a sprat to catch a mackerel
A small investment or concession made in hope of a much larger gain.
English · UK & Ireland 608
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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.
a 1
First-rate, the very best; "she’s a prime girl, she is; she is A 1."—Sam Slick. The highest classification of ships at Lloyd’s; common term in the United States; also at Liverpool and other English seaports. Another, even more intensitive form is "first-class, letter A, No. 1." Some people choose to say A I, for no reason, however, beyond that of being different from others.
a buck of the first head
One who in debauchery surpasses the rest of his companions, a blood or choice spirit. There are in London divers lodges or societies of Bucks, formed in imitation of the Free Masons: one was held at the Rose, in Monkwell-street, about the year 1705. The president is styled the Grand Buck. A buck sometimes signifies a cuckold.
a scold's cure
A coffin. The blowen has napped the scold's cure; the bitch is in her coffin.
abel-wackets
Blows given on the palm of the hand with a twisted handkerchief, instead of a ferula; a jocular punishment among seamen, who sometimes play at cards for wackets, the loser suffering as many strokes as he has lost games.
abigail
A lady's waiting-maid.
abigail
A lady’s-maid; perhaps obtained from old comedies. Used in an uncomplimentary sense. Some think the term is derived from Abigail Hill (Mrs. Masham), lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne, and a typical ABIGAIL in the way of intrigue.
about right
"to do the thing ABOUT RIGHT," i.e., to do it properly, soundly, correctly; "he guv it ’im ABOUT RIGHT," i.e., he beat him severely.
abraham-man
A vagabond, such as were driven to beg about the country after the dissolution of the monasteries.—See BESS O’ BEDLAM, infra. They are well described under the title of Bedlam Beggars.—Shakspeare’s K. Lear, ii. 3.
abraham-sham
Or SHAM ABRAHAM, to feign sickness or distress. From ABRAHAM-MAN, the ancient Cant term for a begging impostor, or one who pretended to have been mad.—Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy, vol. i. p. 360. When Abraham Newland was Cashier to the Bank of England, and signed their notes, it was sung:—
abram cove
A cant word among thieves, signifying a naked or poor man; also a lusty, strong rogue.
absquatulate
To run away, or abscond; a hybrid American expression, from the Latin ab, and "squat" to settle.
accounts
To cast up one's accounts; to vomit.
acorn
You will ride a horse foaled by an acorn, i.e. the gallows, called also the Wooden and Three-legged Mare. You will be hanged.--See THREE-LEGGED MARE.
acres
A coward. From Bob Acres, in Sheridan’s Rivals.
act of parliament
A military term for small beer, five pints of which, by an act of parliament, a landlord was formerly obliged to give to each soldier gratis.
acteon
A cuckold, from the horns planted on the head of Acteon by Diana.
Adam Tiler
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
adam's ale
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
added to the list
A euphuism current among sporting writers implying that a horse has been gelded. As, "Sabinus has been ADDED TO THE LIST." Another form of expression in reference to this matter is that "the knife has been brought into requisition." "ADDED TO THE LIST" is simply a contraction for "added to the list of geldings in training."
addle pate
An inconsiderate foolish fellow.
addle plot
A spoil-sport, a mar-all.
addlepate
A foolish fellow, a dullard.
admiral of the narrow seas
One who from drunkenness vomits into the lap of the person sitting opposite to him. SEA PHRASE.
admiral of the red
A person whose very red face evinces a fondness for strong potations.
adrift
Loose, turned adrift, discharged. SEA PHRASE.
affidavit men
Knights of the post, or false witnesses, said to attend Westminster Hall, and other courts of justice, ready to swear any thing for hire.
affygraphy
"It fits to an AFFYGRAPHY," i.e., to a nicety—to a T.
after-clap
A demand after the first given in has been discharged; a charge for pretended omissions; in short, any thing disagreeable happening after all consequences of the cause have been thought at an end.
afternoon farmer
One who wastes his best opportunity, and drives off the large end of his work to the little end of his time.
aggerawators
(corruption of Aggravators), the greasy locks of hair in vogue among costermongers and other street folk, worn twisted from the temple back towards the ear. They are also, from a supposed resemblance in form, termed NEWGATE KNOCKERS, and sometimes NUMBER SIXES. This style of adorning the head is, however, fast dying out, and the everyday costermonger or street thief has his hair cut like any one else. The yearly militia drill may have had a good deal to do with this alteration.
agog, all-a-gog
Anxious, eager, impatient: from the Italian AGOGARE, to desire eagerly.
aground
Stuck fast, stopped, at a loss, ruined; like a boat or vessel aground.
ainsworth’s
(William Harrison) Novels and Ballads. London, V. D.
ain’t
The vulgar abbreviation of "am not," "are not," or "is not."
air and exercise
He has had air and exercise, i.e. he has been whipped at the cart's tail; or, as it is generally, though more vulgarly, expressed, at the cart's a-se.
akeybo
A slang phrase used in the following manner:—"He beats AKEYBO, and AKEYBO beat the devil."
albertopolis
A facetious appellation given by the Londoners to the Kensington Gore district. Now obsolete.
alderman
A roasted turkey garnished with sausages; the latter are supposed to represent the gold chain worn by those magistrates.
alderman
A half-crown—possibly from its rotundity. Also a long pipe.
aldgate
A draught on the pump at Aldgate; a bad bill of exchange, drawn on persons who have no effects of the drawer.
all holiday
completely wrong or mistaken
all hollow
Completely without substance or meaning
all my eye
A remark of incredulity made in reference to an improbable story; condensation of "ALL MY EYE AND BETTY MARTIN," a vulgar phrase constructed from the commencement of a Roman Catholic prayer to St. Martin, "Oh, mihi, beate Martine," which in common with many another fell into discredit and ridicule after the Reformation.
all nations
A composition of all the different spirits sold in a dram-shop, collected in a vessel into which the drainings of the bottles and quartern pots are emptied.
all of a hugh!
All on one side; falling with a thump; the word HUGH being pronounced with a grunt.—Suffolk.
all out
By far;—"he was ALL OUT the best of the lot." Old—frequently used by Burton in his Anatomy of Melancholy.
all there
Completely sane or normal
all to pieces
Utterly, excessively; "he beat him ALL TO PIECES," i.e., excelled or surpassed him exceedingly. Also a term much in use among sporting men and expressing want of form, or decadence. A boat’s crew are said to "go ALL TO PIECES" when they through distress lose their regularity. A woman is vulgarly said to "fall to pieces," or "tumble to pieces," when she is confined.
all to smash
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
all-a-mort
Struck dumb, confounded. What, sweet one, all-a-mort? SHAKESPEARE.
all-overish
Neither sick nor well; the premonitory symptoms of illness. Also the feeling which comes over a man at a critical moment, say just when he is about to "pop the question." Sometimes this is called, "feeling all over alike, and touching nowhere."
all-rounder
A shirt collar going all round the neck and meeting in front. Once fashionable, but little worn now.
alls
The five alls is a country sign, representing five human figures, each having a motto under him. The first is a king in his regalia; his motto, I govern all: the second, a bishop in pontificals; motto, I pray for all: third, a lawyer in his gown; motto, I plead for all: fourth: a soldier in his regimentals, fully accoutred; motto, I fight for all: fifth, a poor countryman with his scythe and rake; motto, I pay for all.
alls
Tap-droppings, refuse spirits sold at a cheap rate in gin-palaces.
almighty dollar
Money, especially when pursued at the expense of other values.
altamel
A verbal or lump account, without particulars, such as is commonly produced at bawdy-houses, spunging-houses, &c. Vide DUTCH RECKONING.