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Where did the expression arm and a leg come from?
After the American Civil War, Congress enacted a special pension for soldiers who had lost both an arm and a leg. The phrase “cost an arm and a leg” begins to crop up in newspaper archives in 1901, referring to accidents and war injuries.
What is meant by the term an arm and a leg?
Definition of an arm and a leg informal. : a very large amount of money It’s a reliable car, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
What does it mean when someone say it cost an arm and a leg?
to be too expensive
Definition of cost an arm and a leg informal. : to be too expensive I want a new car that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Where did the term straight laced come from?
straitlaced or straight-laced adjective: Excessively strict, rigid, old-fashioned, or prudish. ETYMOLOGY: From Middle English streit (narrow), from Old French estreit, from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere (to bind, draw tight) + laqueus (noose). Earliest documented use: 1630.
Are a dime a dozen meaning?
So plentiful as to be valueless. For example, Don’t bother to buy one of these—they’re a dime a dozen.
What is the meaning of the idiom bring home the bacon?
Definition of bring home the bacon informal. : to earn the money that is needed to live He worked hard all week to bring home the bacon for his family.
Where does the saying in a pickle come from?
Origin. William Shakespeare is thought to be the first to use the idiom “in a pickle” in The Tempest. But he gave it a somewhat different meaning — in England, “pickle” actually refers to something close to relish, and one is “in a pickle” if they’re inebriated.
What is the meaning of Niminy Piminy?
affectedly refined :
Definition of niminy-piminy : affectedly refined : finicky.
What is the meaning of the idiom straight from the horse’s mouth?
From a reliable source, on the best authority. For example, I have it from the horse’s mouth that he plans to retire next month. Also put as straight from the horse’s mouth, this expression alludes to examining a horse’s teeth to determine its age and hence its worth. [
Does the arm have more bones than the leg?
The forearm and the lower leg have two long bones each. In the forearm are the radius—on the thumb side of the forearm—and the ulna; in the lower leg are the tibia (the shinbone) and the fibula. The radius corresponds to the tibia and the ulna to the fibula.
What does ‘it cost an arm and a leg’ mean?
To begin with, let’s explore the meaning of the phrase, “to cost an arm and a leg”. It refers to anything which is extremely expensive. Let’s consider this example: The coat had cost him an arm and a leg. To cost an arm and a leg. Well, it means it was very expensive. It cost so much money and it’s usually unexpected so we don’t usually expect a high bill for something.
What does arm and a leg mean?
What’s the meaning of the phrase ‘An arm and a leg’? A large, possibly exorbitant, amount of money.
Does it hurt to break an arm or a leg?
To answer the question, it depends on the brake and dislocation. Because while a broken arm might hurt worse the a dislocated ankle or a broken femur might hurt worse then a shoulder or knee cap dislocation. Hip and full knee dislocations, in most cases, hurt quite a bit more and leave much longer lasting impression.