meaning and origin of the phrase ‘(and) the best of British luck’
UK, 1957—an expression of encouragement, but often used ironically with the opposite meaning—origin unclear
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meaning and origin of the phrase ‘Benjamin’s portion’
UK, 1753—the largest share—alludes to Genesis, 43:34, where Benjamin receives the largest portion of food from his brother Joseph
Read Moreorigin of the phrase ‘the bitch goddess’ (material success)
11 September 1906 in a letter addressed to the English novelist H. G. Wells by the American philosopher and psychologist William James
Read Moremeaning and origin of the Northern-Irish term ‘Tartan gang’
1971—any of the Protestant street gangs of young men in Northern Ireland—from their traditional support of Glasgow Rangers Football Club
Read Moremeaning and origin of the football term ‘Tartan army’
England, 1971—(informal, humorous) the fans of the Scottish football team, considered as a group
Read Moreorigin of ‘armed to the teeth’: French ‘armé jusqu’aux dents’
1735, as ‘armed up to the very teeth’ in a translation of Alain-René Lesage’s Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane
Read Moremeaning and origin of the phrase ‘like turkeys voting for Christmas’
(of an action or decision) hopelessly self-defeating—UK, 1979, with reference to the Scottish National Party’s decision to vote with the Tories
Read Moremeaning and origin of ‘the law of the Medes and Persians’
England, 1627—something which cannot be altered—refers to the unalterableness of the law of the Medes and Persians in the Book of Daniel, 6
Read Moremeaning and origin of the phrase ‘alarums and excursions’
confused activity and uproar—alludes to the frequent collocation of ‘alarum’ and ‘excursion’ in stage directions in Shakespearean drama
Read Moremeaning, origin and early instances of ‘blonde moment’
USA, 1991—refers to the stereotypical perception of blonde-haired women as unintelligent
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