Related Words
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how?
for what? Used chiefly in New England, like the French comment? in asking for the repetition of some...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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so
is often improperly used for such, as in the phrase: Prof. W----, who has acquired so high distinct...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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be
(Ang. Sax. beo, 1st person sing. and 1st, 2d, and 3d plur. See Rask's Gram. p. 84), instead of am an...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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as
as, assis, m. (nom. assis, Don. ad Ter. Phorm. 43, and Schol. ad Pers. 2, 59; old form assārĭus, ii,...
A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.
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any how
At any rate, on any account, in any way. We have no confidence in cobble-stone pavement for Broadwa...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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how-come?
Rapidly pronounced huc-cum, in Virginia. Doubtless an English phrase, brought over by the original s...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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as good as go
In the phrase, I'd as good's go to New York, instead of "I might as well go to New York." "I'd as go...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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how fare you?
This is a common expression in those parts of New England for 'How do you do?.' It is pronounced sho...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to be driving at
'What are you driving at?' that is, what are you about? what object have you in view? A colloquial e...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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as good's go
In the phrase, I'd as good's go to New York, instead of "I might as well go to New York." "I'd as go...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to be among the missing
To be absent, to leave, to run away. There comes old David for my militia fine; I don't want to see...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to be on one's taps
is to be always ready on one's feet, literally on one's shoes; a metaphor borrowed from the shoemake...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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cold as presbyterian charity
I know not the origin of this saying, and am not aware that there is less charity in this sect than ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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sick as a dog
A common expression, meaning very sick at the stomach. He that saieth he is dog sick, or sick as a ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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hearty as a buck
A hunter's phrase, now in very common use. Well, how d'ye do, any how? So, so, middlin'. I'm heart...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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poor as job's turkey
A common simile. The professor is as poor as Job's turkey, if it wasn't for that powerful salary th...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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sick as a horse
'I'm as sick as a horse,' is a vulgar phrase which is used when a person is exceedingly sick. As a h...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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slick as a whistle
A proverbial simile, in common use throughout the United States. To do anything as slick as a whistl...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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sure as a gun
Absolutely certain. A common colloquial expression.--Brockett. There's luck, says auld Lizzy, in fa...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to see how the cat jumps
A metaphorical expression meaning, to discover the secrets or designs of others. We also say, in th...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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crooked as a virginia fence
A phrase applied to anything very crooked; and figuratively to persons of a stub-born temper, who ar...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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dead as a door nail
Utterly, completely dead. The figure is that of a nail driven into wood, and, therefore, perfectly i...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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mad as a march hare
A common simile, used alike in England and America. The whole's to be fourpence a quart-- 'Odswing...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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savage as a meat axe
Exceedingly hungry. This vulgar simile is often used in the Northern and Western States. "Why, you ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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straight as a loon's leg
is a common simile in New England. They were puzzled with the accounts; but I saw through it in a m...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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i don't know as i shan't
for I don't know but I shall. This uncouth expression, Mr. Hurd says, is very common in the eastern ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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not born in the woods to be scared by an owl
Too much used to danger, or threats, to be easily frightened. I just puts my finger to my nose, and...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.