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odd man out

A street or public-house game at tossing. The number of players is three or more. Each tosses up a coin, and if two come down head, and one comes tail, or vice versâ, the ODD MAN loses or wins, as may have been agreed upon. Frequently used to victimize a "flat." If all be alike, then the toss goes for nothing, and the coppers are again "skied." It is easy for two men to arrange matters beforehand at this game, and so swindle a third.

English Idiom Historical

odd-come-shortlys

I'll do it one of these odd-come-shortly's; I will do it some time or another.

English Slang Historical

oddfellows

A convivial society; the introduction to the most noble grand, arrayed in royal robes, is well worth seeing at the price of becoming a member.

English Slang Historical

odds

A phrase equivalent to "consequence;" "what’s the ODDS?" i.e., what is the expected result? "It’s no ODDS," i.e., of no consequence. ODDS, in sporting phraseology, refers to the proportions or differences of a bet. One bookmaker will lay ODDS of "six to one" against such a horse winning; whilst another, more speculative, or in the receipt of a first-rate "tip" (information about the horse in question) will lay "eight," or even "ten to one."

English Slang Historical

odds and ends

Various small, leftover, or miscellaneous items

English Word pair Candidate

odds and ends

Fragments, remnants, odd ends of miscellaneous articles ; bits and pieces of trifling value.

English Idiom Historical

odds and sods

Various small, leftover, or miscellaneous items

English Word pair Candidate

odds plut and her nails

A Welch oath, frequently mentioned in a jocular manner by persons, it is hoped, ignorant of its meaning; which is, By God's blood, and the nails with which he was nailed to the cross.

English Idiom Historical

of a

Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.

English Idiom Candidate

of a hare

A grate eye, a dry head, and well ren- nynge.

English Idiom Historical

of a kind

unique or one-of-a-kind

English Idiom Candidate

of a piece

Consistent or uniform in style or quality

English Idiom Candidate

of a woman

Fayre-breasted, faire of haire, and easy to move. Of a foxe, A fair taylle, short eers, with a good trotte.

English Idiom Historical

of age

old enough to have legal rights and responsibilities

English Idiom Candidate

of all loves

unexpectedly or surprisingly

English Idiom Candidate

of all people

used to express surprise that a particular person is involved

English Idiom Candidate

of all places

used to express surprise at something happening in a particular location

English Idiom Candidate

of all things

used to express surprise at a coincidence

English Idiom Candidate

of an

Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.

English Idiom Candidate

of an asse

A bygge chynn, a flat legge, and a good hoof.—Wynkyn de Worde (1496).

English Idiom Historical

of choice

preferred or most desirable option

English Idiom Candidate

of course

used to show agreement or confirmation

English Word pair Candidate

of course

Naturally ; as would be expected. A matter of course is something that belongs to ordinary procedure, or that is customary.

English Idiom Historical

of course my horse

Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.

English Proverb Candidate

of late

Recently or in the near past

English Idiom Candidate

of one mind

Completely in agreement

English Idiom Candidate

of sorts

To some extent or in a limited way

English Idiom Candidate

of such late wassailers

MILTON: Comus. Waster, wastrel. A good-for-nothing fellow; a prodigal, spendthrift.

English Idiom Historical

of the deepest dye

Completely or extremely

English Idiom Candidate

of the first water

Of extremely high quality or purity

English Idiom Candidate

of the first water

Of the highest type; very excellent. See DIAMOND. Smooth, or still, waters run deep. Deep thinkers are persons of few words; he (or she) thinks a good deal more than is suspected; silent conspirators are the most dangerous; barking dogs do not bite. A calm exterior is far more to be feared than a tongue-doughty Bobadil.

English Idiom Historical

of the same leaven

Having a similar nature or influence

English Idiom Candidate

of the same stripe

Sharing similar characteristics or tendencies

English Idiom Candidate

of two evils choose the least

English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.

English Proverb Candidate

of two evils choose the less

The proverb is given in John Hey wood's collection (1546), but it is a good deal earlier, and occurs in Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde (ii, 470) as — Of harmes two, the lesse is for to chese.

English Idiom Historical