meaning and evolution of ‘had one but the wheel(s) came off’
UK, 1924—used to indicate that the speaker has been inattentive or has not understood what has just been said
Read MoreTag: USA
meanings and origin of the phrases ‘dry/wet behind the ears’
USA, 1802 and 1851—translations from German—apparently from the idea that the area behind the ears is the last part to become dry after birth
Read Moremeaning and origin of the phrase ‘weasel word’
USA, 1900—a word which takes away the meaning of the concept expressed—weasels are said to suck eggs out without breaking the shells
Read Moremeanings and origin of the phrase ‘visiting fireman’
USA, 1909—a person given especially cordial treatment while visiting an organisation or place; a tourist expected to spend freely
Read Morehistory of the terms ‘whammy’ and ‘double whammy’
USA—‘whammy’ (baseball, 1927): evil influence or hex—‘double whammy’ (boxing, 1938): evil spell more potent than a whammy
Read Morethe acronym ‘EGOT’, or a tale of egotism
USA, 1984—the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards viewed as a single achievement—coined by U.S. actor and musician Philip Michael Thomas
Read Moremeaning and origin of the phrase ‘to get one’s wires crossed’
USA, 1878—to misunderstand—alludes to an accidental connexion between telephone or telegraph wires of different lines or circuits
Read Morehistory of the phrase ‘wham, bam, thank you ma’am’
sexual intercourse conducted quickly and without tenderness—originally used (USA, 1950) in the generic, neutral sense of ‘quickness’
Read Moreorigin and early instances of ‘honky-tonk’ (cheap entertainment venue)
USA—probably a reduplication based on ‘honk’—appeared in Texas as the name of a theatre (1889) and of a variety show (1890)
Read Moremeaning and early instances of ‘to wake up and smell the coffee’
USA, 1927—to face up to the realities of an unpleasant situation—popularised by American advice columnist Ann Landers (Esther Pauline Lederer – 1918-2002)
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