Bean Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'food' last time and this time it's 'bean'.

Baked beans have been (pun intended) since 1803.

Kidney bean is first recorded in the 1560s, so called because of its shape.

Runner bean is seen from around 1900, a reference to the long shoots which run out from the parent plant.

Bean counter, a slang term for an accountant, is first recorded in 1971.

Bean shooter, an Americansism for a catapult, is recorded from 1876.

Bean bag appears in print from 1871.

Lima beans are first seen in 1756, although mispronounced as it should rhyme with ‘beamer’ and not ‘timer’, the vegetable named after the capital of Peru where the vegetable is held to have come.

Old bean, a term of endearment but usually restricted to those of the upper classes and to males, came into being during the First World War. Sadly nobody knows where it started.

Food Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'horse' last time and this time it's 'food'.

Food chain is first recorded as recently as 1915.

Food poisoning is first described in 1864.

Nobody used a food processor before 1973.

Seafood is not described as such until 1836.

Foodstuff is a term unknown before 1870.

Foodoholic is first used in 1965.This seen as a negative, unlike …..

Foodie, which was used as a synonym for ‘gourmet’ from 1982.

Food stamps, a US scheme to help the more impoverished feed themselves, is first seen in 1962.

Fast food is not seen until 1951. I’ve always thought it something of an oxymoron, as ‘fast’ is also used to mean ‘avoid food’.

Horse Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'water' last time and this time it's 'horse'.

Horseradish is not recorded as such before 1590. Now this is nothing to do with an equine, the first element is used to denote ‘strong, coarse, large’. Indeed. Once English also featured the terms: horsemushroom (1866), horsebalm (1808), horseparsley, horsemussel, horsemint, horseemmet (a large any) and horse marten (a large bee).

Horse latitudes is first used in 1777, although where it came from is anyone’s guess, but does refer to subtropical latitudes known for calm winds and low rainfall.

Horse pistol is seen from 1704, a large pistol used by those on horseback.

A dead horse is something no longer useful, and was used from the 1630s.

Flogging a dead horse, as in trying to revive something without success, is first seen in 1864.

Horsegodmother was a woman seen as rather masculine, first recorded in 1829.

Horse’s mouth, as in information directly from the source (or claimed to be) is first attested in 1921 – thought to have been a racing term first of all.

To swap horses midstream, indicating a bad move, seems to have come to the fore in the American Civil War and some maintain it is a direct quote from the writings of Abraham Lincoln (although Honest Abe never claimed to have coined the phrase, and doubtless won’t now).

Hold your horses – ie slow down a little – first appears in 1842.

Horse play, to lark about, is first seen in 1893.

Horse chestnuts were first named as such in a document from around 1590. Thought to have been named as these were fed to horses.

Clotheshorse, which is something used for drying the washing, dates from 1788. From 1850, the same term was applied to those who liked to show off their attire – also known as a clothes screen in 1830.

Getting on your high horse is first seen in the early 14th century.

Water Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'leg' last time and this time it's 'water'.

Salt water is first described as such in Old English and thus around since the 6th or 7th century. Whilst an American term, it is worth noting the term salt water taffy is seen only since 1886 and was only known as such as it was sold at seaside resorts, particularly Atlantic City.

Waterpipe is not recorded until 1400, and then applied to a conduit (thus not necessarily an enclosed pipe).

Water closet, more often abbreviated to simply WC, described a privy with a waste pipe where the privy was emptied by a flush of water. The term is first recorded in 1755.

Water ice, is a reference to the (usually) flavoured water in a frozen state – first recorded in 1818.

Waterlilies have only been described as such since the 1540s,

Waterski first appeared as a noun in 1931, not used as a verb for another 22 years.

Watertable, this used to describe the level of saturated ground, is first seen in 1879.

Water moccasin, a snake indigenous to the Southern United States, is first described as such in a document dated 1821.

Waterwheels have been recorded since the early 15th century, although the technology is much older.

Rosewater, a tincture or perfume, came to English from the Dutch in the late 14th century.

Watermarks, used to identify paper as genuine, first appears in 1708. Not until 1866 was it used as a term to say the paperwork had been spoiled.

Watergate began as a channel to carry water, principally for irrigation. Of course the Wategate scandal of 1972, it the name of the building housing the Democrats during the presidential election, has given the suffix ‘–gate’ to every scandal in the modern era.

Leg Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'arm' last time and this time it's 'leg'.

Leg in a cricketing sense probably began in the earliest days when cricket was played, thought to be in the 16th century. Although there is also the phrase ‘to take leg bail’ found in 1774, which had no connection with cricket but slang for running away.

Leg referring to furniture is not used before 1670s.

Legs in clothes are not recorded as such before the 1570s.

Nobody had a leg up until 1837.

Last leg, first leg, referred to parts of a journey, became popular during the 1920s. Prior to that it referred to a a run made on a single tack when sailing into the wind and more often said to be a long leg or a short leg.

Shake a leg may mean to rise from one’s bed today, but in 1869 you would be expected to dance.

On one’s last legs is a phrase first seen in the 1590s.

Leg work is first recorded in 1891, and originally applied exclusively to news reporters.

Leg room only came into use in 1846.

Leg warmers are not seen before 1974.

Leg man has one meaning today, but when first recorded in 1923 it described an assistant who was the more mobile of the two.

Bootleg is used to refer to unauthorized recordings in the modern era, but when was first used in the 1630s it referred to the upper part of the boot, and as a reference to illegal alcohol in 1889.

Blacklegs were originally swindlers in the 1770s, and not until 1865 was it used to refer to strike breakers.

Dogleg was chosen to describe the bent shape from 1843, but earlier the term dog legged described a staircase without a well hole and consists of two flights with or without winders.

Arm Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'mouth' last time and this time it's 'arm'.

Arm wrestling is first described in writing in 1899.

Coat of arms is a phrase first seen in the early 14th century.

To bear arms, in the sense of military service’ first appears in the 1640s.

Armband today conjures up the inflatable swimming aid, but when it first appeared in 1782 it more often referred to a bracelet, one worn on the upper arm.

Armchair is first recorded around 1630, this shortly before the alternative name of elbowchair is seen.

Armpit is first recorded in the middle of the 14th century, when armhole was equally popular, although the latter died out by the 18th century (at least in the armpit sense).

Arms race is not seen until the 1930s, first used in British English and referring specifically to naval build-ups.

Arms length is first seen in documents dated around the 1650s, although there are records of arms end from about 1570.

Armful is first seen in the 1570s.

Mouth Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'hand' last time and this time it's 'mouth'.

Mouthorgan is not seen until the 1660s.

Mouth-breather is a description first recorded in 1883 (although I have no idea what it was describing).

Mouth-to-mouth was not performed until 1909, or at least not recorded as such. Interesting to note it is by no means certain this referred to artificial respiration.

Word of mouth is a phrase first recorded in the 1550s.

To put words into someone’s mouth is first recorded at the end of the 14th century.

But to take words out of someone’s mouth had to wait another 40/50 years until around the 1520s.

Nobody was down in the mouth before the 1640s, or at least it was not descibed as such – incidentally, it is a reference to the mouth being turned down at the corners.

Blabbermouth is not seen until 1931.

Cottonmouth is a venomous snake of the southern US states, named for the white line along its mouth, is first described as such in 1851.

While nothing was mouth-watering before 1822….

…. surprisingly a mouthwash is recorded in 1801.

Mouthpieces are seen as part of musical instruments as early as 1776, this later used to refer to one who speaks for another in 1805, and in a legal sense from 1857.

Hand Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'touch' last time and this time it's 'hand'.

Hand to mouth is first used as early as 1600

First hand (and also second hand) both seen in writing for the first time in the middle of the 15th century.

At hand, used in the sense of 'nearby' is first seen around 1300, but had been used for a century to mean 'soon'.

In hand, as in 'undercontrol', is first found around 1200.

On the other hand (and on the one hand, of course) is first recorded in 1630

Hands up first appears in print in 1863, meaning it is highly unlikely this phrase was ever used by highwaymen as they had had their day decades earlier.

Hand-to-hand fighting was not heard of until 1400.

Hand in hand was seen in 1500, but only in the literal sense of having hands clasped together, not until 1570 was it used to mean 'concurrently'.

Handrails may have been used before 1793, but it did not appear in writing until that year.

Hand jive, that seated dance which is far too energetic for the likes of me, debuted in 1958.

Freehand drawing must have been used since man first drew on cave walls, but nobody said so until 1848.

Hand grenade may seem like a modern-ish weapon, but any bomb thrown by hand was referred as such from as early as 1630.

Stagehands have only been employed since 1865.

Farmhands, remarkably, have only been known as such since 1835.

Handmade has been seen since 1610.

Handout, as in alms to the poor, first came into use in 1882.

Deckhands have been employed since 1839.

Hand me downs have been worn only since 1826.

Off hand, as in off the cuff, has been used since 1690.

Hell in a handbasket is, as we know, coming to us from across the Atlantic. is seen since 1867. Interestingly, the idea of going to heaven in a handbasket (ie easy passage) is first seen in 1853.

Handholds were not used before the 1640s.

Handstands were not performed before 1897.

Handbags were not sold until 1854.

Handguns have been known as such since the middle of the 14th century.

Handshakes have been known since 1801.

Note, as ever, the dates given are the first surviving written record. Even if that is the first written usage, the term would certainly have been in use prior to that in order to appear in print.

Touch Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'Dutch' last time and this time it's 'touch'.

Touch and go is a game similar to tag, first seen in 1812.

Touch football, a 'safe' form of American Football (to the British) where tackling is replaced by a mere touch and is first recorded in 1933.

Touch me not is an expression first recorded in 1590, it's a put down used to deter would be suitors.

Touch screen is first seen as early as 1974.

Touch up, and I'm using this in its earliest sense of 'improvement requiring little effort' is first seen in 1872; and if used in a painting sense, dates from 1715.

Touch wood (or knock on wood) dates from at least Celtic times 2,500 years ago.

Touchdown, the main scoring method in American Football, comes from 1864 and was borrowed from rugby where it is recorded five years earlier.

Touchstone, a fine-grained black quartz used for testing gold and silver alloys, is first seen in the late 15th century.

Touched, a term meaning 'stirred emotionally', is first seen in the middle of the 14th century.

Dutch Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'break' last time and this time it's 'Dutch'. Before coming to what turns out to be rather a longer list than I expected, it should be noted that none of these will have been in use before 1600. Furthermore, many of these will be seen as derogatory which is down to the trading conflicts between the English/British and the Dutch since the 17th century.

Going Dutch is where those dining in company pay for themselves.

If that's true I'm a Dutchman is a way of denying what was said. (Also: if not I'm a Dutchman - seeks to strengthen an argument.)

Dutch cure is to commit suicide.

Dutch bargains are settled over drinks.

Dutch auction is where the price starts high and steadily reduced until someone accepts the offer.

Dutch agreement is made when intoxicated.

Beat the Dutch is to exceed expectations.

Dutch collar is a horse collar.

Dutch comfort is to derive comfort by thinking things could be worse.

Dutch concert is to make a lot of noise.

Dutch courage comes from alcohol.

Dutch defence is no defence at all.

Dutch headache is more often called a hangover.

Dutch leaf might look like gold leaf, but it isn't.

Dutch leave when a military man is Absent Without Leave (AWOL).

Dutch gold is an allow of copper and zinc, it's what Dutch leaf (above) is made from.

Dutch oven is an enclosed cooking pot from around 1769, but there is also a later definition in which there are two people sharing a bed and one farts and pulls the covers over the other to give them the dubious benefit of the full experience.

Dutch nightingales are frogs.

Dutch reckoning is a high bill, especially one not itemised.

Dutch rub is when one rubs their knuckles firmly across the top of the head of another.

Dutch talent is best defined as more brawn than brain.

Dutch widow or prostitute.

Dutch wife is a long bolster pillow.

Double Dutch refers to one talking gibberish.

Dutch uncle is seen from 1838 and refers to a kindly figure but one who is straight-talking and strict.

Break Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'money' last time and this time it's 'break'.

Break even, in a financial sense, has been known since 1914.

The straw that broke/breaks the camels back began as an English proverb "It is the last straw which breaks the camel's back" which sounds much better to me. First seen around 1755, by the time it had become fixed (around 1830s) the phrase had undergone many changes. Different forms in the late 18th and early 19th centuries saw the camel replaced by a horse or an elephant.

Break bread, a phrase meaning 'to share a meal with', is not recorded before the end of the 14th century.

Break dancing is not recorded in print before 1982, although the dance style was known in the late 70s in South Bronx.

Break one's heart - it seems nobody had their heart broken, at least in print, before the end of the 14th century.

Gaol (Jail) break has been used since at least 1735.

Breakneck, earlier not just associated with speed but anything deemed hazardous, is first recorded in the 1560s.

Breakwater, that structure which produces a safe harbour by holding back the worst of the waves, is first recorded in 1721.

Break wind, fart if you prefer - and I did hear it on the BBC's Blue Peter (the word that is, not the fart) making it most certainly acceptable - did not appear in print until around 1550. Did people break wind before 1550? Yes, they just didn't refer to it as such.

Break the ice is not known before 1600.

Break a leg, the traditional theatrical way to wish someone good luck, is a tradition which is only from 1948, although that reference does suggest it was used since the 1920s. There is also a German version, which translates as 'break your neck and leg'.

Money Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'ball' last time and this time it's 'money'.

Your money or your life, is apparently how every highwayman in history confronted his (or her) victims. Yet it is not until 1774 that the first written evidence of the phrase is used.

In the money, describing someone as rich, originally referred to any competitor who finished a race or competition in a place where they won a prize and is first recorded in 1902.

Nobody put their money where their mouth was until 1942.

Money burned a hole in one's pocket as early as 1520, albeit correctly the phrase then included 'purse' instead of 'pocket'.

Money lenders were first recorded in 1765.

Money orders have been available since 1802.

Money maker is first seen in the 13th century when it really did refer to one who made (or minted) coin. By 1864 it had become used to refer to one who accumulates wealth, and the modern sense of 'to yield a profit' is first seen in 1899.

Money pit, something which swallows up cash as fast as it is thrown at it, is not recorded as a phrase until 1986 - the same year as a film of that name was released. The term had been used before, but in 1930 it was simply a pit found where a notorious pirate was held to have hidden his ill-gotten gains.

Smart money, cash used by those with prior information on a deal or bet, is first seen in 1926. However, the phrase is seen much earlier, for in 1760 it referred to money paid to buy the freedom of a recruit; and earlier still in 1690 it described cash paid to a sailor, soldier or other worker who had been disabled while employed.

Hush money, a bribe paid to get someone to keep their mouth closed on a subject, is first seen in 1709.

Ball Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'air' last time and this time it's 'ball'.

Ball of the foot dates from the 14th century and, unless your feet at very flat, there is a certain rounded shape to that part.

Ball point pen is first seen in 1946, and it does describe the pen rather well.

Ball of fire is not quite what you might think, for when first recorded in 1821 it referred to a glass of brandy; latterly used to refer to one who is highly successful in striving for success from around 1900.

On the ball, as in to perform rather well, is seen from 1912.

To keep your eye on the ball, which seems to me a rather wordy way to describe concentration, is first seen in 1907 and thought to be derived from golf.

To have the ball, an expression meaning to hold an advantage, is not particularly popular today but must have been when first recorded around 1400.

The ball was never in your court before 1956, although this tennis reference could well be much earlier as the name was played for centuries.

Ballcocks, useful in plumbing disasters to shut off the water, is a term used since 1790.

Puff ball, an accurate description of how this fungus distributes spores, has been found in print as early as 1640.

Stoolball, a game you probably have never heard of before, was an outdoor game similar to cricket. Played by women from the late 15th century, the 'stool' was the wicket and it seems likely the wicket used an actual stool.

Ball boy has been used to describe the laddie who retrieves tennis balls since 1896. Ball girls had to wait until 1953 before getting a mention, although girls were used from 1920.

Ballbearings are used to reduce friction in mechanisms, the term first used in 1874.

Ballrooms are designed for dancing, if you like that sort of thing, the term first documented in 1724. However, while we associate ballroom dancing with ballrooms, ballroom dancing is not recorded until 1872.

Mothballs, despite the very old and very bad joke, were used to deter moths from laying their eggs on our clothes. The term is first recorded in 1891.

And we can't go without giving some earliest dates for ball sports where, like football, 'ball' is a part of the name: football is found in a document from around 1400, and again in 1424 (where the reference bans the game); volleyball in 1896; racquetball from 1972; handball as early as 1885 (albeit a different game was also known as handball in the 15th century); basketball dates from 1892; and baseball from 1845.

Air Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'face' last time and this time it's 'air'.

Up in the air, to mean 'uncertain', is first recorded in 1752.

Castles in the air, a phrase referring to ideas which are impractical, dates back to 1590. The following century we also see the word 'airmonger', describing someone who dreams of such visionary and impractical projects.

On the air or being broadcasted, is seen for the first time in 1927. Airplay also made its debut in the same year.

Air pollution may have existed before 1870, but reference as that is seen prior to then.

Air guitar was not played by anyone before 1983, at least nobody called it that.

Air traffic controller is first seen in 1956, presumably air traffic was controlled in the three or four decades or flight before then, even if the job holder did not have that job title.

Hot air, describing someone boastful, is seen from 1900, although hot air balloons were described as such from 1813.

Open air, or outdoors, is recorded as such in 1520.

Air fresheners were not recorded as such until as recently as 1945.

Air lock, such as those used in submarines and spacecraft, is used as early as 1851 when, we assume, they still hadn't built a spaceship.

Air brake, it works on compressed air, is a term first seen in 1872.

Air mail, that is mail delivered by aircraft, is first seen in 1913 - that is just 10 years after the Wright brothers made their first flight in the aircraft named, rather unimaginatively, Wright Flyer.

Air bags, I would have thought, was a comparatively modern invention and would certainly have come after the car. And I would be correct, with the first air bags fitted as safety features in 1970. But this is nowhere near the first mention of an air bag, this came in 1836. In that time air bags were used to raise sunken vessels.

Airspace today is that part of the atmosphere above a country for which they claim responsibility. Not possible before aircraft you would think, but you would be wrong for that use dates from 1910. Prior to that 'airspace' referred to the volume of air inside a room, in particular when speaking of whether the room could comfortably house a certain number and was used for boarding rooms, hospitals, etc., and first seen in 1852. But there is an earlier reference from 1847, used to refer to the airspace between the powder charge and the projectile in firearms. And there is an even earlier reference, this dates from 1821. Airspace in those days referred to the air filling a stove or furnace.

Air brush, as a verb referring to touching up images, dates from 1902. Prior to that an air brush was a noun, an atomiser for spraying inks and paints.