Where does the phrase get on the horn come from?
: The horn is the phone. For example, people also say “I’m on the horn” during a call. I’m guessing that this nickname came from the shape of early receivers, which were roughly cylindrical with one flared end.
Simply so Why is a phone called the horn? when talking to someone on the telephone, one can say “while I have you on the horn”, where did horn come from. Horn is slang for telephone for the same reason “horn” is applied to loudspeakers, ear trumpets, powder horns, etc. All of them resemble animal horns, e.g., ram’s horns.
What does go around the horn mean? Definition. “Around-the-horn” describes a ground-ball double or triple play that starts with the third baseman and involves a throw to second followed by a throw to first. … After a strikeout with nobody on base, the catcher typically starts the “around-the-horn” exercise by throwing the ball to the third baseman.
also Where did sit tight come from? It will happen; just sit tight, do your job well and wait. Britain, 18th century. Probably an allusion to birds sitting quiet and still when threatened by a predator.
What does sweating bullets mean?
Definition of sweat bullets
: to be very nervous or worried I was sweating bullets while I waited to talk to my boss.
Where does the saying sweating bullets come from? To sweat bullets is to sweat profusely, with giant drops, but the phrase’s origin may be more complicated than the drops resembling bullets. The Word Detective believes the expression evolved from “sweating blood,” which refers back to Jesus’ fateful walk in the Bible.
What does 40 going north mean?
English translation: “The north forty” is a phrase used to descibe a 40 acre parcel of land on a large farm.
What does it mean wet behind the ears? wet behind the ears. Also, not dry behind the ears. Immature, inexperienced, as in How can you take instructions from Tom? He’s still wet behind the ears, or Jane’s not dry behind the ears yet. This term alludes to the fact that the last place to dry in a newborn colt or calf is the indentation behind its ears. [
Why do we say sweat like a pig?
But if pigs can’t sweat, why do we have the expression “sweat like a pig?” The term is actually derived from the iron smelting process in which hot iron poured on sand cools and solidifies with the pieces resembling a sow and piglets. Hence “pig iron”. … And that’s a “pig” you wouldn’t want to eat.
What is the meaning of the idiom shoot the breeze? to engage in casual or rambling conversation. The kids were shooting the breeze before the assembly.
Where does the word bullets come from?
The term is from Middle French, originating as the diminutive of the word boulle (boullet), which means “small ball”. Bullets are made of a variety of materials, such as copper, lead, steel, polymer, rubber and even wax.
What does it mean when someone says sit tight? phrase. If you sit tight, you remain in the same place or situation and do not take any action, usually because you are waiting for something to happen. Sit tight.
What is the origin of the expression Close but no cigar?
The expression, “Close, but no cigar” means that a person fell slightly short of a successful outcome and therefore gets no reward. … The phrase most likely originated in the 1920s when fairs, or carnivals, would hand out cigars as prizes. At that time, the games were targeted towards adults, not kids.
Where did the saying like white on rice originate?
Sources speculate that this expression originated sometime in the 1900s and saw a large increase in use post-1980. It comes from the color of rice. The color of rice, and rice itself, are so closely intertwined that they are inextricable. If you are on someone like white on rice, you are watching that person closely.
What does going north mean? The north is the direction which is on your left when you are looking toward the direction where the sun rises. … If you go north, you travel toward the north.
What is tickled pink? Definition of tickled pink
informal. : very happy or amused I was tickled pink to see her.
Does shake a leg mean?
a. to hurry up: usually used in the imperative.
What does Idolistic mean? When you’re idealistic, you dream of perfection, whether in yourself or other people. For example, you might have the idealistic goal of bringing an end to childhood poverty in the world. The adjective idealistic describes someone whose plans or goals of helping others are lofty, grand, and possibly unrealistic.
Do pigs eat their poop?
To answer the question in a single word, yes, pigs eat their own poop. Not just their own poop, either. Pigs will eat the poop of just about any creature if they’re hungry enough. It might seem gross to us, but to a pig, this is relatively normal.
Why do pigs play in mud? Pigs lack functional sweat glands and are almost incapable of panting. To thermoregulate, they rely on wallowing in water or mud to cool the body.
Can pigs eat humans?
And when they’re not either squealing or talking, pigs will eat almost anything – including human bones.
What does stay on your toes mean? informal. : to cause someone to be alert and prepared to deal with problems The boss made regular inspections in order to keep employees on their toes.
What does chew the fat?
Chat in a friendly, leisurely way, as in Let’s get together for coffee and chew the fat, or John and Dave spend hours just chewing the rag. Before the 1880s in Britain, chew the fat meant “to grumble or complain,” and chew the rag also has been used in this way.
What is the meaning of the idiom wild goose chase? Definition of wild-goose chase
: a complicated or lengthy and usually fruitless pursuit or search These errors had two fatal consequences.
What is a gullet?
Definition of gullet
1 : esophagus broadly : throat. 2 : an invagination of the protoplasm in various protozoans (such as a paramecium) that sometimes functions in the intake of food. 3 : the space between the tips of adjacent saw teeth.
How many bullets are in a pistol?
Although some single shot pistols exist, most pistols these days are semi-automatic handguns that load cartridges from a detachable magazine located in the grip. Unlike revolvers which are typically limited to up to six or seven rounds, modern pistols can carry up to 17 rounds in a magazine.
Why do we say bullet points? They are called bullet points because the little dot that starts each one is a punctuation mark called a bullet.