“ad fontes!”
children, especially siblings, should not argue among themselves—UK, 1818—alludes to Love between Brothers and Sisters, in Divine Songs Attempted in Easy Language for the Use of Children (1715), by Isaac Watts
Read Moreliterally (UK, 1803): of a firearm: equipped with a hair trigger—hence, figuratively (Ireland, 1853): reacting immediately to the slightest provocation or cause
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UK, early 19th century—the noun ‘corkscrew’ is used as a modifier, with the sense spirally twisted, in the expressions ‘corkscrew curl’ and ‘corkscrew ringlet’
Read MoreUK, 1851, as ‘haw-doovers’—humorous and colloquial alteration of ‘hors d’oeuvres’, plural of the noun ‘hors d’oeuvre’ (i.e.: an extra dish served as a relish to whet the appetite usually before the main meal)
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UK, 1951—in soccer: an overhead kick, typically executed with the feet off the ground and often involving a shot at goal
Read MoreLSD (i.e., lysergic acid diethylamide); also other drugs—USA, 1968—alludes to the Beatles’ song ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ (1967)
Read Moreexceedingly or immeasurably old—Britain, 1762—perhaps alludes to the fact that a hill is a permanent feature of a particular landscape
Read Morea day on which one has performed badly, especially at work; a day which has been unusually difficult or unsatisfactory—USA, 1895
Read Morean untidy heap of discarded clothing left on the floor of a room, instead of stored in a wardrobe—USA, 1994—a blend of the nouns ‘floor’ and ‘wardrobe’
Read Morevery quickly and without hesitation; eagerly—Scotland and northern England, 1778
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