Whatzat mean? Word origins.

[Sweet Bliss]

Have you ever wondered about the original meaning of words?

Who used it? Who started it? What we use it for now?

I find it facinating. Maybe we could learn together about the

Magical World of Words

Here is a help center: http://etymonline.com/

[Sweet Bliss]

Okay, I'll start.

goober

To me it means: I care deeply for you, if you are a fur baby I love and adore you, it is a term of endearment, and I use it very sparingly. I find you cute and adorable, and if you are close I will squeeze, hug, kiss you and mess up your hair a little, and yes I will fix it back for you.

Here's what the dictionary says:

goober (n.)
"peanut," 1833, American English, of African origin, perhaps Bantu (cf. Kikongo and Kimbundu nguba "peanut").


:blink: who knew?

[macele]

groovy (adj.)
1853 in literal sense of "pertaining to a groove," from groove (n.) + -y (2). Slang sense of "first-rate, excellent" is 1937, American English, from jazz slang phrase in the groove (1932) "performing well (without grandstanding.)" As teen slang for "wonderful," it dates from 1944; popularized 1960s, out of currency by 1980. Related: Grooviness.

[macele]

December (n.)
c.1000, from Old French decembre, from Latin December, from decem "ten" (see ten); tenth month of the old Roman calendar, which began with March.

The -ber in four Latin month names is probably from -bris, an adjectival suffix. Tucker thinks that the first five months were named for their positions in the agricultural cycle, and "after the gathering in of the crops, the months were merely numbered."
If the word contains an element related to mensis, we must assume a *decemo-membris (from *-mensris). October must then be by analogy from a false division Sep-tem-ber &c. Perhaps, however, from *de-cem(o)-mr-is, i.e. "forming the tenth part or division," from *mer- ..., while October = *octuo-mr-is. [T.G. Tucker, "Etymological Dictionary of Latin"]

[Sweet Bliss]

groovy (adj.)
1853 in literal sense of "pertaining to a groove," from groove (n.) + -y (2). Slang sense of "first-rate, excellent" is 1937, American English, from jazz slang phrase in the groove (1932) "performing well (without grandstanding.)" As teen slang for "wonderful," it dates from 1944; popularized 1960s, out of currency by 1980. Related: Grooviness.

Ah, Jazz, REAL AMERICAN music!! All the way back to 1932? Thanks Macele!!

I love learning. :glasses:

[PaPa]

Thanks Sweet Bliss for beginning this thread. It sounds like it could be fun learning new things! I looked up Dregs. I always believed it meant undesireables like the phrase "dregs of society". I recently used those particular words in a paper for school to point out the societal view of addicts in their addictions. The site you provided had this to say:

dregs (n.)
c.1300 (implied in surname Dryngedregges), from Old Norse dregg "sediment," from Proto-Germanic *drag- (cf. Old High German trestir, German Trester "grapeskins, husks"), from PIE *dher- (1) "to make muddy." Replaced Old English cognate dræst, dærst "dregs, lees." Figurative use is from 1530s.

'Sediment' or 'to make muddy' would probably be what led to that phrase being used. Another way of saying scum of the Earth.

[Sweet Bliss]

Thanks for sharing this info with us PaPa!! I would have never guessed. What an interesting story behind the word. I would think there are lots of "regular" words we have no idea about pertaining to mental health and class issues.

Wow. Brings to mind the class system in India, and the work of Mother Teresa.

[Teddybear]

Okay, I'll start.

goober

To me it means: I care deeply for you, if you are a fur baby I love and adore you, it is a term of endearment, and I use it very sparingly. I find you cute and adorable, and if you are close I will squeeze, hug, kiss you and mess up your hair a little, and yes I will fix it back for you.

Here's what the dictionary says:

goober (n.)
"peanut," 1833, American English, of African origin, perhaps Bantu (cf. Kikongo and Kimbundu nguba "peanut").


:blink: who knew?

those of us from the south who grew up eating goobers knew its a great thing chocolate covered peanuts

[Sweet Bliss]

those of us from the south who grew up eating goobers knew its a great thing chocolate covered peanuts

YUMMY !!! :chocolate: Wonder if Peanut M&M's stole that idea??? Hummm.

So, if I call someone a goober, does that mean they are good enough to eat??:blush:

[Sweet Bliss]

Years ago I called my baby brother Pipsqueak, my mother got angry, told me to look it up.

I did. It meant insignificant person. I loved and adored my baby brother, so I stopped calling him the icky word.

Today I find out, pipsqueak means much more.

http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/pipsqueakwilfred.htm

It's also related to WWI medals awarded in England. And cartoon characters.

I thought it meant cute, little and adorable. I stand by my first assumption.


Love you Pipsqueak!! :rrose:

[Sweet Bliss]

http://verbivore.com/wordpress/

Fadspeak: the unrelenting mix of mimicry and gimmickry. Fadspeak comprises vogue phrases that suddenly appear on everybody’s tongues — phrases that launch a thousand lips. Before you can say, “yada yada yada,” these throwaway expressions become instant clichés, perfect for our throwaway society, like paper wedding dresses for throwaway marriages. Fadspeak clichés lead mayfly lives, counting their duration in months instead of decades. They strut and fret their hour upon the stage of pop culture and then are heard no more.

This website is wonderful, funny and spot on.

[puddin']

•gutted – devastated, disappointed.
•full on – it’s all happening, a lot going on.
•fulla – slang for fellow. usually an old man = an old fulla.
•handle the jandal – a saying that means how you cope with or manage a situation. (not sure how this saying came about..?).

[homoe]

Sweet Bliss, are we allowed to use phrases or just single words? IF we can use phrases....

rule of thumb

Origin 1782:The 'rule of thumb' has been said to derive from the belief that English law allowed a man to beat his wife with a stick so long as it is was no thicker than his thumb.

The first and original use of the saying is as simple as the words. The thumb was used as a readily available tool of measuring.

It has now been used as a term of commonplace knowledge in a field.

[anotherbutch]

Fuckery:

Derived from the word 'fuck', Fuckery is something that is absolute bullshit or utter nonsense.

That which is fucked up.

[homoe]

Does anyone know for sure if the origin of "Fuckery" is Jamaican? From what I could find it appears so at least:glasses:

[Sweet Bliss]

Sweet Bliss, are we allowed to use phrases or just single words? IF we can use phrases....

rule of thumb

Origin 1782:The 'rule of thumb' has been said to derive from the belief that English law allowed a man to beat his wife with a stick so long as it is was no thicker than his thumb.

The first and original use of the saying is as simple as the words. The thumb was used as a readily available tool of measuring.

It has now been used as a term of commonplace knowledge in a field.

Sure!! It will add to the fun!

[homoe]

Go Dutch/Dutch Treat

The expression "Go Dutch" has its origin around 1652-1784, during the English-Dutch wars. Around that period, the English commonly used the word Dutch in a number of expressions to convey a negative feeling. The British considered the Dutch to be stingy and miserly and used the phrases involving the Dutch to imply derogatory remarks.

Go Dutch is generally used when two people out on a date share the expenses incurred.

[homoe]

origin:The origin of barking up the wrong tree dates back to early 1800s America, when hunting with packs of dogs was very popular. The term was used literally at first, when wily prey animals such as raccoons would trick dogs into believing they were up a certain tree when in fact they had escaped.


to be pursuing a mistaken or misguided line of thought or course of action.

[cinnamongrrl]

Omg I'm so happy for this thread!

Word origins have long fascinated me. There was a time when I considered becoming a linguistic anthropologist.

There was a show on cable about the origins of slang. Its interesting to see where our every day lexicon derives from. I was VERY surprised at the origination of y'all.

I will be back to read and post!!

[homoe]

Blessing In Disguise

origin of 'a blessing in disguise' is believed to be mid-1700s, however scholars have yet to pin down the first usage of the term. The earliest instance of the term found in print was a 1746 work by English writer James Hervey titled Reflections on a Flower-Garden.

A misfortune that unexpectedly turns into good fortune.

[homoe]

Beat Around the Bush

Origin: This phrase is believed to have come from hunting. Back in medieval times, hunters would hire men who would assist them in the hunt by flushing out animals from within the brush. This could be done by whacking the bushes with a stick, perhaps even accompanying the whacking with some loud shouting; the point was to make a bunch of noise in order to scare birds and other animals out from the cover of the bushes, making them easier targets for the hunter.

Typically used to describe any person who is avoiding the main point in a conversation!

[homoe]

Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover

origin: 'don’t judge a book by its cover' is fairly recent. The phrase is attributed to a 1944 edition of the African journal American Speech: “You can’t judge a book by its binding.” It was popularized even more when it appeared in the 1946 murder mystery Murder in the Glass Room by Lester Fuller and Edwin Rolfe: “You can never tell a book by its cover.”


Means you should not decide upon something based just on outward appearances.

[stargazingboi]

Bless Her/His/Your Heart

As a youth I would hear this phased used in a good intention sort of way. Ex: "She has cancer,and still gets up every morning and takes the paper to her friend down the street, bless her heart"

As I grew older I learned it was also used in a derogatory way: Ex: "Bless his heart, he's dumb as a stick, but he sure is nice"

I couldn't find the definition in the link provided so I looked else where. Cambridge Dictionary states it means "may good things happen to someone"

I couldn't find the actual origin..though, I do know it is used down south and the midwest more often than other areas *shrugs* does anyone know the true origin?

[homoe]

The Ball is in Your Court

origin: While it is obvious the idiom comes from the world of sports, Scholars differ on whether it comes from the Tennis field or from Basketball. Whichever sports field it comes from, it is a relatively new idiom and was probably used for the first time in the 20th century.

If the ball is in someone's court, they have to do something before any progress can be made in a situation.

[gotoseagrl]

Unbeknownst - I love this word, and don't know why I have always used it, no one else I've known does.

"Unbeknownst derives from beknown, an obsolete synonym of known. But for a word with a straightforward history, unbeknownst and its older and less common variant unbeknown have created quite a flap among usage commentators. Despite widespread use (including appearances in the writings of Charles Dickens, A.E. Housman, and E.B. White), the two words have been called everything from "obsolete" to "vulgar." Our evidence, however, shows that both can be considered standard."

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unbeknownst

[homoe]

origin: Smitten is related to the verb smite, which comes from the Old English smitan, meaning “to hit, strike, beat.” What do hitting and beating have to do with love, you may ask? Well, when some people fall in love they report feeling as though they've been "struck by lightning." Obviously those people have never actually been struck by lightning!

Overwhelmed or struck by something, usually love:nerd:

[homoe]

The root is ossify, "to turn into bone," from the Latin word for "bone,".

ossified...........Too intoxicated to function properly (urban dictionary)

It can mean set in a rigidly conventional pattern of behavior, habits, or beliefs.

To convert into or cause to harden like bone.

[Sweet Bliss]

Bless Her/His/Your Heart

As a youth I would hear this phased used in a good intention sort of way. Ex: "She has cancer,and still gets up every morning and takes the paper to her friend down the street, bless her heart"

As I grew older I learned it was also used in a derogatory way: Ex: "Bless his heart, he's dumb as a stick, but he sure is nice"

I couldn't find the definition in the link provided so I looked else where. Cambridge Dictionary states it means "may good things happen to someone"

I couldn't find the actual origin..though, I do know it is used down south and the midwest more often than other areas *shrugs* does anyone know the true origin?


Brene' Brown uses that expression in one of her talks about vulnerability. She shares that in Texas, where she grew up, it was used to shame people, she jokes about having a tee shirt that says "if you bless my heart, I will kick your ass." or something to that effect. I have only heard it used by people who feel superior to others, as a way of saying "isn't he/she pathetic". I will have to research the original meaning.

Great topic, thanks!!

[puddin']

anthropomorphic
Definition
1 : described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes

2 : ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman things

Did You Know?
Anthropomorphic comes from the Late Latin word anthropomorphus, which itself traces to a Greek term birthed from the roots anthrōp- (meaning "human being") and -morphos (-morphous). Those ancient Greek roots have given form and personality to many English words. Anthrōp- relatives include anthropic ("relating to human beings or the period of their existence on earth"), anthropocentric ("interpreting or regarding the world in terms of human values and experiences"), anthropoid ("an ape"), and anthropology ("the study of human beings and their ancestors"). Derivatives of -morphos often end in -morphism, as in polymorphism ("the quality or state of existing in or assuming different forms"), or -morphic, as in biomorphic ("resembling the forms of living organisms").

[homoe]

origin: Smitten is related to the verb smite, which comes from the Old English smitan, meaning “to hit, strike, beat.” What do hitting and beating have to do with love, you may ask? Well, when some people fall in love they report feeling as though they've been "struck by lightning." Obviously those people have never actually been struck by lightning!

Overwhelmed or struck by something, usually love:nerd:

I think smitten is such a non-threatening way of telling someone you like them in a 'special way" without making them or yourself uncomfortable...

[homoe]

Kashrut

Is a set of Jewish religious dietary laws.

[girl_dee]

I think smitten is such a non-threatening way of telling someone you like them in a 'special way" without making them or yourself uncomfortable...

i love the word “smitten” ....... :blush:

[homoe]

lethologica I just "borrowed" this word from another thread.....LOL



The inability to remember a particular word or name.

[girl_dee]

lethologica I just "borrowed" this word from another thread.....LOL



The inability to remember a particular word or name.

yup ..... thats a word i love, but can never remember :giggle:

[homoe]

yup ..... thats a word i love, but can never remember :giggle:

Thanks for letting me "borrow" it......LOL

[homoe]

sally forth............To leave a place and move on

[homoe]

Jactitation.............a tossing to and fro or jerking and twitching of the body during an illness.


In the 17th century, lawyers began tossing around the word jactitation, which can be traced back to the Latin verb jactare, meaning "to throw." Originally, jactitation was used as a word for a false claim or assertion being publicly thrown about to the detriment of another person. Run-of-the-mill slander and false claims of being married to someone were two common types of jactitation brought to court. Before long, jactitation had jumped over to the medical profession, where it continues to serve as a word for restless, jerky, or twitchy body movements. In 1761, British writer Laurence Sterne threw jactitation into his novel Tristram Shandy as a substitute for discussion, but that meaning never caught on.

[puddin']

intersectionality


noun
1.
the theory that the overlap of various social identities, as race, gender, sexuality, and class, contributes to the specific type of systemic oppression and discrimination experienced by an individual (often used attributively):
[i]Her paper uses a queer intersectionality approach.
2.
the oppression and discrimination resulting from the overlap of an individual’s various social identities:
the intersectionality of oppression experienced by black women.

[homoe]

Gentrification............


Gentrification is a process of renovation of deteriorated urban neighborhoods by means of the influx of more affluent residents. This is a controversial topic in politics and in urban planning.

[homoe]

Ethnogenesis.....

The process by which a social group comes to regard itself or be regarded as a distinct people.This can originate through a process of self-identification as well as come about as the result of outside identification.
Ethnogenesis can occur passively, in the accumulation of markers of group identity forged through interaction with the physical environment, cultural and religious divisions between sections of a society, migrations and other processes, for which ethnic subdivision is an unintended outcome. It can occur actively, as persons deliberately and directly 'engineer' separate identities to attempt to solve a political problem. It's of Greek origin.

[homoe]

Harbinger......


Messenger with news of the future. Something that foreshadows a future event :something that gives an anticipatory sign of what is to come robins, crocuses, and others are harbingers of spring.....:hangloose:

[homoe]

Hyperbolic is an adjective that comes from the word hyperbole, which means an exaggerated claim.

The Greek root huperbolē means “excess,” and broken down even further the word literally translates as “throw above.”

[homoe]

mondegreen
A word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung An excellent example of this is phrases in songs! "My Eyes Adored You" could become "Sweet Eyes Of Georgia" The old Beatles song "Day Tripper" could become "State Trooper" etc etc ...

[cathexis]

mondegreen
A word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung An excellent example of this is phrases in songs! "My Eyes Adored You" could become "Sweet Eyes Of Georgia" The old Beatles song "Day Tripper" could become "State Trooper" etc etc ...

and.... Your word is _______?

[Gemme]

mondegreen
A word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung An excellent example of this is phrases in songs! "My Eyes Adored You" could become "Sweet Eyes Of Georgia" The old Beatles song "Day Tripper" could become "State Trooper" etc etc ...

and.... Your word is _______?

mondegreen

Not sure what the question is for?

[homoe]

and.... Your word is _______?



You don't post a word in THIS thread, that's in "Word Of The Day" thread.

[homoe]

onomatopoeia

Boom! Bang! Crash! When a word is formed from the sound that an associated thing makes, it's an example of onomatopoeia.

In Greek, onomatopoeia (on-uh-mah-tuh-PEE-ah) simply means "word-making," but in English it refers to a very specific process of word-making: an attempt to capture the sound of something. Examples of onomatopoeia in English include burble, buzz, slosh, ratatat, and thud. Words created by onomatopoeia can seem totally natural, but they can be surprisingly different from language to language.

[Gemme]

onomatopoeia

Boom! Bang! Crash! When a word is formed from the sound that an associated thing makes, it's an example of onomatopoeia.

In Greek, onomatopoeia (on-uh-mah-tuh-PEE-ah) simply means "word-making," but in English it refers to a very specific process of word-making: an attempt to capture the sound of something. Examples of onomatopoeia in English include burble, buzz, slosh, ratatat, and thud. Words created by onomatopoeia can seem totally natural, but they can be surprisingly different from language to language.

This is one of my favorite words of all time!

[homoe]

interlocutor........

One who takes part in dialogue or conversation.

Interlocutor derives from the Latin interloqui, meaning "to speak between". Interloqui, in turn, ultimately comes from the words inter-, "between," and loqui, "to speak." Some other words that English borrowed from loqui are loquacious "talkative", circumlocution essentially, "talking around a subject", ventriloquism "talking in such a way that one's voice seems to come from someone or something else", eloquent "capable of fluent or vivid speech, and grandiloquence "extravagant or pompous speech".

[homoe]

heliocentric.........


Having or representing the sun as the center, as in the accepted astronomical model of the solar system.

[homoe]

talisman..............

An object, typically an inscribed ring or stone, that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck. An object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune. Something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects.

Do you believe in lucky charms? Language reflects the fact that many people do. We might have borrowed talisman from French, Spanish, or Italian; all three include similar-looking words for a lucky charm. Those three terms derive from a single Arabic word for a charm, tilsam. Tilsam in turn can be traced to the ancient Greek verb telein, which means "to initiate into the mysteries." While the word talisman, in its strictest use, refers to an object, even a human being can be considered a talisman—such as a player on a team whose mere presence somehow causes magical things to happen.

[homoe]

Pillion........


A light saddle for women consisting chiefly of a cushion
A pad or cushion put on behind a man's saddle chiefly for a woman to ride on
A motorcycle or bicycle saddle for a passenger.


Scots Gaelic or Irish; Scottish Gaelic pillean, diminutive of peall covering, couch; Irish pillín, diminutive of peall covering, couch.

[cathexis]

Gentrification............


Gentrification is a process of renovation of deteriorated urban neighborhoods by means of the influx of more affluent residents. This is a controversial topic in politics and in urban planning.

Let's tell folks what exactly gentrification means. Pls. correct me if I miss a point.

A venture capitalist, one who invests in the misfortunes of others, comes into a city, neighborhood, basically any area which has befallen economic hardship. Examples would include Gary/Hammond IN, parts of Pittsburgh and Akron and Cleveland. Detroit would fall in this category which these mega-rich investors come in, offering residents cents on the dollars to acquire these once proven profitable properties. The old neighborhoods were razed with new malls, apartment building which have rents unaffordable by residents, and other services and products out of the residents range.

These prior residents are displaced to more and more unsatisfactory housing. In addition, the items they were forced to leave behind, ancestral photographs, antiques, and glassware, sometimes worth hundreds of thousands dollars if they could have sold the items. They might not be stuck in this cycle of poverty.

[girl_dee]

lethologica I just "borrowed" this word from another thread.....LOL



The inability to remember a particular word or name.

OMG i was trying to remember this word, and i couldn’t. What’s it called when you can’t remember the word that means forgetting the names of words??

:seeingstars:

[homoe]

Let's tell folks what exactly gentrification means. Pls. correct me if I miss a point.

A venture capitalist, one who invests in the misfortunes of others, comes into a city, neighborhood, basically any area which has befallen economic hardship. Examples would include Gary/Hammond IN, parts of Pittsburgh and Akron and Cleveland. Detroit would fall in this category which these mega-rich investors come in, offering residents cents on the dollars to acquire these once proven profitable properties. The old neighborhoods were razed with new malls, apartment building which have rents unaffordable by residents, and other services and products out of the residents range.

These prior residents are displaced to more and more unsatisfactory housing. In addition, the items they were forced to leave behind, ancestral photographs, antiques, and glassware, sometimes worth hundreds of thousands dollars if they could have sold the items. They might not be stuck in this cycle of poverty.

VERY well put.......:hangloose:

[homoe]

Let's tell folks what exactly gentrification means. Pls. correct me if I miss a point.

A venture capitalist, one who invests in the misfortunes of others, comes into a city, neighborhood, basically any area which has befallen economic hardship. Examples would include Gary/Hammond IN, parts of Pittsburgh and Akron and Cleveland. Detroit would fall in this category which these mega-rich investors come in, offering residents cents on the dollars to acquire these once proven profitable properties. The old neighborhoods were razed with new malls, apartment building which have rents unaffordable by residents, and other services and products out of the residents range.

These prior residents are displaced to more and more unsatisfactory housing. In addition, the items they were forced to leave behind, ancestral photographs, antiques, and glassware, sometimes worth hundreds of thousands dollars if they could have sold the items. They might not be stuck in this cycle of poverty.

I do say this has been one of the biggest contribution to the homelessness problem in American! I really don't want to get on a soapbox here BUT....I firmly believe that many palms have been greased for everything from re-zoning to god only knows what-else so these developers can swoop in, make millions, and then move on to bigger & even more profitable targets!

[puddin']

Definition of confabulate; confabulated; confabulating
intransitive verb
1 : to talk informally : chat
2 : to hold a discussion : confer
3 : to fill in gaps in memory by fabrication
A major characteristic of brain-damaged patients is the tendency to confabulate—to hide and dissemble about their damage. —Peter R. Breggin

[homoe]

A usually young man who does noisy and violent things as part of a group or gang.



1890s, of unknown origin, according to OED, first found in British newspaper police-court reports in the summer of 1898, almost certainly from the variant form of the Irish surname Houlihan, which figured as a characteristic comic Irish name in music hall songs and newspapers of the 1880s and '90s.

[homoe]

fond of or adapted to luxury or indulgence in sensual pleasures; having luxurious tastes or habits, especially in eating and drinking.


As a noun,,,late 14c., "follower of the philosophical system of Epicurus;" 1570s, "one devoted to pleasure," from Old French Epicurien, or from epicure + -ian. As an adjective, attested from 1580s in the philosophical sense and 1640s with the meaning "pleasure-loving."

[homoe]

papyrus ..............

A tall, aquatic plant, Cyperus papyrus, of the sedge family, native to the Nile valley: the Egyptian subspecies, C. papyrus hadidii, thought to be common in ancient times, now occurs only in several sites.

A material on which to write, prepared from thin strips of the pith of this plant laid together, soaked, pressed, and dried, used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. In ancient Mediterranean times it was also used for making rope, sandals, and boats.

An ancient document, manuscript, or scroll written on this material.

[homoe]

eccedentesiast...

One who fakes a smile or represses his pain by stifling a smile. Or you could say a person who hides his feeling behind a smile.


Word Origin: It is a term that is normally used to define people who go in front of the camera and have to fake a smile for the sake of the audience. The term is suspected to have first been coined by Florence King, an American Novelist and writer for the National Review. She refereed to this term in her column ‘The Misanthrope’s Corner’ when talking about politician’s and TV hosts. This is a great literary term to use if you’re trying to describe a character who tends to be reluctant when it comes to displaying genuine emotion.

[homoe]

tomfoolery............

Playful or foolish behavior.

In the Middle Ages, "Thome Fole" was a name assigned to those perceived to be of little intelligence. This eventually evolved into the spelling tomfool, which, when capitalized, also referred to a professional clown or a buffoon in a play or pageant. The name Tom seems to have been chosen for its common-man quality, much like "Joe Blow" for an ordinary person or "Johnny Reb" for a soldier in the Confederate army, but tomfoolery need not apply strictly to actions by men. In Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables (1908), for example, Marilla Cuthbert complains of Anne: "She's gadding off somewhere with Diana, writing stories or practicing dialogues or some such tomfoolery, and never thinking once about the time or her duties."

[homoe]

belly-up



Hopelessly ruined or defeated; in business it usually indicates a business as not succeeded!


Sidebar: If you've ever had a goldfish, you probably noticed how it looked when it died: belly-up!

[homoe]

pedestrian


A person who goes or travels on foot; walker.

Lacking in vitality, imagination, distinction, etc.; commonplace; dull.

Word Origin... from Latin pedester, from pēs foot.

1716, "prosaic, dull" (of writing), from Latin pedester (genitive pedestris) "plain, not versified, prosaic,".

[homoe]

paramount


Superior to all others. Most important than anything else; supreme.

[homoe]

Je ne sais quoi


Literally it means "I do not know" in French. But it is actually an euphemism to express a pleasant or desirable trait about something or someone that can't be described or explained. A quality that cannot be described or named easily.

[homoe]

Sapiosexuals


A person who finds the content's of someone else's mind to be their most attractive attribute, above and before their physical characteristics.

From the Latin root "sapien", meaning wise. The term is now becoming mainstream with dating apps giving users the ability to define their sexual orientations as "Sapiosexual."

For many, defining oneself as Sapiosexual is also a statement against the current status quo of hookup culture and superficiality, where looks are prized above all else.

[homoe]

Dalliance



A romantic or sexual relationship that is brief and not serious. An action that is not serious.

[homoe]

Wonky............



Crooked; off-center; askew. Unsteady; shaky. Not functioning correctly; faulty, weak, wobbly.

[homoe]

Cahoots...............


Colluding or conspiring together secretly.


Cahoot is used almost exclusively in the phrase "in cahoots," which means "in an alliance or partnership." In most contexts, it describes the conspiring activity of people up to no good. "Cahoot" may derive from French cahute, meaning "cabin" or "hut," suggesting the notion of two or more people hidden away working together in secret.

[homoe]

Cheerio....


Used as an expression of good wishes on parting; goodbye.


British, 1910, from cheer.

[homoe]

maelstrom.........


A powerful often violent whirlpool sucking in objects within a given radius. A restless, disordered, or tumultuous state of affairs.

Maelstrom comes from an early Dutch proper noun that literally meant "turning stream." The original Maelstrom is a channel that has dangerous tidal currents located off the northwest coast of Norway. The word became popularized in the general vocabulary of English in reference to a powerful whirlpool, or something akin to one, in the 19th century. This was partly due to its use by writers such as Edgar Allan Poe and Jules Verne (whose writing was widely translated from French) in stories exaggerating the tempestuousness of the Norwegian current and transforming it into a whirling vortex.

[cathexis]

Cryptocurrency

An alternate form of currency that is strictly digital.
Works through encryption over the internet making it's use anonymous.
Difficult for the receiver to prove who the sender
was and visa versa. There are 2 main types of cryptocurrency in
use at present, Bitcoin and Ether. There are other less used forms,
but they operate in the same or similar ways.

[homoe]

cryptic......


Having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure. Having or seeming to have a hidden or ambiguous meaning.


The history of "cryptic" starts with "kryptein," a Greek word meaning "to hide."

[homoe]

gander


To look or glance at something. A male goose.



Probably derivative of gander, from the goose-like appearance of a person stretching to look at something or somebody.

[homoe]

besmirch


Damage the reputation of someone or something in the opinion of others.

Since the prefix be- in besmirch means "to make or cause to be," when you besmirch something, you cause it to have a smirch. What's a smirch? A smirch is a stain, and "to smirch" is to stain or make dirty. By extension, "to smirch" came to mean "to bring discredit or disgrace on." "Smirch" and "besmirch," then, mean essentially the same thing. We have William Shakespeare to thank for the variation in form. Shakespeare's 1599 use of the term in Henry V is the first known appearance of "besmirch" in English.

[homoe]

aberrant

Departing from an accepted standard. Diverging from the normal type. Also a
role-playing game created by White Wolf Game Studio in 1999.


Something aberrant has wandered away from the usual path or form. The word is generally used in a negative way; aberrant behavior, for example, may be a symptom of other problems. But the discovery of an aberrant variety of a species can be exciting news to a biologist, and identifying an aberrant gene has led the way to new treatments for diseases.

[homoe]

pragmatist



A person who is guided more by practical considerations than by ideals. An advocate of the approach that evaluates theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application.

[homoe]

commingle


To blend thoroughly into a harmonious whole This can be anything from cash, assets, household good, to personal effects! Often times when two people move in together, possessions are commingled!

If you've ever seen the scene in When Harry Met Sally, about the ugly wheel coffee table, it's perhaps best NOT to commingle items.

[cathexis]

Ether

1. A C-O-C chemical compound used as a solvent in chemistry that
has a penchant for becoming unstable and having increased
flammability especially after it's expiration date.

2. An anesthesia agent used frequently through the 1960s in the US.
Ether's use in Surgery was discontinued as a result of it's acute
flammability. Other, non-flammable, agents were developed. The
drape erected in the OR between the anesthesiologist and the surgeon
was originally used to prevent a spark caused by surgical equipment
from coming in contact with the flammable anesthetic. The original
name for the drape was the "ether curtain."

3. Ether(s) archaic definition was a term used pertaining to the upper
atmosphere or something traveling through the air, e.g. a scent or
spirit being or traveling through the ethers. A mystical version of
floating through the air.
i

[homoe]

pedant........


A person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning. A person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.


Old French from Italian pedante teacher; perhaps related to Latin paedagōgus pedagogue.

[homoe]

vexatious...


Of legal actions)instituted without sufficient grounds and serving only to cause annoyance to the defendant. Troublesome; annoying. disorderly; confused or troubled.

[homoe]

Erotomania




A type of delusional disorder where the affected person believes that another person is in love with him or her. This belief is usually applied to someone with higher status or a famous person, but can also be applied to a complete stranger.


Sidebar: I'd never heard of this word or even of this type of disorder until I came across it in the book Strange Justice I'm currently reading.

[homoe]

Conniption sometimes used with fit as in A Conniption Fit......




Behavior that shows that you are suddenly very angry, upset, etc.

[Gemme]

Conniption sometimes used with fit as in A Conniption Fit......




Behavior that shows that you are suddenly very angry, upset, etc.

aka a tantrum....of epic proportions.

:cheesy:

[homoe]

untoward..

Difficult to guide, manage, or work with. Marked by trouble or unhappiness.


More than 700 years ago, English speakers began using the word toward for "forward-moving". After about 150 years, the use was broadened somewhat to mean simply "docile" or "obliging." The opposite of this toward is froward, meaning "perverse" or "ungovernable." Today, froward has fallen out of common use, and the cooperative sense of toward is downright obsolete, but the newcomer to this series—untoward—has kept its toehold. Untoward first showed up as a synonym of unruly in the 1500s, and it is still used, just as it was then, though it has since acquired other meanings as well.

[homoe]

tenacious


Tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely. Not readily relinquishing a position, principle, or course of action; determined.

For all of its nearly 400 years, "tenacious" has adhered closely to its Latin antecedent: tenax, an adjective meaning "tending to hold fast." Almost from the first, "tenacious" could suggest either literal adhesion or figurative stick-to-itiveness. We use "tenacious" of a good memory, too - one that has a better than average capacity to hold information. But you can also have too much of a good thing. The addition in Latin of the prefix per- ("thoroughly") to "tenax" led to the English word pertinacious, meaning "perversely persistent.

[homoe]

excoriate




To censure or criticize severely. To criticize (someone or something) very harshly To wear off the skin.

[homoe]

albeit..........

Although.


In the middle of the 20th century, several usage commentators observed that the "archaic" word albeit was making a comeback. The "archaic" descriptor was not entirely apt. Evidence indicates that "albeit," which was first recorded in English in the 14th century, never really went out of use although, admittedly, its use did seem to drop off a bit in the 19th century. It is true, however, that use of "albeit" has increased considerably since the 1930's.

[homoe]

dagwood..........


A many-layered sandwich.

Sidebar: So named after Dagwood Bumstead, character who made such sandwiches in the comic strip Blondie by M.B.Young.

[homoe]

Triskaidekaphobia: Fear of the 13th Floor..........

While many would quickly dismiss this phobia as pure superstition, those who suffer from extreme cases of triskaidekaphobia find their fear to be very real with physical symptoms such as nausea, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate and a sense of panic.

There is no consensus on where the fear of the number 13 originates, but the fear is generally understood to be a construct of Western societies. Some trace the unlucky origins of 13 to the omission of a 13th law in the Code of Hammurabi. Others point to the biblical story of Judas Iscariot being the 13th person to arrive at the Last Supper. Another explanation links the bad luck of 13 to the evil Norse god Loki.

[homoe]

Sweet Bliss, are we allowed to use phrases or just single words? IF we can use phrases....

rule of thumb

Origin 1782:The 'rule of thumb' has been said to derive from the belief that English law allowed a man to beat his wife with a stick so long as it is was no thicker than his thumb.

The first and original use of the saying is as simple as the words. The thumb was used as a readily available tool of measuring.

It has now been used as a term of commonplace knowledge in a field.

Thanks:hangloose:

[homoe]

Sure!! It will add to the fun!

Thanks.........:hangloose:

[homoe]

"Shoot Yourself In The Foot".........

To damage or impede one's own plans, progress, or actions through foolish actions or words.

[homoe]

"Cut Your Nose To Spite Your Face".............



To use self-destructive means to try to solve a problem or fix a situation.

[homoe]

curmudgeon..........

A person (especially an old man) who is easily annoyed or angered and who often complains.

[homoe]

"Give Someone The Cold Shoulder"


A rude way of telling someone he isn’t welcome.


Sidebar: Although giving someone the cold shoulder today is considered rude, it was actually regarded as a polite gesture in medieval England. After a feast, the host would let his guests know it was time to leave by giving them a cold piece of meat from the shoulder of beef, mutton, or pork.

[homoe]

"Let Your Hair Down"

To relax or be at ease.


Sidebar: Parisian nobles risked condemnation from their peers if they appeared in public without an elaborate hairdo. Some of the more intricate styles required hours of work, so of course it was a relaxing ritual for these aristocrats to come home at the end of a long day and let their hair down.

[homoe]

"No Spring Chicken"

Someone who is past his prime


Sidebar: New England chicken farmers generally sold chickens in the spring, so the chickens born in the springtime yielded better earnings than the chickens that survived the winter. Sometimes, farmers tried to sell old birds for the price of a new spring chicken. Clever buyers complained that the fowl was “no spring chicken,” and the term came to represent anyone past their prime.

[homoe]

"More Than You Can Shake A Stick At"

Having more of something than you need.


Sidebar: Farmers controlled their sheep by shaking their staffs to indicate where the animals should go. When farmers had more sheep than they could control, it was said they had “more than you can shake a stick at.”

[homoe]

"Run Amok"


Go crazy Go wild.


Sidebar: This short saying comes from the Malaysian word amoq, which describes the behavior of tribesmen who, under the influence of opium, became wild, rampaging mobs that attacked anybody in their path.

[homoe]

"Show Your True Colors"


To reveal one’s true nature.


Sidebar: Warships used to fly multiple flags to confuse their enemies. However, the rules of warfare stated that a ship had to hoist its true flag before firing and hence, display its country’s true colors.

[homoe]

"Old Habits Die Hard"




People find it difficult to change their accustomed behavior. People often do not like to change things that they have been doing for a long time.

[homoe]

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder"



This sweet saying came from the Roman poet Sextus Propertius' Elegies:"Always toward absent lovers love's tide stronger flows."

In 1832, the modern variant of the phrase was coined by a 'Miss Strickland' in The Pocket Magazine of Classic and Polite Literature.

[homoe]

The Acid Test





This came from the California Gold Rush in the 19th century, when prospectors and dealers used acid to distinguish gold from base metal - if the metal dissolved in a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, it was real.

[homoe]

"Busy as a bee"..

Having many things to do or get accomplished.

Chaucer coined the term in the Squire's Tale, from his Canterbury Tales, around 1386-1400.

[homoe]

"A baker's dozen"



13..


This is widely believed to originate from medieval times, when English bakers gave an extra loaf when selling a dozen in order to avoid being penalized for selling a short weight. Bakers could be fined, pilloried or flogged for selling 'underweight' bread.

[homoe]

"Basket case"



Originally, this was used by the US military after WWI, referring to soldiers who had lost arms and legs and had to be carried by others.

[homoe]

"Goody two shoes"..



Good two shoes comes from a Christian retelling of Cinderella, a nursery tale named The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes, published in 1765. The poor orphan of the title only has one shoe – but is given two shoes by a rich man as a reward for her virtue.

[homoe]

Green-eyed monster

To be jealous.

Shakespeare coined this term in The Merchant of Venice, when Portia says: "And shuddering fear, and green-eyed jealousy! O love, Be moderate;". He then used green eyed monster again in his most famous play about jealousy – Othello.

[homoe]

"Saved by the bell"


Contrary to popular belief, this phrase didn’t originate from the popular 90s sitcom.

'Saved by the Bell' is boxing slang from the late 19th century. A boxer who is in danger of losing a bout can be 'saved' from defeat by the bell that marks the end of a round.

[homoe]

Give or get the heave-ho"...


To dismiss or reject someone. Cast something or someone aside!

[homoe]

"Add insult to injury"



To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavorable situation.

[homoe]

"Blessing in disguise"



Something good that isn't recognized as favorable at first.

[homoe]

"Up To Snuff".....



As good as what was expected, required, or demanded.

[homoe]

"Two left feet"...........


Be clumsy: to be not at all graceful when you move or dance.

This expression conjures up an image of feet that are not symmetrical, as left and right are, therefore causing imbalance or stumbling.

It was first recorded in 1915.

[homoe]

"March To The Beat Of Your Own Drum"...........



To do something, act, or behave in a manner that does not conform to the standard, prevalent, or popular societal norm.

[puddin']

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Who%20knew%3F

a 26 year old could take down a 59 year old seasoned support worker?

[homoe]

"A Horse Of A Different Color".......



Something completely different or separate, especially in comparison to something else.

Sidebar: This term probably derives from a phrase coined by Shakespeare, who wrote “a horse of that color” ( Twelfth Night, 2:3), meaning “the same matter” rather than a different one. By the mid-1800s the term was used to point out difference rather than likeness.


Thanks Gemme for jogging my memory of this.......

[homoe]

"Beating A Dead Horse"

Beating a dead horse means someone keeps bringing up the same subject and wanting others to participate in a discussion or debate about it. While you feel every aspect of the situation, act, or circumstance has been gone over, someone continues bringing it up.

The phrase also refers to arguments that you feel are settled but another wants to keep bringing up.

Sidebar: The origin of the phrase may derive from horse racing where horses are slapped on the side with a riding crop to make them run faster. Beating a dead horse, of course, will not make it run at all, rendering the act pointless.

[homoe]

"Grass Always Looks Greener On The Other Side Of The Fence"..

Used to say that the things other people have or their situations always look better than your own, even when they are not really so.

[homoe]

"What's Cooking"................

Used to ask about what is happening or what someone is planning.

[homoe]

Strike While The Iron Is Hot..............



Act decisively and take your opportunities when they arise.

This old proverb clearly alludes to the imagery of the blacksmith or farrier at his forge. If he delays in shaping the iron when it is hot a pliable the metal soon cools and hardens and the opportunity is lost.

[homoe]

Silence is golden.........


A proverbial saying, often used in circumstances where it is thought that saying nothing is preferable to speaking and saying something you may regret in the long run.


Although this precise phrase was first recorded only in 1848, it is part of a much older proverb, “Speech is silver and silence is golden.”

[Sweet Bliss]

Hell hath no fury like a Woman scorned....

https://www.enotes.com/topics/mourning-bride

[homoe]

tactless....


Offensively blunt, and undiplomatic. Thoughtless. Indelicate.

Having or showing a lack of adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others. In considerate of someone else's feelings.

[homoe]

Agog.............



Meaning very eager or curious to hear or see something. Full of intense interest or excitement. Highly excited by eagerness, curiosity, anticipation, etc.

[homoe]

"Fighting Tooth and Nail"


If you fight tooth and nail for something, you fight as hard as you can to get it or achieve it.

The adverbial phrase “tooth and nail” (originally “with tooth and nail”) literally means “with the use of one's teeth and nails as weapons; by biting and scratching,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

[homoe]

"Knuckle Under".........


To yield or submit to someone or something.


In the 18th century, 'knuckle down' was used used to mean 'acknowledge oneself beaten; submit to another's authority'. The word 'knuckle' by itself had the same meaning. 'Knuckle under' was later coined in the USA, also with the same meaning.

[homoe]

Not playing with a full deck ....

When someone is not playing with a full deck, he is either mentally, psychologically, or intellectually deficient.


There is a popular story that the origin of this phrase dates back to the 1500s, when a tax was levied against decks of cards.

[homoe]

"Take With A Grain Of Salt"...



To consider a story someone says or tells while keeping in mind that it may not be completely true or accurate!
To take a statement with 'a grain of salt' (or 'a pinch of salt') means to accept it while maintaining a degree of skepticism about its truth.

[homoe]

In Pie Order/In Apple-Pie Order.....



If a place is in pie order, everything in it is very tidy and well-organized : in perfect order.

Sidebar: The phrase may originate from the French 'nappes pliees' = neatly folded, or from 'cap-a-pie order'. There's no definitive evidence to support this and the origin remains uncertain.

[homoe]

Right As Rain.............

In good order or good health, satisfactory.



Origin......The allusion in this simile is unclear, but it originated in Britain, where rainy weather is a normal fact of life, and indeed W.L. Phelps wrote, “The expression 'right as rain' must have been invented by an Englishman.” It was first recorded in 1894.

[homoe]

Shoot Yourself In The Foot............

To damage or impede one's own advantages or gains through foolish actions or words.


Origin: Based on war times, one would shoot themselves in the foot in order to get out of fighting and be sent back home. Commonly regarded as dishonorable.

[homoe]

Bee’s knees..................


Means the height of excellence; used to refer to an admired thing. It is the epitome of something cool or awesome or fantastic.

Origin: Bees carry pollen back to the hive in sacs on their legs. It is tempting to explain this phrase as alluding to the concentrated goodness to be found around a bee's knee, but there's no evidence to support this explanation.

[homoe]

Get Off Scot-Free...........


To escape punishment for a crime or wrongdoing.

Origin..In fact, “scot”, in this case, is from the Old Norse word “skot” meaning something to the effect of “payment” or “contribution”. In English, “scot” initially just meant “tax”. The phrase scot free was first used in reference to municipal tax levies

[homoe]

Hang Someone Out To Dry........


To leave somebody in a difficult situation without your support, especially to avoid receiving any blame yourself.



Origin: The origin of this phrase probably comes from how some people dry their clothes

after having washed them—they hang their clothes outside to dry.

[homoe]

Get Called On The Carpet...........


To scold, rebuke, or reprimand someone. To reprimand a subordinate, or demand that they explain their actions.

Origin..The expression call on the carpet has been in usage since at least 1881, when it appeared in a glossary of words and idioms published by the English Dialect Society.

[homoe]

Lion's Share........


The largest part or portion of something.

origin: The phrase derives from the plot of a number of fables ascribed to Aesop.

[homoe]

Elephant In The Room....


A big issue everyone is aware of, but which is being ignored, because everybody finds discussion about it uncomfortable.
Failing to address an issue that stands out in a major way.

origin: Possibly from Ivan Andreevich Krylov, poet's 1814 fable entitled "The Inquisitive Man",

[homoe]

Nip It In The Bud............


To stop, cease, or prevent something at the beginning or early phase, before it becomes too difficult or unmanageable.

Origin: This phrase derives from the de-budding of plants. The earlier form of the phrase was 'nip in the bloom' and this is cited in Henry Chettle's romance Piers Plainnes Seaven Yeres Prentiship, 1595.

[homoe]

The Jig's Up..............


The plan or scheme has been discovered and/or thwarted; the game, trick, or deception is at an end.

[homoe]

Three-ring Circus...............

A public spectacle, especially one with little substance. A chaotic situation, often one in which a lot of activity is occurring simultaneously.

[homoe]

Sour Grapes.......

Something that one cannot have and so disparages as if it were never desirable. If you describe someone's attitude as sour grapes, you mean that they are jealous of another person's success and show this jealousy by criticizing that person.

Origin: This expression alludes to the Greek writer Aesop's famous fable about a fox that cannot reach some grapes on a high vine and announces that they are sour. In English the fable was first recorded in William Caxton's 1484 translation, "The fox said these raisins be sour."

[cathexis]

Fixing (fittin, fixen) verb

Primarily used in the South, a regional dialect. Fixing popularly means getting ready to. An example would be, " I'm fixing to go to the store." It doesn't indicate any time or urgency in keeping with the more leisurely pace of the traditional South.

This word's etymology is truly American or as it is called, "an Americanism."

Webster - paraphrasing defines it as to prepare or to set/place in the manner most desired.

Farmer, John "Americanisms - Old and New, "called fix the hardest worked word in the 'American language.'" Farmer also notes that fixed could mean ready.

OED - defines fixing as making preparations for in def. 14a and 14b.

[homoe]

If You Play Your Cards Right.........

To act adeptly and with good judgment; to make the best and most effective use of the resources at one's disposal. To work or negotiate correctly and skillfully in order to receive an desired effect.

Origin: Not positive but I would think it comes from the actual game of card playing and winning if you play the cards you've been given correctly.

[homoe]

Fixing (fittin, fixen) verb

Primarily used in the South, a regional dialect. Fixing popularly means getting ready to. An example would be, " I'm fixing to go to the store." It doesn't indicate any time or urgency in keeping with the more leisurely pace of the traditional South.

This word's etymology is truly American or as it is called, "an Americanism."

Webster - paraphrasing defines it as to prepare or to set/place in the manner most desired.

Farmer, John "Americanisms - Old and New, "called fix the hardest worked word in the 'American language.'" Farmer also notes that fixed could mean ready.

OED - defines fixing as making preparations for in def. 14a and 14b.

I think a lot of idioms or expressions are regional! When I moved to Milwaukee, people would constantly say they were "going to go by" either someplace or someone which I soon found out meant they were actually going to that place of person NOT just going or driving by...:seeingstars:

[cathexis]

I think a lot of idioms or expressions are regional! When I moved to Milwaukee, people would constantly say they were "going to go by" either someplace or someone which I soon found out meant they were actually going to that place of person NOT just going or driving by...:seeingstars:

In New Orleans it's "pass by." If a tourist hears that they get confused. They get the impression that you are going to walk or drive by their house when you are going to visit with the person. Another example of time being more fluid in the South. Growing up as the daughter of a true Southern lady, being up here in NY is a BIG adjustment. People seem to always be in a hurry no matter the reason. Once I got left behind by my Partner's family who were going to a town just to look around; because, I did not have my coat and boots on when my sister in law arrived.

[homoe]

Piss Poor / Doesn't Have A Pot To Piss In Nor A Window To Throw It Out Of...

A very poor person!

Origin: They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot. Once a day it was taken and sold to the tannery. If you had to do this to survive, you were 'piss poor.' But worse than that were the really poor folks, who couldn't even afford to buy a pot.

In medieval London, people did not have indoor plumbing. It was common to use a chamber pot as an indoor toilet. The chamber pot could then be dumped out a window into the street gutter below. A person who did not have a pot to piss in was poor indeed.

[homoe]

Green With Envy..............

The phrase ‘Green with Envy’ means to be very jealous, or envious of what someone has.

Origin: Before Shakespeare’s days, a pale (green) complexion was associated with fear, illness, and poor humor. The origin of the idiom 'green with envy' is believed to come directly from the great William Shakespeare himself.

[homoe]

Green Eyed-Monster...........

Jealousy personified.


Origin: The phrase comes from the Shakespeare play Othello. In Othello, Iago warns Othello: “Beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.”

[homoe]

How Do You Like Them Apples..........


A phrase used to draw attention to one's cleverness or superiority to the one being addressed, especially after a recent triumph.

Origin: I cannot find an authoritative source, but various sites on the web have it that the original "apple" was a mortar-fired bomb used during WW I.

[homoe]

Thin-skinned........


Sensitive to criticism or insults, easily bothered by criticism or insults : very sensitive.

[homoe]

Smitten...........

Uncontrollable happiness when thinking about or in the presence of a special person.

[homoe]

Bury The Hatchet.........

To settle your differences with an adversary.

Origin: The figurative expression 'burying the hatchet' did originate as an American Indian tradition. Hatchets were buried by the chiefs of tribes when they came to a peace agreement. The phrase is recorded from the 17th century in English but the practice it refers to is much earlier, possibly pre-dating the European settlement of America. A translation of Thwaites' monumental work Jesuit Relations, 1644, suggests the practice.

[homoe]

A Shot In The Dark.....................

A attempt to guess something when you have no information or knowledge about the subject and therefore cannot possibly know what the answer is. A wild guess.

[homoe]

A Shoulder To Cry On.....................


Someone who is willing to listen to your problems and give you sympathy, emotional support, and encouragement.

[homoe]

A Chip On Their Shoulder............

To have a chip on one's shoulder refers to the act of holding a grudge or grievance that readily provokes disputation. They feel that they have been wronged by the world, so is always ready for a fight: easily offended because they feels that they have been treated unfairly by others, or perhaps feels inferior.

Origin: Comes from the days when there was a formal declaration for a fight. When a person disagreed strongly with someone over a personal belief, they would place a chip of wood on their shoulder and dare the other to knock it off. Once the other person did this, it signaled the beginning of the fight and thus punches were thrown. Examples of this can be seen in old British movies circa 1930-1950's.

[homoe]

You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar....

Flies represents anything you want to achieve. Honey (sweet) represents anything pleasant that you do to get what you want. Vinegar (sour) represents anything unpleasant that you do to get what you want. It suggests using nice methods rather than unkind methods yields better results.

[homoe]

No Skin Off My Nose....................


If someone says it's no skin off my nose they mean they are not worried about something because it only affects or harms other people or because it is not their responsibility and has no affect on them personally.

[homoe]

The Shoe's On The Other Foot............


One is experiencing the same (often bad) things that one caused another person to experience.

[homoe]

On The Hot Seat.........


In an uncomfortable or embarrassing situation. In a position in which one must face intense questioning, criticism, punishment, or scrutiny.

[homoe]

"Even A Worm Will Turn"...


Used to convey the message that even the meekest or most docile of creatures will retaliate or seek revenge if pushed too far.

Origin: The phrase was first recorded in a 1546 collection of proverbs by John Heywood, in the form "Treade a worme on the tayle, and it must turne agayne."

[homoe]

Up To Snuff.............



To meet required standards.As good as what was expected, required, or demanded; satisfactory or adequate.

[homoe]

Best-laid plans..............


No matter how carefully a project is planned, something may still go wrong with it.

Origin: The saying is adapted from a line in “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns: “The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.”

[homoe]

‘In a nutshell’....

In a few words; concisely. Summed up briefly.


Origin: The phrase originates in an ancient story, described by the Roman scholar Pliny in AD 77, that the great philosopher Cicero witnessed a copy of Homer’s epic poem the Iliad written on a piece of parchment that was quite small enough to fit into the shell of a walnut.

[homoe]

"Third Time's A Charm"..............


Said by or to someone who has failed at something twice; the third time you try to do something, it will work.

[cathexis]

In a coon's age.

Def: a long time
Refers to the age of a raccoon being or appearing long.

Regions used are generally the South and the rural Mid-West. It is a bit archaic though still used.

[homoe]

"Eat Your Heart Out"............


A declaration, often exaggerated, joking and boastful, of being better than another. Feel jealous or envious of someone else's achievements or good fortune. Occasionally, it means to feel other strong emotions, especially grief, bitterness, or worry over something.

[homoe]

...

Killjoy...............


A person who deliberately spoils the enjoyment of others through resentful, jealously, or overly sober behavior.

[homoe]

"To Throw Cold Water On Something".........



To discourage or deter someone from doing something; to make something seem less appealing or reduce someone's enthusiasm for something.

[Orema]

The term N-Word.

Meaning: another term for a well-known slur.

Origin: I think former prosecutor, Christopner Darden, coined the term N-word. The first time I heard it was during the OJ trial when Darden said “N-Word” and refused to use the slur when questioning Office Mark Fuhrman on Furhman’s usage of the slur.

[C0LLETTE]

"Third Time's A Charm"..............


Said by or to someone who has failed at something twice; the third time you try to do something, it will work.

"3 on a match " Never light 3 cigarettes on one match.Very bad luck.

From WWI....Sniper spots first light, aims on second, shoots 3rd guy dead.

[homoe]

"3 on a match " Never light 3 cigarettes on one match.Very bad luck.

From WWI....Sniper spots first light, aims on second, shoots 3rd guy dead.

Queer as a three-dollar bill....A slur against gay people back in my day

[homoe]

Queer as a three-dollar bill....A slur against gay people back in my day


Three sheets to the wind......Someone having drank a bit to much

[homoe]

Three sheets to the wind......Someone having drank a bit to much

Three-ring circus.......


A situation that involves a lot of chaos, with a lot of frenetic activity that is difficult to process.

[homoe]

Three-ring circus.......


A situation that involves a lot of chaos, with a lot of frenetic activity that is difficult to process.

three moves are as bad as a fire....

Proverb meaning if you move your household three times, you will lose or damage as many things as a fire in your house would have destroyed or damaged.

[Kätzchen]

MAGA: maga means “easily fooled idiot (conned)” in Nigerian Pidgin.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/maga-mean-easily-fooled-idiot/


Kurt Eichenwald on X posted about how he learned about this Nigerian word, which is commonly used in Nigeria, on March 1st, 2018.

[Kätzchen]

Octothorpe


Octothorpe is the technical term for the hashtag sign (#). This term was coined in the 1960s at Bell Laboratories by Jim Thorpe. Octo- the prefix of the technical term, refers to the 8 points of the hashtag sign.