Idioms · 23 entries
The reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.
The United Kingdom.
USA, mid-20th century (with the sexual connotation)
USA, 20th century.
Britain, 20th century. An allusion to the game of cricket.
WWII
USA, late 20th century. Previously referred to as ‘acquaintance rape’.
Britain, 1970s. Popularised in the satirical magazine Private Eye.
The precise origin is uncertain. Since the 1997 film of the same name, the expression has also been associated with full-frontal nudity.
USA, 1970s.
USA, 1940s.
Britain, 19th century.
USA, late 20th century.
Britain, late 18th century.
USA, mid 19th century.
USA, late 20th century.
Britain, 1980s.
Britain, 1960s
The idiom might be thought to be fairly modern but, in fact, its first use was in Britain in the 17th century. Before being applied to humans the expression was used to refer to dogs that had large ears.
Entry 1
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.
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Entry 2
Meaning Referring to something that is done fully, especially as a euphemism for full sexual activity.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 3
Meaning 1. A cat that lives wild in a town. 2. Slang term for a prostitute.
Usage Mostly USA
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Entry 4
Meaning Slang term for a homosexuality.
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Entry 5
Meaning Of a man pursuing women.
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Entry 6
Meaning women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese in WWII.
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Entry 7
Meaning The rape by a man of his partner on a date.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 8
Meaning Euphemism for sex.
Usage Britain.
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Entry 9
Meaning Everything possible. The whole thing.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
Entry 10
Meaning A person who adopts a deliberately androgynous appearance, by use of uni-sex make-up, hair-style and clothing. Probably influenced by 'bender' being an earlier slang term for homosexual.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 11
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for queer.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 12
Meaning To be easily successful, especially concerning sex or romance.
Usage Worldwide, but more common in the USA than elsewhere.
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Entry 13
Meaning Sexual intercourse between two people standing up.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 14
Meaning The inadvertent exposure of a womans nipple.
Usage Mostly USA and UK and not amongst the older generations.
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Entry 15
Meaning Someone who covertly observes sexually active or naked people.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 16
Meaning Indulge in a series of sexual relationships.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 17
Meaning The malicious posting of sexual images online to harm the reputation of an ex partner.
Usage Worldwide, but not amongst the older generations.
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Entry 18
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for fake.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 19
Meaning Jokey term for artificial insemination.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 20
Meaning Promiscuous woman.
Usage Mostly Britain.
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Entry 21
Meaning A woman's much younger male lover.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 22
Meaning The rhythm method of birth control.
Usage Worldwide.
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Entry 23
Meaning Said of a man with large genitals.
Usage Worldwide.
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