‘new kid in town’: meanings and origin
USA 1913: a newcomer—but, from 1883 onwards, in birth announcements: a newborn baby
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‘this town ain’t big enough for the two of us’: meaning and origin
USA, 1869—originally and chiefly used in relation to the Wild West, refers to a decisive confrontation between two gunfighters
Read More‘a picture is worth a thousand words’: meaning and origin
a picture conveys far more than words—USA, 1877, as ‘a picture tells more than printed words’—from 1866 to 1876 the notion had been used with specific reference to pictures by the cartoonist Thomas Nast
Read More‘to drain the main vein’: meaning and origin
to urinate—slang—2nd half of the 20th century—based on the sound /eɪn/, common to the verb, adjective and noun that compose it—‘main vein’ probably refers to the penis
Read More‘chalk and talk’: meaning and origin
USA, 1871—a traditional method of teaching consisting of lectures (talk) illustrated chiefly on the blackboard (chalk)
Read More‘cheats never prosper’: meaning and origin
dishonest or deceitful actions, while they may offer a short-term advantage, do not lead to long-term success or well-being—1710, as ‘cheating never thrives’
Read More‘sugar skull’: meaning and origin
1843—a representation of a human skull or skeleton, originally crafted from sugar and intended to be eaten and often given to children as a gift around Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Read More‘to whistle in the dark’: meaning and origin
USA, 1835—to assume a pretence of courage—originally (from 1801 onwards): with explicit reference to a child putting on a brave front by whistling in the dark
Read More‘to spill one’s guts (out)’: meaning and origin
U.S. criminals’ slang, 1915—to reveal the truth about something secret or private
Read More‘war cake’: meaning and origin
a cake made with the ingredients available during wartime—first used during the First World War (1914-1918)—came back into usage during the Second World War (1939-1945)
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