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.

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.