Take A Back Seat Meaning Take a subordinate or obscure position. Origin This phrase has a straightforward and literal derivation. It alludes simply to the back seats, of a …
Show A Leg Meaning An order for people to get out of bed. Example The captain woke the crew up in the morning by telling them to show a …
Shoe In Meaning A sure winner. Example Some stocks that seem like a shoe in turn out to be more like worn out sandals. Origin The commonly used spelling …
Shilly-Shally Meaning To dither and be undecided. Origin As is often the case with reduplicated word pairs, there is one word here that had a prior meaning while the …
Sex and Shopping Meaning A type of novel where the plot revolves around the affluent consumer lifestyle and sexual encounters of the characters. Origin This genre of novel, also …
Sent to Coventry Meaning Someone shunned by their fellow citizens and friends. Origin In the English Civil War, Birmingham was strongly Parliamentarian; the citizens were aware of a small …
See Red Meaning Become angry; lose self-control. Origin The colour red has many associations – heat, heated emotions and violence, communism, a sign of warning (as in traffic lights …
Saved by the Bell Meaning A last-minute rescue. Origin The most obvious explanation comes from a boxer being saved by the round-ending bell. A guard at Windsor Castle in …
Say Goodnight Gracie Meaning This was coined as the sign-off at the end of George Burns’ shows with his wife Gracie Allen in 1958. Origin Burns ended the shows …
Sacred Cow Meaning Something too highly regarded to be open to criticism or curtailment. Origin This term is an allusion to the Hindu reverence for cows. The first use …
