Phrase Finder

Idioms · 16 entries

Euphemism

What does "Euphemism" mean?

The reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.

A fate worse than death

The United Kingdom.

All the way

USA, mid-20th century (with the sexual connotation)

Baby snatcher

Britain.

Bat from the pavilion end

Britain, 20th century. An allusion to the game of cricket.

Bought the farm

USA, 20th century.

Chasing tail

Comfort women

WWII

Discussing Uganda

Britain, 1970s. Popularised in the satirical magazine Private Eye.

Enhanced interrogation techniques

USA, late 20th century.

Excuse my French

Britain, mid 20th century.

Hobson’s choice

Britain, 17th century. Derived from the name of the carrier Thomas Hobson.

Kick the bucket

Britain - 18th century.

Mellow yellow

USA, 1960s. Referred to in the Donovan song of the same name, as ‘electrical banana’.

Silver threads amongst the gold

The bull in the bowler hat

Winter drawers on

Britain, early 20th century. A pun on the expression ‘winter draws on’ (that is, winter is approaching). ‘Drawers’ is a British slang term for knickers.

Entry 1

A fate worse than death

Meaning The reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.

Usage Worldwide, but now considered rather old-fashioned and used mainly by the older generation.

Example

  • Lord Carruthers dragged me to his bedroom and left me in no doubt I was to suffer a fate worse than death.

Pronunciation

Entry 2

All the way

Meaning Referring to something that is done fully, especially as a euphemism for full sexual activity.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I hear Jill's parents were away for the weekend so she and Jack took the opportunity to go all the way for the first time.

Pronunciation

Entry 3

Baby snatcher

Meaning Someone who enters into an amorous relationship with a much younger person.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Jerry Lee Lewis never really recovered from being labelled a baby snatcher after he married his 13 year old cousin.

Pronunciation

Entry 4

Bat from the pavilion end

Meaning Slang term for a homosexuality.

Example

  • If Julian didn't want us to know he was batting from the pavilion end he shouldn't keep wearing those lilac loafers.

Pronunciation

Entry 5

Bought the farm

Meaning Died, especially in a violent way which may give rise to an insurance claim.

Usage USA.

Example

  • Henry's parachute failed at 20,000 feet - he really bought the farm.

Pronunciation

Entry 6

Chasing tail

Meaning Of a man pursuing women.

Example

  • Jack is a borderline sex addict. He's certainly always chasing the tail.

Pronunciation

Entry 7

Comfort women

Meaning women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese in WWII.

Example

  • The Japanese called their prostitutes comfort women - nothing comfortable for them I think.

Pronunciation

Entry 8

Discussing Uganda

Meaning Euphemism for sex.

Usage Britain.

Example

  • Julie and Jack have been all over each other all evening and have gone upstairs. I expect they'll be discussing Uganda.

Pronunciation

Entry 9

Enhanced interrogation techniques

Meaning Euphemism for torture.

Example

  • The CIA might call water-boarding an enhanced interrogation technique - most people call it torture.

Pronunciation

Entry 10

Excuse my French

Meaning Please forgive me for swearing.

Usage Britain, mostly by the older generation.

Example

  • Bugger - excuse my French.

Entry 11

Hobson's choice

Meaning 1. A choice forced upon someone. 2. Cockney rhyming slang for voice.

Usage Worldwide, although mostly amongst the older generation.

Example

  • 1. There was only one room left in the hotel when we arrived, so we got Hobson's choice. 2. I've had a sore throat for a couple of days - now I'm beginning to lose my hobsons.

Pronunciation

Entry 12

Kick the bucket

Meaning Die.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Grandad kicked the bucket last week. No real surprise - he was 96.

Pronunciation

Entry 13

Mellow yellow

Meaning Dried banana peel, used as an intoxicant.

Usage Worldwide, as the song title although few are aware of the drug connection.

Example

  • He's tried everything else - grass, acid, speed, magic mushrooms. Now he's started on mellow yellow.

Pronunciation

Entry 14

Silver threads amongst the gold

Meaning Blonde hair that is turning grey.

Usage Worldwide, but rather old-fashioned.

Example

  • Thirty years ago Janine had strawberry blonde hair. These days she's going grey, or as she prefers to say silver threads among the gold.

Pronunciation

Entry 15

The bull in the bowler hat

Meaning Jokey term for artificial insemination.

Usage Mostly Britain.

Example

  • Leaving things to nature hasn't worked down here on the farm - only 10% of the cows are pregnant. We need a visit from the bull in the bowler hat.

Pronunciation

Entry 16

Winter drawers on

Meaning British euphemistic joke.

Usage Britain.

Example

  • Autumn is over and these summer clothes aren't keeping the cold out - winter drawers on I suppose.

Pronunciation