Tagged Questions
1
vote
2answers
63 views
Evolution of “push somebody's buttons” and “know what buttons to push”
Colloquially speaking, "to push somebody's buttons" means to irritate or annoy the person. And, "know what buttons to push" means to know what to do to get people to act the way you want.
I can't ...
8
votes
1answer
219 views
What is the etymology of “todger”?
What is the etymology of "todger"? My Concise OED is rather vague:
ORIGIN 1950s: of unknown origin (also tadger)
"Tadger" is just listed as a "Variant spelling of TODGER"
Other references ...
4
votes
3answers
204 views
What does “flustrated” mean, and is it a word?
What does the flustrated mean? Is it even a word? I am using Lingea Lexicon and it doesn’t know this word, but the Internet is full of it.
I find myself hating people for using it both in English ...
4
votes
1answer
153 views
What is the correct way to write the interjection “ha ha?”
I had a hard time finding the English origin of this interjection and how it technically should be written. I am often ridiculed in written conversations, especially those that are informal, because I ...
3
votes
2answers
320 views
What are the origins for the phrases “Knock it off” and “Cut it out”?
When taken literally, the colloquial phrases "Knock it off" and "Cut it out" do not seem to mean "Stop what you're doing." How did these two phrases get their current meanings?
1
vote
1answer
142 views
Etymology of “What could (possibly) go wrong?”
What is the (likely) origin of the popular usage of the phase "What could go wrong?" or "What could possibly go wrong?" as a theatrical plot device or ironic commentary? Does this usage pre-date or ...
0
votes
3answers
248 views
Usage of third person form for first person
Recently, I discovered the following sentence in a Terry Pratchett book (which was not a typing error, since it appeared several times):
I sees what he's doing.
Presumably, the wrong usage of ...
9
votes
5answers
829 views
Etymology of “to be like” meaning “to say”
It seems that "to be like" is an informal phrase for "to say". E.g.
She was so angry, she was like "I'm breaking up with you", and I was like "I'm sorry", and she was like "Go away".
Is this a ...
10
votes
3answers
308 views
Is using “all” instead of “all used up” a regional thing?
My inlaws from Central Pennsylvania will say, "The milk is all" instead of "The milk is all gone". Another very common example, "Can you bring me some cookies?" "Sorry, the cookies are all". Anyone ...
0
votes
0answers
223 views
What defines a unique writing style? [closed]
I'm an amateur writer that happens to be a professional programmer.
I say this because I've recently jumped back into a personal research project in which the goal is to automate the de-anonymization ...
3
votes
2answers
264 views
Is there a connection between shy (adj.) and shy (v.) meaning throw?
Most British people probably best recognise the colloquial meaning of shy from the traditional fairground throwing game called the coconut shy but it is also occasionally used in everyday English.
...
5
votes
1answer
326 views
Origin and meaning of “strealish”/“streelish”
I've heard the word strealish (or streelish) used to describe someone with a lost or wan look or someone unkempt or untidy.
I know it's an Irishism, but what is the origin of the word and what did it ...
0
votes
1answer
312 views
Why do we say “… by [date/time]”?
What's the origin of the use of by to indicate at/on or before or no(t) later than?
Examples:
Best if used by 8/24/2011.
I'll be there by 6:30.
5
votes
3answers
835 views
Is the phrase “all to c**k” considered profane?
I occasionally use the colloquialism "all to cock" to mean "disastrously wrong". I've always thought it a benign phrase, but recently I've wondered whether the use of the word "cock" in this situation ...
8
votes
1answer
307 views
Where did this usage of “something” originate: “I need a nap something terrible”?
I need a nap something awful!
I know what this means, but I could never understand it: it's not easier to say, it's not more efficient, and it doesn't make sense! When was it started (and why)?
1
vote
0answers
90 views
Region-specific game names [closed]
I grew up in a small town in Eastern Kentucky, and we played a game called sookie (soak e). This game is very similar to dodge ball except that it is every man for himself. Adults taught us this game ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Where did the phrase “shut up” as an expression of disbelief or amazement originate?
I recently heard shut up used according to this definition in Urban dictionary.
shut·up (shuht-up)
--interjection
1. An expression of disbelief.
2. Amazement; astonishment.
I've only ...
23
votes
5answers
847 views
Origins: “try and” over “try to” — how did we get there from here?
In written and standard semi-formal (and above) spoken English, one would use "try to":
Try to be a better person.
Try to get the fishhook out of my thumb, please.
Try to find a pharmacy ...
4
votes
5answers
3k views
What is the origin of the phrase “to go apeshit”?
What is the origin of the phrase "to go apeshit"?
An example usage would be:
And then he went apeshit over the prize he just won.
Obviously there is a strong visual associated with an angry ...
12
votes
1answer
2k views
12
votes
2answers
5k views
Why is “guinea pig” used as the colloquial term for test subjects?
Why do we refer to people as guinea pigs when discussing the subjects of an informal experiment? Surely mice, rabbits and rats are much more common experimental subjects. Indeed, it's rare that you'll ...
