Idioms, Phrases, and Acronyms of the English Language

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The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
Doctor Q said:
To follow through, I looked up turnpike. It's derived from turning and from pike, which is a sharp-pointed weapon. Now I'm left wondering what a toll road has to do with a sharp weapon. I obviously need to "get the point!"
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A pike also refers to a long pole. That's basically what was placed across the road as the "barrier" which had to be turned in order for the traveler to pass.

Turnpikes are much older than cars (automobiles), and I suspect it didn't need to be an especially strong barrier if one was only blocking horses (ridden or driven). Horses will naturally stop when you place a barrier in front of them that they don't think they can walk over. They also don't like crossing narrow ditches. It takes a courageous horse to jump some things that a human would simply hop over or duck under.

Since "pike" also refers to a type of fish, I've always thought of the toll-keeper keeping a mounted fish as a barrier. Of course, the really wide roads would need something longer than a pike, maybe a blue marlin.
 
Doctor Q said:
I wondered why, when something is expected soon, people say it is coming down the pike.

So I looked it up and learned that it's a metaphor for a car coming down the turnpike. A turnpike means a major toll road. I don't know why the phrase refers to a road that you have to pay to use. It could just as well have been coming down the road.

To follow through, I looked up turnpike. It's derived from turning and from pike, which is a sharp-pointed weapon. Now I'm left wondering what a toll road has to do with a sharp weapon. I obviously need to "get the point!"
Click to expand...
My guess without investigation, a guess is that a turn pike, a road with a fee to travel on, was originally a post (pike) with a gate that was turned or lifted after you paid the toll.
 
  • Smart as Paint- The phrase smart as paint is said by Long John Silver to Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island. It was only one of many versions that have been invented from the 1850s onwards, among them fresh as paint, snug as paint, clever as paint, pretty as paint, and handsome as paint. They’re all similes that draw on some special quality of paint, but smart as paint punningly combines two senses of smart— the idea of new paint being bright and fresh in appearance and that of a person who is quick-witted and intelligent. https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-sma3.htm
 
Huntn said:
In Spades (Huntn #162,p7) a phrase that means in abundance, which relates to “spade fulls” as in a garden spade, and it is also cupoukd related to a suite in cards.
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A similar phrase that hasn't been mentioned in this thread is "for Africa". I'm not sure how widespread this is, but over here a phrase like "there was traffic for Africa" means there was a lot of it.
 
"Riding shotgun" refers to riding next to the driver in a vehicle. The origin of the term was to describe the person armed with a break action shotgun sitting next to the stage coach driver protecting the coach from foul play..
 
I heard a BBC podcast today about how speech and language affect attitudes towards punctuality:
www.bbc.co.uk

CrowdScience - Why am I always late? - BBC Sounds

Why do some people find it easier to be punctual than others?
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

Which reminded me of a PBS series with an episode featuring a linguist breaking down California English (as in the song "Valley Girl" and the movie Clueless!) and Chicano English:

I loved hearing Carmen Fought demonstrating Valley-speak to somebody with a classic North American broadcasting voice, Robert MacNeil.
 
This is a really cool thread idea, although I'm not seeing enough notable idioms/phrases that are credited to the Bard.
  • It was Greek to me
  • A foregone conclusion
  • Break the ice
  • Brevity is the soul of wit
  • Green-eyed jealousy
  • Beware the ides of March
  • One fell swoop
  • Dead as a doornail
  • Wild goose chase
  • Et tu, Brute
  • Good riddance
 
JackAHyde said:
This is a really cool thread idea, although I'm not seeing enough notable idioms/phrases that are credited to the Bard.
  • It was Greek to me
  • A foregone conclusion
  • Break the ice
  • Brevity is the soul of wit
  • Green-eyed jealousy
  • Beware the ides of March
  • One fell swoop
  • Dead as a doornail
  • Wild goose chase
  • Et tu, Brute
  • Good riddance
Click to expand...
Provide a little back ground as to the context of the origin, and happy to add them!
 
Huntn said:
Turned into a Wiki Post…

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I also suspect that the origins of this phrase may have arisen from the time when muskets - or, early rifles - were in use, a time when soldiers had to actually bite the cartridges before loading them, in order to access the powder and bullet, for the cartridges to actually work in the muzzle loading muskets (or rifles) of the time.

This was one of the major causes - an explosive cause - of what has been variously described as The Indian Mutiny, or Indian Rebellion, of 1857, where the paper cartridges issued for use with the Enfield rifle in use with the East India Company (the organisation which then ruled India) were reportedly sealed with animal grease in a country where the vast majority of the population (and enlisted soldiers of the armies of the EIC) were either Hindu or Muslim, and thus, were forbidden to eat either beef or pork, respectively.
 
Huntn said:
Provide a little back ground as to the context of the origin, and happy to add them!
Click to expand...
Do these look good?

It was Greek to me - Originated from "Julius Caesar." Spoken by Casca when commenting on how he didn't understand something Ciscero said because Ciscero was literally speaking in Greek. This phrase is now used to refer to how somebody may not understand what someone is talking about, like if they are using specialized jargon or simply talking in another language.

A foregone conclusion - From "Othello," a comment the titular character makes describing how an outcome was decided in advance because of a dream he had signified that it was inevitable. Usually used now to describe how something is or was unavoidable.

Break the ice - Originated from "The Taming of the Shrew," referring to how difficult it can be to break past social stiffness by starting that first conversation. It can also refer to as attempting to start a difficult task or undertaking in general rather than being limited only to a social situation.

Brevity is the soul of wit - Said in "Hamlet" by Lord Polonius, he suggests that being concise is a essential to conveying intelligence.

Green-eyed jealousy - Another "Othello" quote, Iago says this as another variation of the modern day phrase "green with envy," which refers to when someone becomes jealous.

Beware the ides of March - Said by the Soothsayer in "Julius Caesar" when he warns Caesar how he should be weary of March 15th, which turns out to be the date of his assassination.

One fell swoop - Said in "Macbeth," used by Macduff to describe how something can be done quickly in one swift action. In this case, he uses it to describe the death of his own family and servants.

Dead as a doornail - Used a few centuries before, but popularized in "Henry VI, Part 2," this phrase described how someone was 100% dead. This likely originated from the idea of hammering nails part of the way through a surface and then bending the end of it over to help secure it, making the nail useless anywhere else in the process.

Wild goose chase - Used in "Romeo and Juliet" by Mercutio, this phrase was used to refer to a horse race with a strange, difficult pattern to ride on. It now is used to refer to a long endeavor that ultimately proves pointless in the end.

Et tu, Brute? - Caesar's famous last words in the play as he witnesses Brutus, his supposed friend, finishing him off during the assassination. A variant of this phrase is usually used substituting "Brutus" with a different person's name to suggest or signify betrayal.

Good riddance - While the word "riddance" was used before then to describe getting rid of something, Shakespeare later popularized it in "Troilus and Cressida." The phrase itself is now used to describe how somebody is pleased to be rid of someone or something.
 
"word, dog" - The phrase "word, dog" is a slang expression, primarily used in urban and hip-hop culture, to convey agreement or affirmation, similar to saying "word up" or "you got that right." The term "dog" in this context is a colloquial term for "friend" or "close associate," with its origins tracing back to African American Vernacular English (AAVE).

The urban slang term "word" primarily originated from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) and its use in hip-hop culture. It often acts as an emphatic affirmation or agreement, similar to saying "I agree" or "That's true". It can also be used to express surprise or curiosity.

The urban slang term "dog" is to refer to a friend or close companion is a long-standing practice in AAVE, dating back to at least the 1970s or 80s. It signifies familiarity, loyalty, and a strong bond, similar to the way a dog is seen as a loyal companion, according to Quora.

:D
 
JackAHyde said:
Do these look good?

It was Greek to me - Originated from "Julius Caesar." Spoken by Casca when commenting on how he didn't understand something Ciscero said because Ciscero was literally speaking in Greek. This phrase is now used to refer to how somebody may not understand what someone is talking about, like if they are using specialized jargon or simply talking in another language.

A foregone conclusion - From "Othello," a comment the titular character makes describing how an outcome was decided in advance because of a dream he had signified that it was inevitable. Usually used now to describe how something is or was unavoidable.

Break the ice - Originated from "The Taming of the Shrew," referring to how difficult it can be to break past social stiffness by starting that first conversation. It can also refer to as attempting to start a difficult task or undertaking in general rather than being limited only to a social situation.

Brevity is the soul of wit - Said in "Hamlet" by Lord Polonius, he suggests that being concise is a essential to conveying intelligence.

Green-eyed jealousy - Another "Othello" quote, Iago says this as another variation of the modern day phrase "green with envy," which refers to when someone becomes jealous.

Beware the ides of March - Said by the Soothsayer in "Julius Caesar" when he warns Caesar how he should be weary of March 15th, which turns out to be the date of his assassination.

One fell swoop - Said in "Macbeth," used by Macduff to describe how something can be done quickly in one swift action. In this case, he uses it to describe the death of his own family and servants.

Dead as a doornail - Used a few centuries before, but popularized in "Henry VI, Part 2," this phrase described how someone was 100% dead. This likely originated from the idea of hammering nails part of the way through a surface and then bending the end of it over to help secure it, making the nail useless anywhere else in the process.

Wild goose chase - Used in "Romeo and Juliet" by Mercutio, this phrase was used to refer to a horse race with a strange, difficult pattern to ride on. It now is used to refer to a long endeavor that ultimately proves pointless in the end.

Et tu, Brute? - Caesar's famous last words in the play as he witnesses Brutus, his supposed friend, finishing him off during the assassination. A variant of this phrase is usually used substituting "Brutus" with a different person's name to suggest or signify betrayal.

Good riddance - While the word "riddance" was used before then to describe getting rid of something, Shakespeare later popularized it in "Troilus and Cressida." The phrase itself is now used to describe how somebody is pleased to be rid of someone or something.
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I'll add them to Post 1 unless you want to, it's a wiki post.
 
JackAHyde said:
It was Greek to me - Originated from "Julius Caesar." Spoken by Casca when commenting on how he didn't understand something Ciscero said because Ciscero was literally speaking in Greek. This phrase is now used to refer to how somebody may not understand what someone is talking about, like if they are using specialized jargon or simply talking in another language.
Click to expand...
Cicero was probably speaking in Classical Latin (more formal), instead of Vulgar Latin(vernacular). Casca, a plebeian, had difficulty understanding the formal language of the elite, so Cicero may as well have been speaking Greek. It's a nod to Cicero's Greek education.

EDIT: The modern equivalence would be how most of us have difficulty understanding legalese. My eyes glaze after the first paragraph of a EULA. Legalese, it's Greek to me.
JackAHyde said:
Beware the ides of March - Said by the Soothsayer in "Julius Caesar" when he warns Caesar how he should be weary of March 15th, which turns out to be the date of his assassination.
Click to expand...
Aye. Stabbed by a feral band of Leprechauns who mistaken thought it was March 17th.🙃
JackAHyde said:
Et tu, Brute? - Caesar's famous last words in the play as he witnesses Brutus, his supposed friend, finishing him off during the assassination. A variant of this phrase is usually used substituting "Brutus" with a different person's name to suggest or signify betrayal.
Click to expand...
Brutus is a rather unusual name for a Leprechaun.🤭

I'll toss my self out now...😶‍🌫️
 
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Mousse said:
Cicero was probably speaking in Classical Latin (more formal), instead of Vulgar Latin(vernacular). Casca, a plebeian, had difficulty understanding the formal language of the elite, so Cicero may as well have been speaking Greek. It's a nod to Cicero's Greek education.

EDIT: The modern equivalence would be how most of us have difficulty understanding legalese. My eyes glaze after the first paragraph of a EULA. Legalese, it's Greek to me.
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While that could be the case in actual history, keep in mind Shakespeare took a few liberties with the play in terms of historical accuracy. For the sake of the play and from Shakespeare's perspective, Cicero was speaking Greek. It even says so in the play when Casca explains it to Cassius. Granted, this is the same play that had Cassius writing letters to throw through Brutus' window (scrolls and tablets were the actual writing medium of the time) and the conspirators hearing a clock tower chiming in the distance (mechanical clock towers were not invented yet).

Huntn said:
I'll add them to Post 1 unless you want to, it's a wiki post.
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I'll let you do the honors.
 
JackAHyde said:
This is a really cool thread idea, although I'm not seeing enough notable idioms/phrases that are credited to the Bard.
  • It was Greek to me
  • A foregone conclusion
  • Break the ice
  • Brevity is the soul of wit
  • Green-eyed jealousy
  • Beware the ides of March
  • One fell swoop
  • Dead as a doornail
  • Wild goose chase
  • Et tu, Brute
  • Good riddance
Click to expand...
I think that you will find The Bard represented more in British (and Hiberno) English - especially the written form - than elsewhere.

Moreover, I also strongly suspect that casual use of (or awareness of) expressions coined by The Bard could also - to some extent - be an element of social class, (a good) education, and actual age.

In other words, I would expect someone who was British, reasonably well educated, someone who is somewhat older, to be more aware of, more inclined to use - or, to have integrated into their own use of English to a greater extent - use of idioms and phrases that first appeared in the writings (poems and plays) of The Bard.

Language changes and evolves and develops; versions of English that are written (and - above all - spoken) from elsewhere other than the British Isles - will (inevitably) have evolved and developed differently (and may accord cultural value and weight to writers other than The Bard) to the English some of us are more used to.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
I think that you will find The Bard represented more in British (and Hiberno) English - especially the written form - than elsewhere.

Moreover, I also strongly suspect that casual use of (or awareness of) expressions coined by The Bard could also - to some extent - be an element of social class, (a good) education, and actual age.

In other words, I would expect someone who was British, reasonably well educated, someone who is somewhat older, to be more aware of, more inclined to use - or, to have integrated into their own use of English to a greater extent - use of idioms and phrases that first appeared in the writings (poems and plays) of The Bard.

Language changes and evolves and develops; versions of English that are written (and - above all - spoken) from elsewhere other than the British Isles - will (inevitably) have evolved and developed differently (and may accord cultural value and weight to writers other than The Bard) to the English some of us are more used to.
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Honestly, I used to think the same thing thing when I was younger about how mostly the educated, older people, or people of certain social statuses would ever bother to casually use phrases attributed to Shakespeare. It was only several years ago that I really noticed how Shakespeare has had an undeniable influence on how the English language has developed over the past several centuries. I'm usually in awe at times when I find out a casual phrase that I heard countless times throughout the years actually came from the Bard at all. I do live in the United States, and I have heard casual, small town people with little interest in literature casually refer to the "slings and arrows of life" for instance. Granted, I am somewhat aware that Shakespeare did get credit for some phrases and expressions that were in use before his time, although the only example I'm aware of right now is the use of the word "riddance."

It's mostly similar to how a lot of common expressions and phrases came from the Bible without me ever realizing it for years, such as "cast pearls before swine," "at the eleventh hour," "at wit's end," or "the writing on the wall." In fact, my mind was blown when I realized the latter-most one actually came from the Bible some seven or eight years ago. I just grew up hearing it my whole life and never once wondered where it originated from until someone explained it to me.

Then again, I'm not really sure how well some of these phrases carry out or if they even translate so well into other countries where English isn't the primary language. I did learn a few months ago that Japan has its own idiom similar to casting pearls before swine, except it's about coins and cats instead of pearls and pigs. The overall sentiment and meaning of the phrases are the same, so it might just be a human thing for us, regardless of language, to try and express some ideas and thoughts this way.
 
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JackAHyde said:
Do these look good?

It was Greek to me - Originated from "Julius Caesar." Spoken by Casca when commenting on how he didn't understand something Ciscero said because Ciscero was literally speaking in Greek. This phrase is now used to refer to how somebody may not understand what someone is talking about, like if they are using specialized jargon or simply talking in another language.

A foregone conclusion - From "Othello," a comment the titular character makes describing how an outcome was decided in advance because of a dream he had signified that it was inevitable. Usually used now to describe how something is or was unavoidable.

Break the ice - Originated from "The Taming of the Shrew," referring to how difficult it can be to break past social stiffness by starting that first conversation. It can also refer to as attempting to start a difficult task or undertaking in general rather than being limited only to a social situation.

Brevity is the soul of wit - Said in "Hamlet" by Lord Polonius, he suggests that being concise is a essential to conveying intelligence.

Green-eyed jealousy - Another "Othello" quote, Iago says this as another variation of the modern day phrase "green with envy," which refers to when someone becomes jealous.

Beware the ides of March - Said by the Soothsayer in "Julius Caesar" when he warns Caesar how he should be weary of March 15th, which turns out to be the date of his assassination.

One fell swoop - Said in "Macbeth," used by Macduff to describe how something can be done quickly in one swift action. In this case, he uses it to describe the death of his own family and servants.

Dead as a doornail - Used a few centuries before, but popularized in "Henry VI, Part 2," this phrase described how someone was 100% dead. This likely originated from the idea of hammering nails part of the way through a surface and then bending the end of it over to help secure it, making the nail useless anywhere else in the process.

Wild goose chase - Used in "Romeo and Juliet" by Mercutio, this phrase was used to refer to a horse race with a strange, difficult pattern to ride on. It now is used to refer to a long endeavor that ultimately proves pointless in the end.

Et tu, Brute? - Caesar's famous last words in the play as he witnesses Brutus, his supposed friend, finishing him off during the assassination. A variant of this phrase is usually used substituting "Brutus" with a different person's name to suggest or signify betrayal.

Good riddance - While the word "riddance" was used before then to describe getting rid of something, Shakespeare later popularized it in "Troilus and Cressida." The phrase itself is now used to describe how somebody is pleased to be rid of someone or something.
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All added to post 1.
 
This isn't an idiom, but it has me thinking.

If a task is performed once a day, you can say it's done daily. If it's once an hour, it's hourly. So if it's once a minute, can be it "minutely"? My dictionary says no, and that it can only be used to mean "with great attention to detail". But is there anything wrong with using "minutely" in that way?
 
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