meaning and origin of the phrase ‘Barmecide feast’

28th Jun 2019.Reading time 13 minutes.

UK, 1823—pretended or illusory generosity or hospitality—from the name of a prince in The Arabian Nights, who gave a beggar a feast consisting of empty dishes

meaning and origin of the phrase ‘not in Kansas anymore’

25th Jun 2019.Reading time 8 minutes.

USA, 1971—in dramatically changed circumstances—said by Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939) when realising she has been transported from Kansas to the land of Oz

meaning and origin of ‘the icing’, or ‘the frosting’, ‘on the cake’

24th Jun 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

something extra that makes a good thing even better—USA 1889 with ‘frosting’, 1896 with ‘icing’—refers to a sugar preparation for coating and decorating cakes

history of the phrase ‘a bowl of cherries’

22nd Jun 2019.Reading time 23 minutes.

USA 1931—a highly enjoyable situation or experience—from ‘life is just a bowl of cherries’ 1928—popularised by song ‘Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries’ 1931

origin of ‘no-go area’: the Troubles in Northern Ireland

19th Jun 2019.Reading time 10 minutes.

1969 as ‘No Go Land’, proper name of a Catholic ghetto in Belfast—1970 as ‘no-go area’, any Northern-Irish area to which entry was restricted or forbidden

meaning and origin of the common noun ‘Debbie Downer’

18th Jun 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

USA 2005—a pessimistic or negative person—popularised, if not introduced, by the character of Debbie Downer in the U.S. television variety series Saturday Night Live

the curious case of the French word ‘oignon’

16th Jun 2019.Reading time 12 minutes.

Decided by the Académie française, the erroneous spelling ‘oignon’ (= ‘onion’) has become a symbol of prejudiced people, ignorant of the history of their own language.

meaning and early instances of ‘full English breakfast’

14th Jun 2019.Reading time 17 minutes.

UK, 1933—a substantial breakfast including hot cooked foods such as bacon, sausages, eggs and baked beans

the various figurative meanings of ‘dirty spoon’

13th Jun 2019.Reading time 19 minutes.

UK, 1849: cheap dingy eatery, as a translation from German—USA, from 1862 onwards: brothel, squalid lodging-house, bar; 1897: cheap dingy eatery

‘greasy spoon’: early instances; connexions with German

11th Jun 2019.Reading time 18 minutes.

1850, in The Times of London, apparently as a translation from German—later instances (Minnesota, 1891-98) also associated with German to an extent or another