From northern working-class humour and sexual bravado to Last of the Summer Wine and punk rock, the curious history of a familiar British expression.
Popular Idioms and Phrases: “All Mouth and Trousers.” The History of a Very British Insult
Category: Phrases and Idioms
Popular Idioms and Phrases: “As Fit as a Butcher’s Dog”
“As fit as a butcher’s dog” is one of those unmistakably British expressions whose meaning is obvious even if its origins are not. From nineteenth-century slang to sport, politics and modern double meanings, it is a phrase that has proved remarkably durable.
Popular Idioms and Phrases: “Mad as a Box of Frogs” – A Peculiarly British Madness
A phrase that has survived our supermarket dash to knock the beauty, life and expressions from our wonderful language, to sacrifice at the altar of political expediency.
Popular Idioms and Phrases: “Gone For A Burton”
Chris Harris No, this is culturally a paraphrase referencing the brilliant actor’s industrial drinking: going to an off licence for a bottle of whisky.’ But maybe not completely off subject. “Gone for a Burton” is one of those wonderfully British expressions that sounds almost cheerful until you discover what it originally meant, because although today … Continue reading Popular Idioms and Phrases: “Gone For A Burton”
Popular Idioms and Phrases: Splitting Hairs
by Chris Harris Splitting Hairs: Why We Still Love This Centuries-Old Idiom We all know a hair-splitter. You say the meeting started at ten o’clock and they point out that it actually started at 10:02. You say a politician broke a promise and someone replies that technically it wasn’t a promise, it was a commitment. … Continue reading Popular Idioms and Phrases: Splitting Hairs
Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel – How the Project’s Opaque Funding Ruins the Show.
by Chris Harris I've thoroughly enjoyed watching Banjo and Ro's Grand Island Hotel on BBC Scotland. It's beautifully filmed, Banjo and Ro are engaging, and their enthusiasm for breathing new life into a neglected historic building is infectious. Watching them tackle the enormous challenges of restoring Ulva House on the Isle of Ulva has made … Continue reading Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel – How the Project’s Opaque Funding Ruins the Show.
Popular Idioms and Phrases: Hit the Nail on the Head
by Chris Harris Few English idioms are as satisfying as "hit the nail on the head." It is short, visual and instantly understood. We use it when somebody identifies a problem perfectly, explains something accurately or arrives at exactly the right conclusion.If a friend finally works out why a relationship failed, they have hit the … Continue reading Popular Idioms and Phrases: Hit the Nail on the Head