‘to blow a gasket’: meanings and origin

6th Sep 2023.Reading time 6 minutes.

to lose one’s temper—USA, 1913—in an internal-combustion engine, a gasket is sealing layer between adjoining surfaces—hence ‘to blow (out) a gasket’ (USA, 1874): to have a gasket come loose due to excess pressure

‘game, set (and) match’: meanings and origin

4th Sep 2023.Reading time 10 minutes.

literally (UK, 1876): a victory in a tennis match, secured by winning the deciding game of the last set required to win—in extended use (UK, 1906): a complete and decisive victory

‘loony left’: meaning and origin

3rd Sep 2023.Reading time 12 minutes.

a very radical, extreme or fanatical left-wing faction within a political party or the political spectrum—USA, 1945, as ‘loony leftists’

‘lunatic fringe’: meanings and origin

1st Sep 2023.Reading time 12 minutes.

USA, 1913: a minority group regarded as eccentric, extremist or fanatical, or simply stupid—but originally, USA, 1874: a woman or girl’s hairstyle in which the front is cut straight and square across the forehead

‘idiot fringe’: meanings and origin

31st Aug 2023.Reading time 10 minutes.

USA, 1927: a minority group regarded as eccentric, extremist or fanatical, or simply stupid—but originally, UK, 1873: a woman or girl’s hairstyle in which the front is cut straight and square across the forehead

‘Tom Thumb’ used in reference to golf

30th Aug 2023.Reading time 11 minutes.

first used by Frieda Carter, Tennessee, 1928—in expressions such as ‘Tom Thumb golf course’, ‘Tom Thumb’ refers to a form of golf played on a small-scale course, or to a novelty putting course consisting of a variety of obstacles

‘mugshot’: meaning and origin

29th Aug 2023.Reading time 7 minutes.

U.S. slang, 1935—a photograph of a person’s face, especially in police or other official records—from ‘mug’ (a person’s face) and ‘shot’ (a single photographic exposure)

a figurative use of ‘tiger’

25th Aug 2023.Reading time 11 minutes.

characterises a person who has an insatiable appetite for something—especially in ‘tiger for work’ (Australia, 1857) and ‘tiger for punishment’ (New Zealand, 1911)

‘to put sport back on the front pages’: meaning and origin

23rd Aug 2023.Reading time 8 minutes.

Australia, 1978—used of a desirable state of political stability—alludes to a remark made by Malcolm Fraser, Leader of the Liberal Party, during the campaign for the 1975 Australian federal election

‘jukebox’: meaning and origin

22nd Aug 2023.Reading time 10 minutes.

a coin-operated phonograph (typically in a gaudy, illuminated cabinet) having a variety of records that can be selected by push button—USA, 1939—earlier appellation: jook organ (Florida, 1937)