Meaning of “Johnny on The Spot” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Johnny on The Spot Meaning Someone ready and available at the time needed. Origin The term appears in an article the New York Sun, April 1896 – “JOHNNY ON …
Meaning of “Jobs for The Boys” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Jobs for The Boys Meaning Favouritism where jobs or other patronage is given to friends and acquaintances. Origin The boys in this phrase means any group of men who …
Meaning of “Jimmy Riddle” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Jimmy Riddle Meaning Urinate. Jimmy Riddle = piddle. Origin Cockney rhyming slang. The term is mentioned in Partridge’s A Dictionary of slang and Unconventional English, 1937, where it is …
Meaning of “Jimmy Horner” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Jimmy Horner Meaning A corner. Origin Cockney rhyming slang.
Meaning of “The Jig is Up” Origin of Phrase with examples.
The Jig is Up Meaning You are caught, you are discovered, the deception is uncovered. Example The jig is up for Lisa. Her boss caught her doing work on …
Meaning of “Jerry Built” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Jerry Built Meaning Built in a makeshift and insubstantial manner. Origin The phrase has been around since at least 1869, when it was defined in the Lonsdale Glossary: “Jerry-built, …
Meaning of “Jam Tomorrow” Origin of Phrase with examples.
Jam Tomorrow Meaning Some pleasant event in the future, which is never likely to materialize. Origin This derives from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass and What Alice …
Meaning of “It Takes Two Fools to Argue” Origin of Phrase with examples.
It Takes Two Fools to Argue Meaning A wise man never argues with a fool – he knows there’s no sense in it. Example Arguing with a 2-year-old accomplishes …
Meaning of “It Never Rains But it Pours” Origin of Phrase with examples.
It Never Rains But it Pours Meaning When troubles come, they come together. Origin A proverbial phrase. The origin is unknown but the phrase itself was known by the …
Meaning of “It is That Man Again” Origin of Phrase with examples.
It is That Man Again Meaning The full title of the popular 1940s BBC radio comedy – ITMA. Origin The title derived from newspaper references to Adolf Hitler. The …