What does the phrase see a man about a horse mean?
To see a man about a dog or horse is a British English idiom, usually used as a way to apologise for one’s imminent departure or absence, generally to euphemistically conceal one’s true purpose, such as going to use the bathroom or going to buy a drink.
What does off to see a man about a dog mean?
Excuse oneself without giving the real reason for leaving, especially to go to the toilet or have an alcoholic drink. For example, Excuse me, I have to see a man about a dog.
Where did the saying high horse come from?
The term high horse dates back to medieval times when it was used literally to describe a tall riding horse. The only men who could afford to own and ride great horses or high horses were men of wealth and power. Eventually, the phrase came to mean the attitude assumed by someone who could afford to ride a tall horse.
What does it mean when you call a guy a dog?
If someone calls a man a dog, they strongly disapprove of him. [disapproval] 4. countable noun. People use dog to refer to something that they consider unsatisfactory or of poor quality.
Where does the saying spend a penny come from?
Spend a penny means to go to the toilet, especially a public toilet. One usually is said to be going to spend a penny. The expression is derived from the fact that public toilets were installed in the United Kingdom in the mid-1800s that required a penny to be unlocked.
What does the word euphemistically means?
: the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant also : the expression so substituted.
What is meant by calling a person a donkey?
1 : the domestic ass (Equus asinus) 2 : a stupid or obstinate person.
What is a cat slang?
The word cat can refer to a spiteful woman and also a man. It can also be used to refer to someone who likes or plays jazz music. … Cat is also the slang word for a “catamaran” which is a type of boat/yatch.
What does short dogging mean?
British slang the practice of carrying out or watching sexual activities in semi-secluded locations such as parks or car parks, often arranged by e-mail or text messages.
What is meant by calling a person an elephant?
drunk; intoxicated. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Word origin. C20: shortened from elephant’s trunk, rhyming slang for drunk.
What do you mean by mules?
1a : a hybrid between a horse and a donkey especially : the offspring of a male donkey and a mare. b : a self-sterile plant whether hybrid or not. c : a usually sterile hybrid. 2 : a very stubborn person.
What is goat slang for?
Not many people can claim to be the G.O.A.T., but those who can are the Greatest Of All Time in their field. Most often, the acronym G.O.A.T.
What does it mean to be called a fox?
The definition of a fox is a small, wild canine with a red/brown/grayish fur and a bushy tail, or a deceitful person, or a woman who is very attractive. … An example of a fox is someone who is always tricking others. An example of a fox is a gorgeous woman.
What does a white elephant in the room mean?
If you say there is an elephant in the room, you mean that there is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences.
What do you mean by giraffe?
Definition of giraffe 1 or plural giraffe : a large fleet African ruminant mammal (Giraffa camelopardalis) that is the tallest of living quadrupeds and has a very long neck and a short coat with dark blotches separated by pale lines. 2 capitalized : camelopardalis.
What does it mean when a woman calls you a silver fox?
While silver fox is most often used to describe attractive, older men, it can also be used to refer to older women. Attractive older women, especially those who have refused to dye their naturally graying hair, are sometimes called silver vixen, such as Helen Mirren or Jamie Lee Curtis.
What does it mean to seal someone?
1 : to close tightly or completely to prevent anyone or anything from moving in or out. 2 : to put an official mark on. Other Words from seal. sealer noun.
Is Foxy a bad word?
People who are foxy are either sneaky or good looking. If you say someone is foxy, unless she has a long skinny nose and is stealing your eggs, you probably mean she’s hot.
What is a GREY fox man?
Fox is a word that has not just one positive anthropomorphized quality, but two: cleverness and attractiveness. A term with a more specific positive connotation is silver fox, generally meaning “an attractive middle-aged man having mostly gray or white hair.”
What do you call a good looking older man?
1 admirable, attractive, becoming, comely, dishy (informal, chiefly Brit.) elegant, fine, good-looking, gorgeous, graceful, majestic, personable, stately, well-proportioned.
What does clever as a fox mean?
Exceptionally clever, cunning, or shrewd, especially in devious or underhanded ways. He thought he was being cunning as a fox in the way he had been skimming money from the cash registers, but management caught up with him eventually.
How old do you have to be to be considered a silver fox?
A study has shown that men continue to increase in attractiveness until the age of 50. Their silver fox years are also their best years. Women, however, decline from the age of 18. These are the uncompromising findings of an analysis of tens of thousands of interactions on a major online dating site.