Table Of ContentDICTIONARY
OF IDIOMS
and their Origins
Linda and Roger Flavell
KYLE CATHIE LTD
First published in Great Britain in 1992 by
Kyle Cathie Limited
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Paperback edition published 1994
Copyright © 1992 by Linda and Roger Flavell
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ISBN 1 85626 129 8
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INTRODUCTION
If I may be accused of encouraging or inventing a new vice - the mania,
or ‘idiomania, I may perhaps call it - of collecting what Pater calls the
‘gypsy phrases’ of our language, I have at least been punished by becom
ing one of its most careless and incorrigible victims. (Logan Pearsall
Smith, Words and Idioms, 1925)
Our belief is that people turn to a book on idioms for two main purposes:
for reference and to browse. We have tried to cater for both.
Reference
Each phrase dealt with in the body of the book is listed alphabetically in
relation to a key word in it. As idioms are by definition phrases and not
single words, there is necessarily a choice to be made of which word to
classify the phrase by. We have exercised our judgement as to which is the
key word (normally a noun or a verb) but, in case our intuitions do not
coincide with the reader’s, we have provided an index of the important words
in each expression.
The head words are followed by a definition. This is the contemporary
sense or senses - an important point, given that many idioms have a long
history and have undergone changes in meaning, often marked ones, during
the centuries. Similarly, the comments under Usage are there to provide
guidance on the current formality or informality of the phrase, typical con
texts of its use, its grammatical peculiarities, variations in form - all necessary
reference material given that idioms characteristically break the rules (see
What is an idiom?, page 6).
A further guide to usage lies in the contemporary quotations that are a
part of many entries. Quotations are listed in chronological order and the
more recent provide a taste of how modern authors use idioms. We would
vi • Introduction •
like to thank Harper Collins for permission to use a number of quotations
from their computer corpus (acknowledged in the text in each instance as
‘Cobuild Corpus’). We have drawn on the traditional collections of extracts
for other examples, but the great majority of the contemporary illustrations
are from the serendipity of our eclectic reading over the last year. We make
no claims for comprehensive coverage of today’s press - the quoting of Good
Housekeeping and the Mid Sussex Times simply means that we read them
regularly!
The bibliography is there both to show our sources and to provide a point
of extended reference. It is by no means complete: it contains some of the
books we have referred to which are collections of idioms of one type or
another. To have included them all - not to mention the hundreds of books
of general language and wider reference we have consulted - would have
produced a bibliography of unmanageable length. If in the text of the book
we refer to a specific source, the name of the author alone may be given
(e.g. Edwards); if he has more than one entry in the bibliography, the name
is followed by a date (e.g. Funk 1950).
Browsing
Our own love of the curious in language is, we have observed, shared by
others. For them, and for ourselves, we have written the parts of this book
that aim to please the browser.
The entries have been selected because they have a tale to tell. Many
idioms were rejected because there was nothing interesting to say about
them. Plenty more have had to be excluded because of pressures of time and
space, but we hope that what remains is a satisfying cross-section of the vast
range of idioms which occur in everyday English, even if it cannot claim to
be a comprehensive list.
The etymology - or etymologies, since there are often alternative accounts
- tries to go back to the earliest origins. We endeavour to give dates, but it
is often impossible to do this with any confidence. Phrases have literal mean
ings, then they generally develop metaphorical uses and ultimately, in typical
cases, acquire an idiomatic sense that is separate from the literal one. The
form a phrase takes may also vary considerably over the years. It is therefore
extremely difficult to state accurately when the idiom was first used - as an
idiom. Wherever possible, we make the best estimate we can. We have also
sometimes selected quotations to show the historical change in the use or
form of phrases, as well as for their intrinsic interest.
The stories behind the expressions are in part those that authorities sug
gest. Our own researches have added to or replaced these, where we felt it
was necessary. Quite often it is impossible to say with certainty what is the
• Introduction • vii
best source; in these instances, we have not hesitated to admit that doubt
exists.
There are various essays strategically situated throughout the book (usually
near entries on a connected theme). These are of various kinds - linguistic,
historical, just plain curious - and are intended to inform and entertain. One
of them is entitled The Old Curiosity Shop of Linguistics (see page 108). This
could also serve as the watchword for all that we have tried to provide for
the browser!
In conclusion, our aim has been to provide a balance of reference information
and a richer varied diet for the curious; we have striven for scholarly accuracy
without falling into academic pedantry. We have certainly made mistakes
and would welcome comments and corrections.
We owe a debt to many. The erudition of Stevenson and Funk, for
example, is extraordinary and it is complemented in recent times by the
labours of Brandreth, Manser and Rees, amongst others. Our local library
has been very helpful and our children, John and Anna, extremely indulgent
with their occupied parents. To these and many more, our thanks.
NOTE TO THE PAPERBACK EDITION
We were delighted to receive very well-informed comments from a number of
sources on the publication of the hardback edition of this book. One corres
pondent even devoted much of Christmas Day to the task! On the publication
of the paperback edition, we would like to extend a similar invitation to
readers to comment where they feel appropriate.
MAIN ESSAYS
What is an idiom? 6
Creativity 19
Proverbs and idioms 24
In black and white 30
A question of colour 36
Like a load of old bull 43
Splitting one’s sides 53
A transatlantic duo 63
National rivalries 76
Hammer horror stories 93
People 105
The Old Curiosity Shop of Linguistics 108
Giving it to them hot and strong 117
The absurd 118
Moonshine 130
A life on the ocean waves 138
Memorable events 156
Justice for the Scots! 165
Advertisements 173
The Bible and Shakespeare 180
It’s not cricket 201
Rights for animals 205
aback; taken aback____________ taken aback, but her reply was equally
forthright: *Four or five times. ’
shocked, surprised ANDREW MORTON, Diana: Her True Story, 1992.
In the days of sailing-ships, if the wind
unexpectedly whipped the huge sails back above board___________________
against the masts, the ship was taken honest, straight
aback, that is, its progress was abruptly
halted. This could happen either through If a business deal is above board it is
faulty steering or a swift change in wind honest and would bear the scrutiny of all
direction. The shock involved relates now concerned. The phrase is said to refer to
to a person’s reaction when suddenly the dishonest practices of gamesters who
stopped short by a piece of news or a would drop their hands below the board,
surprising event. or table, to exchange unfavourable cards.
Games played with hands above board
removed at least that weapon from the
A short distance down the unfrequented
cheater’s armoury.
lane, the Prime Ministers car was sud
denly held up by a band of masked men.
Nowadays, when young women go about
The chauffeur, momentarily taken aback,
in kilts and are as bare-backed as wild
jammed on the brakes.
horses, there’s no excitement. The cards
AGATHA CHRISTIE, Poirot Investigates, The Kid
napped Prime Minister, 1925. are all on the table, nothing’s left to fancy.
All’s above board and consequently
7 say, can I help? Vd tike to.’ Willie was boring.
quite taken aback at being asked. ALDOUS HUXLEY, Those Barren Leaves, 1925.
MICHELLE MAGORIAN, Goodnight Mr Tom,
I shall keep inside the gates, so no one can
1981.
say I’ve driven on the public roads without
He wasted no time with social niceties, a licence. Everything above board, that’s
asking her immediately how many times
my motto.
she had tried to commit suicide. She was JOHN WAIN, Hurry On Down, 1953.
2 • Achilles' heel •
Achilles’ heel, an______________ figurative use is only a hundred years old.
If something survives the acid test it has
a weak or vulnerable spot in something
been proved true beyond the shadow of
or someone which is otherwise strong
a doubt.
According to Greek mythology, Thetis
The treatment accorded Russia by her sis
held her young son Achilles by the heel
ter nations in the months to come will be
while dipping him into the river Styx to
the acid test of their good will.
make him invulnerable. Achilles’ heel, WOODROW WILSON, Address, January 8, 1918.
however, remained dry and was his only
weakness. After years as a brave and usage: Bordering on a cliche
invincible warrior, Achilles was killed
during the Trojan war by an arrow which
pierced his heel. His deadly enemy Paris
Adam’s ale
had learned of his secret and aimed at
the weak spot. The full story is told in water
Homer’s Iliad.
Adam's ale is water, this being all that
A social climber can ill afford an Achilles Adam had to drink in Eden. The phrase
heel, and this particular weakness on Hut is thought to have been introduced by the
chins' part would probably be disastrous Puritans. Hyamson refers to a work by
to him sooner or later. Prynne entitled Sovereign Power of
JOHN WAIN, Hurry On Down, 1953. Parliament (1643) to support this theory.
usage: As in the quotation, there may be A cup of cold Adam from the next purling
no apostrophe. Most people would insert brook.
one, however. Originally used of people THOMAS BROWN, Works, 1760.
and their character, it may now be Adam’s ale, about the only gift that has
applied to projects and plans. Literary. descended undefiled from the Garden of
Eden.
see also: feet of clay EMERY A. STORRS. Adam’s Ale, 1875.
usage: Literary and jocular
acid test, the
Adam’s apple_________________
a foolproof test for assessing the value of
something the lump on the forepart of the throat
which is especially visible in men
A sure way to find out whether a metal
was pure gold was to test it with The Adam’s apple is the thyroid cartilage
aquafortis, or nitric acid. Most metals are which appears as a lump in the throat. It
corroded away by nitric acrid but gold is said to be there as a reminder that, in
remains unaffected. the biblical story of the Garden of Eden,
Although the original acid test has been Adam ate the forbidden apple, a piece of
known for centuries, the phrase in its which became lodged in his throat.
• alive and kicking • 3
Having the noose adjusted and secured by In an insolent proclamation from Lau
tightening above his Adam's apple. sanne General Rapp added insult to injury
DAILY TELEGRAPH, 1865. by telling the heirs of a thousand years of
ordered liberty that their history showed
they could not settle their affairs without
the intervention of France.
add insult to injury, to
SIR ARTHUR BRYANT, Years of Victory, 1944.
to upset someone and then to deliver a
second insult, to make an already bad
situation worse by a second insulting act
alive and kicking
or remark
very active, lively
Some authorities claim a very ancient
origin for this phrase, tracing it back to a This is one of those expressions that lend
book of fables by the Roman writer themselves to imaginative interpretation.
Phaedrus from about 25 BC. The fable in Partridge (1940) suggests that it is a fish-
question is The Bald Man and the Fly in vendor’s call to advertise his wares. The
which a man attempts to squash an insect fish are so fresh that they are still jumping
which has just stung him on his bald patch and flapping about. Another authority
by delivering a smart smack. The fly says it refers to the months of a pregnancy
escapes the blow and mocks him for want following ‘quickening’, when the mother
ing to avenge the bite of a tiny insect with is able to feel the child she is carrying
death. To the injury of the sting he has moving in her womb.
only succeeded in adding the insult of the
self-inflicted blow. The universe isn't a machine after all. It's
Other authorities, however, point out alive and kicking. And in spite of the fact
that in past centuries, while ‘injury’ cer that man with his cleverness has dis
tainly meant physical hurt, it could also covered some of the habits of our old
equally well apply to wounded feelings earth, the old demon isn't quite nabbed.
and was synonymous with ‘insult’. French D. H. LAWRENCE, Selected Essays, “Climbing Down
Pisgah', 1924.
injure (from the same Latin origin iniuria)
has today the predominant sense of I suppose if I died you'd cry a bit. That
‘insult, abuse’. The effect is therefore to would be nice of you and very proper. But
intensify the original injury by adding I'm all alive and kicking. Don't you find
‘insult to insult’. me rather a nuisance?
W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM, The Bread-Winner,
1930.
And now insult was added to injury. The
Queen of the French wrote her a formal
usage: colloquial
letter, calmly announcing, as a family
event in which she was sure Victoria would
be interested, the marriage of her son,
Montpensier.
LYTTON STRACHEY, Queen Victoria, 1921.
