Where does the phrase put a sock in it come from?
What’s the origin of the phrase ‘Put a sock in it’? This is a colloquial British phrase that originated in the early 20th century. It is generally used when someone is being so noisy as to annoy others. The imagery behind the phrases is that putting a sock in whatever was causing the noise would quieten it down.
What does put a sock in it mean in slang?
tell someone to stop talking
Definition of put a sock in it informal. —used to tell someone to stop talking I wish someone would tell him to put a sock in it.
Where does chewing the fat come from?
Chewing the fat is speculated to be something that was done at leisure by the North American Indians. Farmers in Britain would chew on pork fat when sitting idle or chatting with other farmers. It is also speculated to be an activity that sailors would do.
What does put a fork in it mean?
(idiomatic, informal) Used to indicate that something or someone is finished, or, in a broader sense, defeated or ruined.
What does a sock on a door handle mean?
When your college roommate places a sock on the doorknob, it’s a nonverbal warning that you should avoid entering because they are in the middle of having sex and don’t want to be interrupted.
What does chew the WAG mean?
“Chewing the fat” or “chew the rags” are English expressions for gossiping or making friendly small talk, or a long and informal conversation with someone.
What is chew the rag?
chew the rag in American English or chew the fat. Slang. to converse idly; chat.
What does put a cork in it mean?
to stop talking
Definition of put a cork in it chiefly US, informal. —used as a rude way to tell someone to stop talking and especially to stop complaining Why don’t you put a cork in it! I’m sick of your whining!
What does stick a pin in it mean?
If you tell someone to ‘put a pin in it’ or ‘stick a pin in it’, it means you’re asking them to hold onto that thought or idea to come back to it later.
What does a white towel on a door mean?
a need for help
The answer The towel is meant to signal a need for help. According to page 70 of the North Carolina Driver’s Handbook (what, you haven’t read this since driver’s ed?), “If you need help, tie a white cloth to the left door handle or the radio aerial and raise the hood of the vehicle.”
What does bloody mean in British?
Bloody. Don’t worry, it’s not a violent word… it has nothing to do with “blood”.”Bloody” is a common word to give more emphasis to the sentence, mostly used as an exclamation of surprise. Something may be “bloody marvellous” or “bloody awful“. Having said that, British people do sometimes use it when expressing anger…
What does biting the carpet mean?
Chew, or chewing, the carpet is not in the OED but it is in Jonathon Green’s Dictionary of Slang. Green describes it as being US slang from the 1950s and defines it as ‘to lose emotional control, to have a temper tantrum’.
What does the idiom up a creek mean?
In trouble
In trouble, in a serious predicament, as in If the check doesn’t arrive today I’m up a creek, or The car wouldn’t start, so I was up the creek without a paddle. This slangy idiom conjures up the image of a stranded canoeist with no way of moving (paddling) the canoe. President Harry S.