‘more kicks than halfpence’: meaning and origin
1785—Britain and Ireland—meaning: ‘more harshness than kindness’
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‘chef’s kiss’: meanings and origin
1975 as ‘French chef’s kiss’—a gesture used to indicate that something is excellent or perfect—also a perfect or excellent person or thing—alludes to such a gesture stereotypically made by a chef on tasting a delectable dish
Read More‘snow angel’: meanings and early occurrences
Canada, 1857: an angelic being imagined as being the source of a fall of snow—USA, 1893 (?): an impression in the snow resembling an angel, made by lying on one’s back and moving one’s arms and legs back and forth in an arc along the ground
Read More‘bed and breakfast’ (lodging establishment): origin and early occurrences
1937—a shortened form of expressions such as ‘bed-and-breakfast place’ (first recorded in 1881)
Read More‘bed and breakfast’: primary meaning and early occurrences
Ireland, 1803—the provision of a bed for the night and breakfast the following morning, especially at a fixed rate, in a hotel, inn, or private home
Read More‘to turn in one’s grave’: meaning and early occurrences
UK, 1801—said of a dead person: to be likely to have reacted with horror to something if they were still alive to experience it
Read More‘to shoot oneself in the foot’: meaning and origin
USA, 1951—to act in a way that inadvertently damages one’s cause or reputation or spoils one’s chances—alludes to accidental shooting
Read More‘where the sun don’t shine’: meaning and origin
U.S. slang, 20th century—in reference to a person’s anus, ‘to stick (something) where the sun don’t shine’ expresses contemptuous rejection
Read More‘platinum blonde’: meanings and origin
USA, 1927: a woman with a silvery-blonde hair colour—USA, 1930: specifically applied to Jean Harlow—also (USA, 1927) ‘platinum’: a silvery-blonde hair colour
Read More‘hollow legs’: meaning and origin
USA, 1866—the capacity to eat or drink a lot without ill effects
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