etymology - Why do they call a murder a "red ball" case? - English ...
Jun 5, 2011 · The exact etymology of this phrase is uncertain, but it appears to be derived from railroad terminology, in which a red ball is a fast freight train which has priority over other trains …
Origin of the term "deadeye" meaning "expert marksman"?
CINCINNATI [Ohio], Jan. 18.—Edward Pettis, 17 years old, consumer of "Dead-Eye Dick" novels and would-be "bad man," rushed into the office of Stem, Heidman & Mehlhope, attorneys, in …
What is the origin of the phrase "playing hooky"?
Feb 14, 2024 · Google Books and Library of Congress matches for 'hookey' and related terms. The earliest Google Books match for "on his own hook" is from a letter from Gerrit Smith to …
expressions - A peek into the sausage factory - English Language ...
Jul 29, 2013 · How Ben Franklin avoided credit for shooting that particular elephant in his pajamas I'll never know. Oh, wait—he didn't. Another once-familiar expression that trades on the …
meaning - What's the origin of "flipping the bird"? - English …
The earliest use in print I found of the exact phrase "flip the bird" or "flipped the bird" or "flipping the bird" is from a 1967 Broadside (Volume 6, Issues 17-26).
Is there a specific name for that singular exhalation laugh that ...
Oct 21, 2023 · Stack Exchange Network. Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for …
slang - What is the etymology of "dope" meaning excellent, great ...
Jan 5, 2016 · Lighter, in particular, offers extensive coverage of dope as a noun, identifying instances of slang usage that go back almost 200 years and extend across two dozen distinct …
Is "Jack of all trades, master of none" really just a part of a longer ...
The expression also appears in Todd Grossman, Shooting Action Sports: The Ultimate Guide to Extreme Filmmaking (2008): Jack-of-All-Trades, Master of None. We've all heard that …
"Thus" vs. "Thusly" - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Nov 15, 2012 · However, a slightly earlier instance occurs in "Letter from Observatory Hill, Cincinnati," dated 'Xenia [Ohio], July 13, 1863,' in the Xenia [Ohio] Sentinel (August 25, 1863): …
grammaticality - Is it correct to use this expression in an email ...
Stack Exchange Network. Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their …