Phrase Finder

Idioms · 6 entries

Hair

What does "Hair" mean?

A day on which everything seems to go wrong.

A bad hair day

USA.

Caught by the short hairs (or short and curlies)

Britain, late 19th century. People assume this expression has a vulgar origin but, in fact, when coined the hairs referred to were those on the back of the neck.

Hair of the dog

England, 16th century.

Let your hair down

Britain, 17th century.

Syrup of figs

Britain.

The empty chair

Entry 1

A bad hair day

Meaning A day on which everything seems to go wrong.

Usage Predominantly in the USA but also more widely.

Example

  • I missed the bus and was late on the one day the boss was early and now I’ve laddered my tights! - talk about a bad hair day.

Pronunciation

Entry 2

Caught by the short hairs (or short and curlies)

Meaning Trapped by an opponent in a situation you can't escape.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I knew he had been stealing but he was the boss's son. If I said anything he would get me sacked - he had me by the short and curlies.

Pronunciation

Entry 3

Hair of the dog

Meaning An alcoholic drink, intended to cure a hangover. It is mistakenly believed that a small measure of the same drink that made a person drunk will sober them up and cure the drinks ill effects. The expression is also used in other contexts, whenever an additional dose of whatever caused a problem is thought to be an appropriate remedy.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I feel rough. I shouldn't have had those last six tequila slammers last night. Here goes another - maybe it will be the hair of the dog.

Pronunciation

Entry 4

Let your hair down

Meaning Behave in a free an uninhibited manner. Usually applied to women.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Its Sharon's hen party tonight - the girls are really going to let their hair down.

Pronunciation

Entry 5

Syrup of figs

Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for wig.

Usage Mostly Britain.

Example

  • That thatch on Donald Trump's head - it has to be a syrup.

Pronunciation

Entry 6

The empty chair

Meaning The perceived absense of someone who is recently deceased.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Some days I can forget about Jim's death for a while, then I see the empty chair and the grief comes back.

Pronunciation