Idioms · 21 entries
Failure is certain if those on the same side argue amongst themselves.
Biblical.
USA. A late 20th century adaptation of ‘alpha male’, which emerged in the 1930s.
USA, 20th century.
Britain, 1980s
Britain. Probably coined by Sir Walter Scott, 1815.
USA, 2004.
Britain, 10th century, from a biblical source.
Britain, 18th century.
Britain, 19th century.
USA, 20th century.
Coined in the 1800s, in either the USA or Britain - no one is sure about the origin.
Britain - date uncertain.
Britain, 18th century, alluding to a marriage custom that goes back to at least the 13th century.
USA, 1920s. Derived from the name of the hero in the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Entry 1
Meaning Failure is certain if those on the same side argue amongst themselves.
Usage Widespread but uncommon. Rather formal for everyday speech.
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Entry 2
Meaning An ambitious mother who aims to excel at work while raising children.
Usage Worldwide, but more in the USA than elsewhere.
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Entry 3
Meaning Confusion or forgetfulness caused by lack of sleep when caring for a new-born.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 4
Meaning The protruding belly of a pregnant woman. Also used to describe the unborn child itself.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 5
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for sister.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 6
Meaning Family loyalties are stronger than those to other people.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 7
Meaning Slogan of breastfeeding campaign.
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Entry 8
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for daughter.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 9
Meaning An imaginary double, humorously referred to in order to explain the uncharacteristic bad behaviour of a normally moral person. Usually used light-heartedly. The expression formed as an allusion to plots in films involving actual evil twins.
Usage Worldwide, but mostly amongst the young and hip.
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Entry 10
Meaning 1 - One's family. 2 - the bodily stuff we are made of.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 11
Meaning Keep quiet. Say nothing.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 12
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for duchess.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 13
Meaning Colloquial term for a new-born baby.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 14
Meaning Time spent with a child, spouse or friend in an uninterrupted and attentive way.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 15
Meaning A rogue.
Usage Worldwide, but rather old-fashioned.
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Entry 16
Meaning The exact likeness.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 17
Meaning Get married.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 18
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for wife.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 19
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for sick.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 20
Meaning A derogatory term for a black man who is servile towards white men.
Usage Worldwide, but most common in the USA.
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Entry 21
Meaning Having been unable to find a long-term romantic partner.
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