumpeal, page 161:

Boom goes the dynamite, scores are tied, and we are even-steven!

2010 November 22, David Hoselton, “Small Sacrifices”, in House:

In the next second, that is exactly what happened. Big Man made a wide Texas swing, left his chin open and boom! goes the dynamite.

2011, Adrianne Byrd, King's Promise, page 69:

Indicating that something spectacular has happened, particularly where a plan or an effort has successfully culminated.


ICYWW

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of in case you were wondering.


the pants off

"And did you also feel like you could whip the pants off any mother's son alive?"

Reuters had scooped the pants off the U.S. press.

1943 December 13, “The Press: Scooped Again”, in Time:

Jeffrey Vinik, manager of the $56 billion Fidelity Magellan Fund, the world's largest and most closely watched mutual fund, "beat the pants off the managers of other large funds," in the words of one analyst.

1996 June 3, John Greenwald et al., “Magellan's New Direction”, in Time:

The Eden Project is his medium for getting that message across to the masses without boring the pants off them.

2001 March 16, Christopher Redman Bodelva, “Feast of Eden”, in Time:

"Not many people know it, but the Fuhrer was a terrific dancer. He could dance the pants off Churchhill."

2001 September 7, Richard Corliss, “That Old Feeling: Brooks to Broadway: Get Happy”, in Time:

"Doom 3 is just going to terrify the pants off people," says Rob Smith, editor of PC Gamer magazine.

2004 April 12, Chris Taylor, “Video Games: You Ought to Be in Pixels”, in Time:

Roosevelt not only remade America, but he also charmed the pants off everybody while he did it.

2006 June 25, Richard Lacayo, “The Making of America — Theodore Roosevelt”, in Time:

Those of us old enough will also recall that Japan used to scare the pants off Americans and just about everyone else.

2010 March 29, Michael Schuman, “What Japan's Years of Paralysis Teach America”, in Time:

(idiomatic) An intensifier used with some transitive action verbs to indicate that the action is performed with thoroughness, vigor, or complete success.


WDYMBT

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


JTLYK

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of just to let you know.


NTIM

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of not that it matters.


BTAIM

be that as it may
be that as it may#English

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of be that as it may.


doggonit

Euphemistic variant (with metathesis of the consonants "g" and "d") of the phrase goddamn (doggone) + it.

Doggonit, she made me waste my doggone pecan candy.

(idiomatic, euphemistic) An expression that shows mild or strong frustration about something.


YKB

(Internet slang) Initialism of you know ball.


use it or lose it

Any piece of curriculum, devoid of an opportunity to wield it, suffers the same fate as unutilized Spanish instruction. The time-tested colloquialism is accurate: use it or lose it.

2011, Tim Wagle, Paul Theobald, “Connecting Communities and Schools: Accountability in the Post-NCLB Era”, in Paul R. Carr, Brad J. Porfilio, editors, The Phenomenon of Obama and the Agenda for Education: Can Hope Audaciously Trump Neoliberalism, Information Age Publishing Inc., →ISBN, page 262:

Skills or knowledge that are seldom applied are likely to be lost with time.

The legal rationale was simple: in much of the west, water rights operate under the "use it or lose it" principle. If you don't use the water, others had the right to appropriate it and use it themselves.

2011, Marq De Villiers, Our Way Out: Principles for a Post-Apocalyptic World, McClelland & Stewart, →ISBN, page 310:

Property and privileges will be lost if they are not utilized.

One's physical fitness will gradually decline if one does not exercise regularly.


shatting on one's uppers

‘She has to blow and she's shatting on her uppers. She figures the peeper can get her some dough.’

1939, Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep, Penguin, published 2011, page 188:

(US slang) Completely out of money; broke.


don't be a stranger

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

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

(imperative) Remain in communication with me.


so help me God

so help me (alternative)
so help me Bob (alternative euphemistic)
so help me cat (alternative euphemistic)
so help me tater (alternative archaic euphemistic)
so help me tatur (alternative archaic euphemistic)

I waited — not to share the booty, for, so help me God and Saint Withold! as neither I nor any of mine will touch the value of a liard, — I waited but to render my thanks to thee and to thy bold yeomen, for the life and honour ye have saved.

He came up close and kneeling gently down
He said, "My love, my dearest Alison,
So help me God, I never again will hit
You, love; and if I did, you asked for it.

1951, Geoffrey Chaucer, “Wife of Bath's Prologue”, in Nevill Coghill, transl., The Canterbury Tales: Translated into Modern English (Penguin Classics), Penguin Books, published 1977:

At approximately 2:40 p.m. Central Standard Time Malcolm Kilduff held a dictating machine in front of us (a tape recorder was not available) and I repeated the oath of office after Judge Hughes:
I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.

1971, Lyndon Johnson, “The Beginning”, in The Vantage Point, Holt, Reinhart & Winston, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 15:

“You try it Mister, and so help me God I will make sure you spend the rest of your non-adult life bouncing off the mattressy walls of a psych ward.”

2008, James Slater, Like Phosphorescent Desert Buttons, page 98:

Used as an oath, a promise that an action will be carried out

我敢斷言，千真萬確 /我敢断言

phrase used as a promise that an action will be carried out


SOHCAHTOA

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(mnemonic, trigonometry) sine: opposite over hypotenuse, cosine: adjacent over hypotenuse, tangent: opposite over adjacent


shut it

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

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

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

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


steady as she goes

(nautical) A cry to a helmsman to keep on the current course.


God only knows

God only knows what I'd be without you.

1966, Brian Wilson et al., “God Only Knows”, in Pet Sounds:

Alternative form of God knows (“it is unknown to people”).


LMPITW

(Internet slang) Initialism of let me put it this way.


though but

Terry: I shall sleep well tonight, though but.

1974, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?:

(Northern England, idiomatic) Used at the end of a sentence to add emphasis.


you think

Elliptical form of do you think so? or similar.

I reckon the trees are greener in spring than in winter. —You think?

(idiomatic) A sarcastic, rhetorical response to an obvious statement.


devil's beating his wife

devil is beating his wife and marrying his daughter

(Southern US) Said when it rains while the sun is shining; that is, when a sun shower occurs.

jakkals trou met wolf se vrou

interjection uttered when it rains while the sun is shining — see also sun shower

le diable bat sa femme et marie sa fille

царевна плачет (carevna plačet, literally “A princess is crying”)


BITD

(Internet slang) Initialism of back in the day.


g'head

“G’head, junkie, have your fix.”

1974, Richard Price, “The Game”, in The Wanderers, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, →ISBN, page 49:

“Yeah, g’head, Audie, laugh about it. […]”

1992, Jim DeFilippi, chapter 20, in Blood Sugar: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: HarperCollins Publishers, →ISBN, page 151:

“G’head” said Beanpole Barbara, trying to get Allergy Alice to speak.

2011, Alan Lawrence Sitomer, chapter 4, in Nerd girls: The Rise of the Dorkasaurus, New York: Disney Hyperion Books, →ISBN, page 26:

(colloquial, imperative) Contraction of go ahead.


WFM

- Shall we meet on Wednesday?
- WFM.