User User53019

12 votes

6 answers

53k views

Why does to "take a powder" mean to run away or to leave?

asked Mar 11, 2014 at 10:28

6 votes

2 answers

3k views

Why does the word "joed" mean weary, tired, exhausted, fatigued, etc.?

asked Mar 13, 2014 at 0:12

5 votes

2 answers

2k views

What is the origin of the idiom "tight fit" meaning a good joke?

asked Sep 28, 2013 at 17:28

4 votes

1 answer

1k views

Why were "skin" and "niggle" slang words meaning to hurry?

asked Mar 2, 2014 at 17:54

4 votes

2 answers

2k views

Where did the 1920s slang word "grungy" (meaning "envious") originate, if the modern word "grungy" (meaning "dingy") doesn't appear until 1965?

asked Jun 6, 2014 at 0:15

4 votes

4 answers

766 views

Why does the word gobs mean a copious amount?

asked Jun 15, 2014 at 18:13

3 votes

2 answers

434 views

Why does to "cheek it" mean to bluff?

asked Mar 11, 2014 at 10:13

3 votes

3 answers

401 views

How does the word "gas" relate to cheating and deception?

asked Mar 2, 2014 at 22:16

3 votes

3 answers

1k views

Why was someone considered mentally unbalanced or crazy called a "crackpot"?

asked Mar 15, 2014 at 22:13

3 votes

4 answers

10k views

If something is considered the best why is it said to be "the berries"?

asked Mar 15, 2014 at 22:17

3 votes

3 answers

44k views

How did the words "petting" and "necking" come to mean kissing with passion?

asked Mar 15, 2014 at 22:37

3 votes

3 answers

14k views

Why do the words ducky and jake mean fine or satisfactory?

asked Apr 6, 2014 at 15:58

2 votes

1 answer

435 views

Origin of the word Waddy and how it came to mean "unappealing, unattractive."

asked Jun 6, 2014 at 0:47

2 votes

1 answer

766 views

Why does owl-eyed mean intoxicated?

asked Jun 20, 2014 at 0:19

1 vote

4 answers

731 views

Origin of louse for the following: louse around--to idle and louse up--to ruin?

asked Jun 8, 2014 at 23:09

1 vote

1 answer

1k views

Rag and Razz--slang for teasing/ridiculing--which came first and what's the etymology of the words?

asked Jun 4, 2014 at 23:51

1 vote

5 answers

81k views

"How do you do"--what does it mean and when did most of society opt to no longer say it?

asked Mar 14, 2014 at 10:00

1 vote

1 answer

117 views

Why does "to wire" mean to trick?

asked Mar 4, 2014 at 0:23

1 vote

1 answer

159 views

Is an excessively shy person a "gussie"?

asked Mar 5, 2014 at 2:04

1 vote

2 answers

634 views

Why does 'pine feather period' signify the period in a woman's life when she blossoms?

asked Feb 23, 2014 at 20:35

1 vote

3 answers

266 views

Priscilla = a girl who prefers to stay home: who might this term have been based on?

asked Feb 24, 2014 at 10:43

0 votes

1 answer

3k views

Why does "all to the mustard" mean excellent?

asked Feb 24, 2014 at 11:25

0 votes

1 answer

2k views

Old slang words for a kiss--cherry smashes and honey cooler--why?

asked Mar 5, 2014 at 2:24

0 votes

5 answers

3k views

If you're "balled up" why are you confused?

asked Mar 14, 2014 at 10:06

0 votes

3 answers

2k views

Is a tin-ear one who dislikes music or one who dislikes new popular music? Why?

asked Mar 13, 2014 at 0:18

0 votes

1 answer

3k views

Why does the phrase "to take the rag off" mean to excel in the classroom?

asked Apr 13, 2014 at 18:57

0 votes

1 answer

1k views

Why does "mash me a fin" mean loan me/give me five dollars?

asked Jun 4, 2014 at 23:36

0 votes

2 answers

464 views

Why is a ragtail an annoying person?

asked Jun 8, 2014 at 22:06

0 votes

1 answer

1k views

If someone is "playing horse with you" why are they either teasing, ridiculing, or perhaps flirting with you?

asked Jun 20, 2014 at 0:26

Stack Exchange Network

29 Questions

Why does to "take a powder" mean to run away or to leave?

Why does the word "joed" mean weary, tired, exhausted, fatigued, etc.?

What is the origin of the idiom "tight fit" meaning a good joke?

Why were "skin" and "niggle" slang words meaning to hurry?

Where did the 1920s slang word "grungy" (meaning "envious") originate, if the modern word "grungy" (meaning "dingy") doesn't appear until 1965?

Why does the word gobs mean a copious amount?

Why does to "cheek it" mean to bluff?

How does the word "gas" relate to cheating and deception?

Why was someone considered mentally unbalanced or crazy called a "crackpot"?

If something is considered the best why is it said to be "the berries"?

How did the words "petting" and "necking" come to mean kissing with passion?

Why do the words ducky and jake mean fine or satisfactory?

Origin of the word Waddy and how it came to mean "unappealing, unattractive."

Why does owl-eyed mean intoxicated?

Origin of louse for the following: louse around--to idle and louse up--to ruin?

Rag and Razz--slang for teasing/ridiculing--which came first and what's the etymology of the words?

"How do you do"--what does it mean and when did most of society opt to no longer say it?

Why does "to wire" mean to trick?

Is an excessively shy person a "gussie"?

Why does 'pine feather period' signify the period in a woman's life when she blossoms?

Priscilla = a girl who prefers to stay home: who might this term have been based on?

Why does "all to the mustard" mean excellent?

Old slang words for a kiss--cherry smashes and honey cooler--why?

If you're "balled up" why are you confused?

Is a tin-ear one who dislikes music or one who dislikes new popular music? Why?

Why does the phrase "to take the rag off" mean to excel in the classroom?

Why does "mash me a fin" mean loan me/give me five dollars?

Why is a ragtail an annoying person?

If someone is "playing horse with you" why are they either teasing, ridiculing, or perhaps flirting with you?