origin of ‘steeplechase’: a horse race with a steeple as goal
UK, 1793—a horse race across a stretch of open countryside, with a church steeple in view as goal
Read More‘(just) what the doctor ordered’ (exactly what is needed)
‘(just) what the doctor ordered’: very beneficial or desirable under the circumstances—origin: USA, second half of the 19th century
Read Moreorigin of ‘to bell the cat’ (to undertake a very dangerous mission)
ultimately based on the fable of the mice, or rats, who proposed to hang a bell round the cat’s neck, so as to be warned of its approach
Read Morepejorative origin of ‘Nimby’ (opposition to a project in one’s vicinity)
USA, 1979—acronym from ‘not in my back yard’—first used in ‘the Nimby syndrome’ with reference to the disposal of nuclear waste
Read More‘bedside manner’: originally applied to fashionable ladies’ doctors
UK, 1849—in the medical profession, appearances, among which a good bedside manner, prevailed over qualifications
Read More‘beer and skittles’: meaning and origin
UK, 1831—In ‘beer and skittles’, denoting unmixed enjoyment, the image is of a person drinking beer while playing skittles.
Read Moreorigin of ‘begging bowl’ (appeal for financial help)
used in reference to a grovelling or obsequious appeal for financial help (1903)—originally a bowl carried by a Buddhist monk to receive food (1878)
Read Moremeaning and origin of ‘to bow (down) in the house of Rimmon’
1718—to sacrifice one’s principles for the sake of conformity—from 2 Kings, where Naaman seeks permission from Elisha to worship the Aramaean god Rimmon
Read Moremeaning and origin of ‘not to know (something) from Shinola’
USA, 1946—to be completely unaware or innocent—from ‘Shinola’, the trade name of an American brand of shoe polish
Read More‘to count sheep’ – French ‘compter les moutons’
‘to count sheep’ (French ‘compter les moutons’): to count imaginary sheep jumping over an obstacle one by one, as a way of sending oneself to sleep
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word histories 