oh my goodness
An expression of surprise or shock
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oh my goodness gracious
An expression of strong surprise or shock
oh my gosh
An expression of surprise or shock
oh well
Expressing acceptance or resignation
Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet... (Rudyard Kipling)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
ohiah
Ohio
oi oi
A greeting.
oi oi saveloy
A greeting.
oignon vert
meter maid
oil and water
Things that do not mix or combine well
oil and water do not mix
People with different natures or interests cannot get along
oil burner
A person who drinks alcohol heavily
oil of gladness
I will anoint you with the oil of gladness; ironically spoken for, I will beat you.
oil of stirrup
A dose the cobler gives his wife whenever she is obstropulous.
oil trash
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
ointment
Medical student slang for butter.
old as the hills
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
old as the hills
Very old indeed. Hinc iliac lachrymfle (hingk il e lak' ri me) (Lat., "hence those tears." Terence, Andria, I, i, 99). This was the real offence; this was the true secret of the annoyance; the real source of the vexation.
Old Bags
John Scott, Lord Chancellor Eldon (1751-1838); so called from his carrying home with him m different bags the cases still pending his judgment.
Old Ballad
The Friar of Orders Grey. Hot cockles. See HOT.
old boots
A simile as general in its application as it is irrelevant. "Like OLD BOOTS" means like anything. "As cheeky as OLD BOOTS;" "As quick as OLD BOOTS," seem a little more reasonable, new boots being somewhat unfavourable to speedy locomotion.
old boy network
Informal connections and friendships used to gain advantage
old chestnut
An old, familiar, and often repeated joke or story
old codger
An old man.
Old Contemptibles
The British Expedi- tionary Force that crossed to France in 1914 and fought in the battle and retreat from Mons. The phrase originated in the alleged comment of the Kaiser about "the contemptible British army.
old dog
A knowing blade, an experienced person. Butler uses the phrase, Hudibras, part ii. canto iii. 208, where it was said of Sidrophel, "And was OLD DOG at physiology." An Irish proverb says, "OLD DOG for hard road," meaning that it requires an experienced person to execute a difficult undertaking.
Old Dominion
Virginia. Every Act of Parlia- ment up to the Declaration of Independence designated Virginia "the Colony and Dominion of Virginia." Captain John Smith, in his His- tory of Virginia (1629), calls this "colony and dominion" Quid Virginia, in contradistinction to New England, and other British settlements.
old enough to vote
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
old fart
an older person, often considered out of touch
old flame
A former romantic partner
old fogey
A person, typically older, who is perceived as being old-fashioned or conservative
Old Fogs
The 87th Foot, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, so called from the war-cry "Fag-an-Bealach" (Clear the way), pronounced Faug-a-bolla%h.
old friend
A person one has known for a long time
Old Glory
The United States Flag. See STARS AND STRIPES.
Old Guard
The Imperial Guard created by Napoleon in 1804 and composed of picked men, the flower of the French army. Devoted to the Emperor, with a magnificent uniform including a huge bearskin hat, with better pay and rationing than the rest of the army, the Old Guard were to be relied upon in any des- perate strait of battle, and it was they who made the last charge of the French at Water- loo.
old hand
An experienced person
old harry
A composition used by vintners to adulterate their wines; also the nick-name for the devil.
old hat
Something that is outdated or no longer interesting
old head on young shoulders
Someone with a mature and responsible attitude despite their young age
old horse
salt junk
old hoss
A term of endearment, originally an Americanism, but now in common use here among friends.
old lady in threadneedle street
The Bank of England.
old man
In American merchant ships, the master. The phrase is becoming common in English ships.
Old Man of the Mountain
Hassan-ben- Sabah, the sheikh Al Jebal, and founder of the sect called Assassins
Old Man of the Sea
In the Arabian Nights story of Sinbad the Sailor, the Old Man of the Sea hoisted himself on the shoulders of Sin- bad and clung there for many days and nights, much to the discomfort of Sinbad, who finally released himself by making the Old Man drunk. Hence, any burden, figurative or actual, of which it is impossible to free oneself without the greatest exertions is spoken of as an Old Man of the Sea.
old money
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
old mr
GORY. A piece of gold.
old nick
The Devil: from NEKEN, the evil spirit of the north.
Old Nick
The Devil. The term was in use in the 17th century, and is perhaps connected with the German Nickel, a goblm (see NICKEL), or in some forgotten way with St. Nicholas. Butler's derivation from Nicholas Machiavelli is, of course, poetical licence : — Nick Machiavel had ne'er a trick (Though he gives name to our old Nick) But was below the least of these.
old one
The Devil. Likewise an expression of quizzical familiarity, as "how d'ye do, OLD ONE?"
old pegg
Poor Yorkshire cheese, made of skimmed milk.
old ral
syphilis
old salt
An experienced sailor
old saw
a common proverb or saying
Old School
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Old School Tie
Literally a necktie of the colours of the wearer's public school, but more often used figuratively m a pejorative sense as a symbol of the class distinction allegedly assumed by those who went to a public school.
Old Scratch
Probably from the personal name (cp. Old Nick), but perhaps with some allusion to the word harry, meaning to plunder, harass, lay waste, from which comes the old harrow, as in the title of the 14th-century estrif, or miracle-play, The Harrowing of Hell.
old song
a familiar or tedious story
old stager
An experienced person, especially in a particular profession or activity
old stick
a close and loyal friend