Where does the saying Codswallop come from?
A frequently given etymology, although widely rejected as a folk etymology, derives it from Hiram Codd, British soft drink maker of the 1870s, known for the eponymous Codd-neck bottle, with the suggestion that codswallop is a derisive term for soft drinks by beer drinkers, from Codd’s + wallop (“beer (slang)”) “Codd’s …
Where did all over the shop come from?
All over the shop was first recorded as British ‘pugilistic slang’ in Hotten’s Slang Dictionary of 1874 : to inflict severe punishment on an opponent was ‘to knock him all over the shop’.
What is a kerfuffle?
Definition of kerfuffle : a disturbance or commotion typically caused by a dispute or conflict In all the kerfuffle, nobody seemed to have noticed Harry, which suited him perfectly.—
What does it mean to be a bull in a china shop?
Definition of bull in a china shop : a person who breaks things or who often makes mistakes or causes damage in situations that require careful thinking or behavior.
What does the saying all over the shop mean?
phrase. If something is happening all over the shop, it is happening in many different places or throughout a wide area. [British, informal]
Where did bobs and bits originate?
Bits and Bobs also is English slang for a collection of small items too numerous or varied to name individually. It originated from carpenters’ tool kits containing parts for a drill, with bits used for making holes while bobs are routing or screwdriving drill attachments.
Is Galumph a real word?
Elephants galumph. Someone struggling to carry bags is galumphing. This word refers to movements that are neither quick nor graceful.
What is the meaning of like a red rag to a bull?
Definition of a red rag to a bull British, informal. —used of something that makes a person very angry Just mentioning his poor marks to him was like a red rag to a bull.
What does the idiom take the bull by the horns mean?
Definition of take the bull by the horns : to deal with a difficult situation in a very direct or confident way She decided to take the bull by the horns and try to solve the problem without any further delay.
Where did the phrase a load of codswallop come from?
The origin of the term ‘codswallop’ is unclear. The most widely quoted story is that of Hiram Codd, an English soft drinks maker during the 1870s, who developed a technique for bottling lemonade. This process involved the insertion of a glass marble as a stopper into the neck of the bottle.
When did the Oxford English Dictionary revise codswallop?
Revising codswallop, n. In 2005, the Oxford English Dictionary, together with the BBC, launched the Wordhunt Project: an appeal to the public for help in finding earlier evidence for fifty words and phrases of unknown origin.
Why is Codd’s Wallop considered to be nonsense?
Hence, it has been argued, ‘Codd’s wallop’ is a mere soft drink – something worthless, at least to the serious drinker, and hence the source of the extended meaning of ‘nonsense’. However, none of the early evidence lines up with this, and codswallop only ever has one D, so the OED panel’s view was that, unlike the bottle, this didn’t hold water.
Where did the term Xmas come from and why?
The abbreviation Xmas is based on the first letter – chi, which appears as X – followed by “mas”; a shortened version of Mass. There is an alternative theory that the use of Xmas stems from an attempt by some to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by removing the word Christ, but its use dates all the way back to the 16th century.