TagIdiomatic expression

1661

1661 n. a woman who is said to look 16 years old from the back but 61 years old from the front; an older woman who dresses in fashions meant for young women. Editorial Note: Said as “sixteen-sixty-one.” This term is used regularly by...

Dionne Warwick

Dionne Warwick  n.— «If someone has had “a Dionne Warwick,” the listener should definitely try to be sympathetic as they have had a heart-breaking event. Warwick was famed for having written and sung Heartbreaker...

late train

late train n. post-election support for a candidate, especially when switching from a losing candidate to a winning one. Editorial Note: Common in constructions like “take/get on/board/catch the late train.” (source: Double-Tongued...

spit-take

spit-take n. an exaggerated or surprised reaction in which someone violently expels a mouthful of liquid. Editorial Note: Thanks to Margaret Lethbridge Çejku for suggesting today’s entry. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

have hair

have hair v. phr. (of a financial transaction or investment) to be less than ideal; to be risky; to have complications. Editorial Note: Two common meanings of “to have hair” well-covered elsewhere are “to be old” and...