a sprat to catch a mackerel
A small investment or concession made in hope of a much larger gain.
English · UK & Ireland 17968
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Expressions you’ll hear in Britain and Ireland — distinctly British usage first, then widespread staples.
against the grain
Contrary to the natural inclination or feeling of someone.
all serene
All is well; a cry of acquiescence or approval.
apartments to let
The condition of being stupid or crazy.
back out
To reverse (a vehicle) from a confined space.
barber's clerk
An overdressed shopboy who affects the airs and graces of a gentleman.
bawdy-house bottle
A very small bottle.
bay fever
Any illness feigned by convicts to avoid being sent to Botany Bay.
bayard of ten toes
The feet, as a means of travelling.
beat around the bush
To avoid saying something directly; to approach a topic indirectly.
bellows to mend
out of breath
big house
Prison, jail.
billingsgate pheasant
A red herring or bloater.
birds of a feather
People with similar interests.
Black Maria
A police van for transporting prisoners.
black sheep
Shameful person.
blood-red fancy
A red neckerchief worn at prizefights to show support for a contender.
blow a cloud
To smoke a cigar or pipe.
blow out
To extinguish something, especially a flame, especially by means of a strong current of air or another gas.
blue Billy
The refuse ammoniacal lime from gas factories.
blue blanket
A rough overcoat made of coarse pilot cloth.
blue ruin
Low-end gin, usually home-made.
bone box
An ambulance.
bowl out
To take all the opponents' wickets (in whatever way) and thus end their innings.
brace up
To strengthen with bracing material.
break shins
To borrow money.
break the ice
To do or say something that relieves initial awkwardness and gets a conversation or event started.
Burdon's Hotel
Whitecross Street Prison, London, England.
butcher's mourning
A white hat with a black mourning hatband.
Caleb Quotem
A parish clerk.
caper merchant
A teacher of dancing.
carry coals to Newcastle
To do something pointlessly redundant — supplying something where it is already abundant.
cat and kitten sneaking
The theft of pint and quart pots and small pewter spirit measures from public houses.
chalk out
To draw or write down (something) using chalk.
chalk up
To achieve something.
chance the ducks
To take a risk.
cheek by jowl
Side by side.
chop and change
Change opinions repeatedly and abruptly.
chuck in
To give up, to quit.
chuck up
To vomit; throw up.
clean out
To clean, especially to tidy by removing the contents.
close the stable door after the horse has bolted
To take precautions only after the damage has already happened.
cock of the walk
One who dominates others within a group.
cock-robin shop
A small, disreputable printing office.
cold coffee
Misfortune; an unpleasant experience.
cold cook
An undertaker.
cold meat
One or more corpses, or people soon to be killed.
cold meat train
The last railway train of the night by which officers could reach Aldershot via the South Western Railway.
cold pig
The act of throwing cold water over a sleeping individual to wake them.
cold shoulder
To display aloofness and disdain.
common sewer
A communal session of drinking alcohol.
Covent Garden ague
A venereal disease; a sexually transmitted disease.
cracked up
Bankrupt; penniless.
crook one's elbow
To consume alcoholic drink.
curse of Scotland
The nine of diamonds.
daisy cutter
A well-struck ground ball.
dead horse
Tomato sauce.
devil's bed-posts
The four of clubs.
devil's delight
A riot; a row.
devil's dust
Any type of powder or dustlike substance whose use or effect is considered to be harmful or malevolent.