Idioms · 26 entries
Pictures are far more descriptive than words.
The United Kingdom - 17th century.
USA and Britain, in the 1980s
The United Kingdom adaptation of an Italian expression
Shakespearian, from Julius Caesar, 1601.
USA. An early 20th century adaptation of the name of the soup made from pasta letters.
Britain. Early (pre 1000AD) English, in the form of hold or keep one’s tongue.
America, 19th century.
USA, late 19th century. The misspelling of ‘chaise longue’ causes some amusement in France.
Britain, 17th century, although the precise source is unknown.
Britain, mid 20th century.
USA
The UK in the 19th century.
Britain, 18th century.
USA, 1930s.
Britain - 19th century.
USA, 20th century.
USA, 19th century. Probably deriving from an earlier British Navy source.
USA, mid 20th century.
Britain, 16th century.
Britain, 17th century.
Britain, 18th century.
Britain, 13th century.
Entry 1
Meaning Pictures are far more descriptive than words.
Usage A very widely and commonly used proverb/adage.
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Entry 2
Meaning Actions show one’s character more than what you say.
Usage Worldwide.
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Pronunciation
Entry 3
Meaning Eating one’s lunch while still working. (A Pun on ’Al fresco’.).
Usage Widely used, but mainly in the 30/40s generations who work in offices.
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Entry 4
Meaning In the open air.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 5
Meaning Incomprehensible, as Greek is to someone who cannot speak it.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 6
Meaning A jumble of words or letters, often referring to organisations known by their initials, like CIA or BBC.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 7
Meaning Avoid speaking.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 8
Meaning A question addressed to someone who is inexplicably silent. The implication is that the person's tongue is missing.
Usage Worldwide, but little used amongst the young.
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Entry 9
Meaning The American spelling for the piece of furniture known elsewhere as a chaise longue.
Usage USA.
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Entry 10
Meaning An unbelievable tale.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 11
Meaning Please forgive me for swearing.
Usage Britain, mostly by the older generation.
Example
Entry 12
Meaning Hear rumors about something from an anonymous informal contact.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 13
Meaning Make the precise correct point.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 14
Meaning In a few words. Concisely stated.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 15
Meaning An admonition not to swear.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 16
Meaning Keep quiet. Say nothing.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Pronunciation
Entry 17
Meaning Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn't want repeated.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 18
Meaning A story that has been told repeatedly and which has lost any originality.
Usage Worldwide, but most common in the UK.
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Entry 19
Meaning Something said in confidence that the one speaking is happy to have repeated.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 20
Meaning An instruction to shut-up or be quiet.
Usage Worldwide, if a little dated.
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Entry 21
Meaning A foul mouthed person.
Usage Worldwide, but not particularly common.
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Entry 22
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for talk.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 23
Meaning Eloquent or persuasive manner of speech.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 24
Meaning Said when someone that you have just been talking about arrives.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 25
Meaning Said when a storyteller doesn't want to bore his audience with a long involved account.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 26
Meaning An exact, precisely corresponding to, copy of another's words.
Usage Worldwide.
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Pronunciation