Meaning of “Ring of Truth” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Ring of Truth Meaning To be correct, to be true. Example I believe some of what Paul Martin says, but the part about reducing taxes doesn’t seem to have …
Meaning of “Ring-Fencing” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Ring-Fencing Meaning Separating something from usual judgement and guaranteeing its protection, especially the funds of a project. Origin This term has been in use since the 1980s to denote …
Meaning of “Right as Rain” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Right as Rain Meaning Completely correct, proper, sound and healthy. Example On the witness stand she appeared to be right as rain, but then she is an actress by …
Meaning of “Red Light District” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Red Light District Meaning A district in which houses of prostitution are numerous. Example Like a salmon swimming upstream to spawn, George makes his annual visit to the red …
Meaning of “Red Herring” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Red Herring Meaning A false trail. Origin This phrase refers to smoked herring. In many parts of 19th century Britain, such fish have a very strong smell and were …
Meaning of “Raze to the Ground” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Raze to the Ground Meaning To destroy and sweep completely away. Origin This, in a similar way to ‘bated breath’, causes confusion in its spelling. The source of these …
Meaning of “Rack Your Brains” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Rack Your Brains Meaning To rack one’s brains is to strain mentally to recall or to understand something. Origin The rack was a mediaeval torture device. The crude but, …
Meaning of “Rack and Ruin” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Rack and Ruin Meaning Complete destruction. Origin It might be thought that the rack in this phrase refers to the mediaeval torture device, as in the phrase rack one’s …
Meaning of “Rabbit and Pork” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Rabbit and Pork Meaning Talk. Origin ‘Rabbit and pork’, which is often shortened just to ‘rabbit’, is a nice example of Cockney rhyming slang. The first citation in print …
Meaning of “Quit your Belly Aching” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Quit your Belly Aching Meaning Stop complaining, bitching, or whining. Example Quit your belly aching and get a job. Origin Someone afflicted with a bellyache might do a bit …