Bomb Idioms

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

Bomb has had, at least for most of its existence, the one use as referring to an explosive – all related to Greek bombos and Latin bombus meaning ‘a deep, hollow, or booming sound’ and thus named from the sound the explosive made. But since the middle of the 20th century, ‘bomb’ suddenly took on other uses: from 1953 it referred to an old car; from the following year it meant entirely the opposite of ‘success’; then in 1961 we find it swinging back to its earlier usage with ‘a failure’.

Bomb is also used from 1966 to mean ‘travel quickly’.

Bombed is used as a slang term for ‘drunk by 1956.

The atomic bomb is first recorded in 1945.

Bomb-proof is seen for the first time in writing in 1702, that source being the Century Disctionary and so it must already have been in use. We also find ‘bomb-proof’ used as contemptuous slang for those who were never exposed to the dangers of war (for whatever reason) in 1755, that war being the US Civil War.

Bombshell, referring to the casing of the explosive, is first seen in 1708; the term is first used to express shattering or shocking news in 1859; and as a reference to a very attractive (particularly blonde) female by 1942. This latter reference is almost certainly a result of the film released in 1937. Originally entitled Bombshell, it was renamed The Blond Bombshell before release. Starring Jean Harlow, it is said to have been based on screen star Clara Bow.

Nobody carpet-bombed anywhere until 1945.

The firebomb, referring to an explosive designed to create a conflagration, is first referred to in 1895 although the term had earlier been used to describe a firework and also a cannonball. It is seen as verb from 1941 to describe a military aviation manoeuvre, and from 1945 to describe acts of vandalism or terrorism.

Dog Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'cat' last time and this time, rather predictably, it's 'dog'.

Surprisingly people were living ‘a dog’s life’ as early as 1600…….

….. and ten years later they were ‘going to the dogs’.

Prior to that, in the 1520s, we find the expression ‘dog cheap’, which is either rarely used today or has been largely replaced by ‘dirt cheap’.

In Greek, Roman and Indian cultures of antiquity, the worst throw in dice was known as ‘the dog’ – and the the luckiest player was known as the ‘dog killer’. The latter is probably seen in the Greek word kindynos which may be used to mean ‘danger’ but could be translated as ‘play the dog’.

Every dog has ‘had its day’ since 1550 – and not only do we know when but whom, for this was found in the correspondence of none other than Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1836 we find the expression ‘dog’s age’ referring to ‘a long time’.

The compertitive ‘dog eat dog’ is first seen in the 1850s.

The phrase ‘put on the dog’ is seen from 1934; used to mean ‘to dress one’s best’, it probably dates from the time when the stiff collar was known as the dog collar.

Dogged, in the sense of ‘persistent, obstinate’, is first used in 1779. Dogged had been used since 1300 in a derogatory sense to mean ‘surly, contemptible’; and two centuries later to mean ‘cruel, malicious’.

If you’ve heard someone complain ‘the dogs are barking’ when referring to their feet hurting, it comes from the rhyming slang ‘dog’s meat’ = feet; first seen in 1913.

Hotdogs were first served and named around 1890; although cartoonist Tad Dorgan had gone on record (and several times) saying he suspected this food item contained dog meat. It should be noted there has never been any suggestion this was why they were named.

Hot dog was also used to describe someone skilled (and knowing it) to the point of showing off by 1896; and ten years later as an expression of approval.

The long dry days of summer, known as dog days, get that name because of the position of Sirius in the night sky. Sirius being known as the Dog Star.

Dog-gone (said to be a more polite version of god-damned) appears for the first time in 1849.

Dog tag, the identity discs worn by some military, appears in 1918 and is thought to allude to the similarity between these and those on dog collars.

Sea dog is first seen at the end of the 16th century, but used to refer to a harbour seal. It is used to describe pirates from aroyund 1650, and old seamen and sailors from about 1823. Note in Middle English (pre-Tudor times) ‘sea-hound’ was the term used to describe both the walrus (which does go to sea) and the beaver (which doesn’t).

Nobody swam using doggy-paddle until 1860.

Dogs never wore a dog collar until the 1520s.

Cat Idioms

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

Cat’s paw from 1769 and cat’s foot from 1590, is a term derived from the folktale where a monkey (usually) convinces a cat to use its claw to remove chestnuts from a fire. Monkey gets chestnuts, cat gets a burned foot or paw.

Cat burglar is first coined in 1907.

Cat’s miaow or cat’s whiskers (and even cat’s pyjamas) is used to mean the same thing as ‘bee’s knees’, ie the very best, and seen from 1923. We can also find more obscure references, with the same meaning, such as canary’s tusks, cat’s nuts, dog’s bollocks, and flea’s eyebrows.

Cat witted is seen from the 1670s, and while now almost obsolete is worth mentioning for its meaning of ‘obstinate, spiteful’.

Nobody let the cat out of the bag before 1760, and seems to be a poor translation of the French Acheter chat en poche.

Fraidy cat may be more west side of the Atlantic than east, but worth noting it is first seen in 1816, and seems to have been coined by those descended from those brought to the Americas by slave traders. From 1906 the phrase ‘scaredy cat’ is also seen.

Kit-cat was a club founded by Whig politicians in London and named after Christopher ‘Kit’ Catling.

Schroedinger’s car is first coined in 1972, which is rather odd as the famous thought experiment by Erwin Schroedinger appeared in writing in 1935. Perhaps it took 37 years to open the box.

Cat bath, cat wash, or cat lick, all used to describe a wash (usually by a child) which is done merely to obey the parent and doesn’t really perform the ablutions as demanded.

Similarly cat-nap, where the sleeper isn’t really sleeping, is seen from 1823.

Cat-lap is seen from 1785, and today (albeit becoming obsolete) mostly used to refer to weak tea, although traditionally applied to any insipid beverage.

Wildcat has had no less five uses: from the 12th century as a surname; from the 14th century to refer to the undomesticated cat (usually said to be a Scottish Wild Cat); in the sense ‘savage woman’ from 1570; as ‘one who tends to act rashly (particularly with plans or projects) from 1812; and in the financial sense from 1838.

The catkin, the flower spike of trees such as the willow, is named for its soft, fluffy appearance and is seen from around 1570.

Dig Idioms

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

Dig is first used to describe an archaeological expedition in 1896.

Dig is used to mean a prod or poke (often with the elbow in the ribs) from 1819.

Digs is first seen as a slang term for ‘lodgings’ in 1893, but the term ‘diggings’ had been in use since at least 1838.

Whether I can include dugout or not is likely a matter of personal opinion, but I am because the dugout canoe is one of the earliest technologies (albeit not so much dug out as burned out) – however, not seen in print until 1722.

The dug out is also an area alongside the playing area where coaches, medical team, other players would be located during play. This sense is first seen in 1914.

Shindig is probably getting close to becoming obsolete, but for those who remember this reference to a party, dance, or lively gathering, it is first seen in 1821 – it is thought to have originally been used as ‘shinty’.

And on the subject of music, nobody ever used the slang term ‘dig’ to suggest they rather liked the latest musical offering until the late 1950s.

Egg Idioms

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

Bad egg is a phrase used for the first time in the figurative sense in 1855.

Nobody was described as appearing foolish with the expression ‘to have egg on one’s face’ until 1948.

Eggs Benedict did not appear on a menu (or a recipe book) until 1898 – might have been the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

Nobody was ever said to put all their eggs in one basket until 1875.

The first record of a person being ‘egged on’ or encouraged dates from as earlier as the beginning of the 13th century and came to English from Old Norse. Nobody was ‘egged on’ in the sense of being pelted with eggs until 1857, and a third sense of ‘covered or mixed with eggs’ is seen in culinary terms from 1808.

Eggnog is first recorded around 1775, ‘nog’ being an old term for ‘strong ale’.

Although the sandglass used to measure time has been known since at least the eighth century, they probably weren’t made from glass until the 14th century, and they were not referred to as ‘egg timers’ until 1873. Yes, I did wonder how they ended up with a soft-boiled egg before then. However……

…. they probably had soft-boiled eggs at that time, for egg cups were described by 1773.

Egg rolls, those pseudo-Chinese dishes invented by the Americans, is first described in 1917. I am told that modern egg rolls often contain no egg but cabbage instead.

Egg beaters must have been used before 1828, but not produced or known as such. From 1937 the same phrase was used as a slang term for the helicopter.

Nobody referred to an ‘egg white’ until 1881.

The eggplant, most often known as an aubergine in the United Kingdom, is first recorded in 1763.

Addle, a word meaning ‘to spoil, go rotten, putrid’, is first seen in the 1640s. However, this must have come from an earlier phrase of ‘addle egg’, as that is recorded as early as the middle of the 13th century.

Egg shells are not described as such until the early 15th century; although people were ‘walking on egg shells’ by 1734; used as a reference to something delicate and fragile by 1835; and the term was first used to describe a colour in 1894.

Job Idioms

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

Job lot is first recorded in 1832, but an earlier obsolete sense of ‘cartload’ and even ‘lump’ existed. Now this earlier sense probably has a different etymological trail (albeit the same root) in an early Germanic gob which, again, means ‘lump.

Job is used in the slang sense of ‘theft, robbery’ from 1722.

Nobody is recorded as being ‘on the job’ until 1882 – no, then it would have been describing someone hard at work; which is clearly the beginnings of your initial understanding. Let’s move swiftly on.

Job security appears for the first time in 1932 – predictably job insecurity followed four years later.

Nobody ever thought of job sharing until 1972.

Job hunting was not seen in print until 1928.

The phrase ‘job of work’ is first seen in a work by Trollope in 1873.

Job is also used in the sense of ‘to buy and sell as a broker’ in the 1660s.

Another sense of ‘job’ is seen from 1721, when the word described those dealing in their own stocks and shares rather than using a broker.

In 1903 ‘job’ became slang for ‘cheat, betray’ – and from the earlier use of the word to mean ‘the perversion of justice for one’s own benefit’..

I’m not going to say nobody had a blowjob before 1961 - although earlier it had been simply ‘to blow (someone) off’ and had been since 1933 – because blow jobs were used as military slang from the 1950s, as USAF pilots used this to describe their jet aircraft.

In the 1940s the phrase ‘hand job’ appears, but describes ‘a piece of work done by hand’.

A nose job, correctly rhinoplasty, is seen from 1948.

Nobody was jobless until 1892.

And from the 1680s, and now obsolete, comes jobation, which is defined as ‘a long, tedious scolding’. Here the term probably comes from the Biblical character Job, he seen as a patriarchal figure (and a very wealthy individual).

Elephant Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'silver' last time and this time it's 'elephant'. To see the elephant, an Americanism from around 1835, refers to gaining knowledge by experience.

Elephant jokes have only been told since around 1960. Of course I will – What wears glass slippers and weighs over three tons? (Cinderellephant)

Nobody bought a white elephant until 1851.

Elephantiasis is one of two diseases, normally by a thickening of a part of the body (usually the legs) or a wrinkling of the skin akin to that of an elephant – both seen from around 1580. Note the skin version is also known as Egyptian leprosy.

Elephantine, used to describe something very big, is first seen in the 1620s.

Oliphant is first seen in the early 17th century, not a reference to the animal but to its ivory tusk, while heffalump is first seen in A. A. Milne’s books from 1926, although we are never overly sure it is actually an elephant.

Silver Idioms

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

Silverware, ie articles made from silver, is first seen in the early 14th century.

Silver age was a term used to describe the years 18AD to 133AD and the literature produced during those years, it clearly wasn’t as good as the golden age which reigned for the previous 88 years.

Silver spoon in the literal sense is seen from the early 15th century, the metaphorical sense in referring to affluence is seen from 1719.

Silver hook may not be in general use these days, but from 1600 it was used to refer to anyone (or anything) can be lured if the potential prize is seen as worth it. Daniel Defoe wrote “The Golden Bait and the Silver Hook will catch Fish upon dry land” in 1708.

Silver bullet is a reference to a remedy so effective as to be almost magical, while weapons of silver have been lauded as guaranteed to defeat the foe since Greek times.

Silver lining, which as we all know every cloud has, is first recorded in 1843, when John Milton wrote Comus.

Silver star was a US military decoration from 1918, when a small badge was given to be worn on the campaign ribbon, then the medal itself was established on 8 August 1932.

Silver screen, a reference to the movie industry, is seen from 1924. However, the term had been recorded for the three preceding years and referred to the colour of the projection screens as the metallic paint gave a better result by being more reflective.

Quicksilver, an alternative name for mercury, is seen in late Old English cwicseolfor meaning ‘living silver’ as it is a liquid at normal temperatures and pressures. Thus this dates from around 1200 years ago.

Silverfish, that insect also known as the bristletail and which tends to eat paper, is recorded from 1855. References prior to that are simply generic terms for any fish.

Gold Idioms

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

The gold rush is first recorded in 1859.

The first gold medal for a winner was awarded in 1757.

Gold records were first awarded in 1948. Apparently it was awarded to Frankie Laine for his recording of That’s My Desire, it having sold a million copies. Remembering these were 78rpm recordings, a million pressings would represent over 98 tons in weight, around 15 African elephants.

Gold leaf is first recorded in 1727.

The metal was extracted from what was named as a gold mine for the first time in the late 15th century, and the phrase was later used to describe anything producing great wealth in 1882.

One who looks for gold in the ground is described as a gold digger in 1816, then 99 years later we find the phrase used to describe someone using their situation purely for financial gain.

The marigold, as in the flower, is first named as such in the late 14th century, prior to that it was known simply as a ‘golde’.

Goldfish are first described as such in the 1690s when they were first imported from China.

Goldfish bowl, a situation where a person has no privacy, is first used in 1935.

Goldilocks first appears in the Three Bears story in 1837 (in Robert Southey’s collection called The Doctor), but from 1540 it was used to describe a person with bright yellow hair, and from 1570 was another name for the buttercup.

A goldsmith, one who works in the metal, is first seen in Saxon times.

Back Idioms

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

Turning one’s back on someone (or something) appears in the early 14th century.

Nobody knew anything like the back of their hand is first recorded in the book Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson, pubnlished in 1893. In the late 19th century ‘the back of my hand to you’ is used in the context of ‘I will have nothing to do with you’.

Backdoors didn’t exist before the 1640s.

Back seat – you know that place where passengers sit when you’re driving – appears for the first time in 1923, but refers to those seated to the rear of a coach, while the term back-seat driver is first seen in print as early as 1923.

Back-formation, a term I use quite often when speaking on the origins of place names, refers to any word formed from an existing word and has been found since at least 1887.

Back beat is officially defined as ‘a strong beat regularly falling on a normally unaccented beat of a bar’ when it was first used in 1928 to describe jazz. Or, as John Lennon tweaked the words to Chuck Berry’s Rock and Roll Music ‘It’s got a back beat you can’t blues it.”

Back slang has rather fallen out of use in the modern era, but when first seen in 1860 it described words prounced backwards (or nearly so).

A ladder-back is a chair design seen from 1898.

Pullback is first seen in the mid-17th century when it described the action of pulling someone back, but from 1951 it was used to refer to an orderly military retreat.

Nobody offered their support by saying they would back them up before 1767, but the sense of back up used to describe such as a blockage in a pipe (or latterly traffic) is not seen until 1834.

Back down, as in withdraw a challenge or statement, is first seen in 1859.

Nobody suffered from back ache until the beginning of the 17th century.

Back-breaking is not used until 1849.

And nobody described a leatherback turtle as such until 1855.

Hand Idioms

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

Firsthand (also secondhand, etc) is first recorded in the 15th century.

At hand in its current use is first seen around 1300, but there is an earlier use from around 1200 when it meant ‘near in time’.

In hand is first seen in the early 13th century, while …..

Out of hand doesn’t make an appearance until 1590.

Hand over fist first appears in a document dated 1803, then used solely in a nautical sense.

On the one hand (and on the other hand) are first recorded in the 1630s.

Hand to hand appears around 1400.

Hand to mouth first recorded around 1500.

Hand in hand is also seen from around 1500, but was then used to mean ‘with hands clasped’, not until seventy years later did it gain the modern sense.

Hand it to (someone), when referring to an acknowledgement of another’s abilities, is recorded from 1906.

Handful in the modern sense of all that can be held in one hand, has been used since the 15th century. Prior to that the term used was ‘handbreadth’, which was also used for a linear measurement of about 4 inches. Having one’s hands full (as in busy) is first seen in the late 15th century.

Offhand is first seen in 1690 when used to mean ‘immediately’, shortly afterwards, in 1719, it is also used in its modern sense.

Right hand, when describing the hand, is first seen around 900, coming about as it was seen as the correct hand to use. Around 1200 the term is starting to take on the sense of that side. Later, in the 1520s, it is used to describe a close worker or assistant. And finally, around 1700, it is used to refer to a person’s dominant side.

Handbasket is seen from the late 15th century, when it referred to a basket held in the hand. The expression hell in a handbasket is first seen in 1867, and was probably born from the earlier (and now largely obsolete) heaven in a handbasket from 1853, which referred to an easy journey.

Nobody said they were drawing ‘freehand’ until 1867.

And nobody had handwriting until 1745 – which makes sense, as everything would be written by hand before the invention of printing.

The hand jive was created, and referred to, for the first time in 1958.

Nothing was ‘handmade’ until 1610, and for the same reason as the handwriting comment above.

Hand grenade is first seen as early as 1660.

Nothing had a handrail until 1793, or at least wasn’t described as such.

Street Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'road' last time and this time it is, perhaps predictably, 'street'.

Street people is a reference to the homeless seen from 1967, albeit ‘on the streets’ had been used since 1852, and the former used to refer to prostitutes from around 1728.

Street smarts, another Americanism, is first recorded in 1971.

Street credibility, today almost always abbreviated to ‘street cred’, has only been seen since 1979.

Street preacher is first seen in 1722, albeit originally referring to Methodists, or sometimes Quakers.

Street sweepers were not known as such before 1848.

Street wise is first recorded in 1951.

Street car, the American equivalent of the British ‘tram’, is first recorded in 1859.

Street walker is used tro refer to a prostitute from 1590, and twenty years later describes a pedestrian.

Backstreet has been used to refer to a route away from the more regular routes since the 15th century, and used in a derogatory sense for almost as long.

Road Idioms

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

Road test (of a vehicle) is first recorded in 1906, but not as a verb before 1937.

Road hogs, rather surprisingly, have been around since 1886.

However, road rage has only been seen since 1988.

Road maps have only been around since 1786, or at least the term has.

Road trip, still more often used in the USA but gaining popularity in Britain, was first used in 1950 but originally only of baseball teams. (Presumably when they were heading for an away game.)

Road runner, the Warner Brothers cartoon character dates from 1948, was first recorded in a document dated 1847. Of course the bird has been around for much longer – it is also known as a ‘long-tailed crested desert cuckoo’ or ‘the chaparral-cock’.

Nothing ran ‘off-road’ before 1949.

By-road (or side road as we would say in Britain) appears as early as 1670.

Post road, this a road on which there are stations used by post horses in a relay system to transport the mail, is first described as such in 1650.

The ring road, that which annoys so many when they are built on green belt land, is first seen in 1928.

Crossroad is first seen in the modern sense in 1808. Before then, and since the 1680s, it referred to a road which connects one main road to another. When roads were just tracks, a crossroad would be a single road with a marker on it showing where a meeting would take place.

Railroad is an American term and first seen in 1757 when referring to rails laid to allow heavy waggons to pass and used in mining operations. It was not applied to trains in the modern sense until 1825.

Roadkill is first seen in 1962.

Roadside is first seen in 1744, but not used as an adjective until 1810.

Roadblocks were not put up until 1940, prior to that they were known as something else – keep this in mind when the military in that First World War film put up a roadblock!

Roadwork is first seen in 1765 when it was used to refer to repairs or even making roads. This makes perfect sense as it coincides, more or less, with the turnpike roads. Surprisingly the sense of ‘to exercise’ comes as early as 1903.

To make inroads is first seen as 1540, when used to describe a hostile incursion.

Bread Idioms

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

Breadwinner is recorded as early as 1719, but the slang term ‘bread’ for money is not recorded before 1940. Clearly the latter comes from ‘breadwinner’, and a reference to bread being the staff of life. Note the Latin panis and French pain, both meaning ‘bread’, have a link to the English ‘pantry’ which was where bread was stored.

Bread an circuses, first seen in English in 1914, comes from the Latin where Duas tantum res anxius optal, Panem et circenes comments on how the ruling classes can keep the populace happy by providing them with food and entertainment.

Bread and butter, a phrase describing one’s most basic needs, is first seen in the 1620s.

Bread basket, aside from a basket to hold bread, is a slang term for the belly, first recorded in 1753. Slightly earlier, dating from around 1590, is another slang term for the belly in ‘pudding house’.

Monkey bread, which is not bread but fruit from the baobab tree, is first seen in a document dated 1789.

Breadwinner, the chief earner, is first seen in 1821.