Colloquialisms & Slang

[classic33]

and another military one

"hoist on his own petard"

Early artillery devices. They were as likely to explode shortly after lighting, catching the person setting the device.
Blowing the person up, hoisting them into the air.

 

[Accy cyclist]

'Smiling like a Cheshire cat'. Why a Cheshire cat? Do they have particular features that look like they're smiling and are Cheshire cats an actual breed?🤔

 

[Seevio]

'Smiling like a Cheshire cat'. Why a Cheshire cat? Do they have particular features that look like they're smiling and are Cheshire cats an actual breed?🤔

Yes and yes if you're as high as Lewis Carroll.

 

[classic33]

'Smiling like a Cheshire cat'. Why a Cheshire cat? Do they have particular features that look like they're smiling and are Cheshire cats an actual breed?🤔

Thank Lewis Carrol and his book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

 

[carpiste]

What is that cat looking at to make him smile so much???
And he`s pointing a finger at it!

 

[Profpointy]

Early artillery devices. They were as likely to explode shortly after lighting, catching the person setting the device.
Blowing the person up, hoisting them into the air.

I believe it was a bomb on a long stick which the suicidally brave petardier would carry up to the gate of the besieged building . He was "only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" but ideally not get "hoist by his own petard" in the process

I assume it was an existing expression, or at least known hazard before Shakespeare applies it to Rosencrantz and Guilderstern

 

[matticus]

I believe it was a bomb on a long stick which the suicidally brave petardier would carry up to the gate of the besieged building . He was "only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" but ideally not get "hoist by his own petard" in the process

I assume it was an existing expression, or at least known hazard before Shakespeare applies it to Rosencrantz and Guilderstern

This is another lesson for me! (I assumed a petard was a structure, maybe like a gallows?) Anyway, Wiki says:
A petard is a small bomb used for blowing up gates and walls when breaching fortifications. It is of French origin and dates back to the 16th century.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Fine words butter no parsnips

Just because someone promises something does not guarantee that he or she will do it.

 

[classic33]

Wang us one/Wang one our way.
Through me one.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

What is that cat looking at to make him smile so much???
And he`s pointing a finger at it!

@Accy cyclist in his boating blazer, shorts, and loafers

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Pardon my French

Used when apologising for swearing

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Don’t count your chickens

Don‘t make plans that depend on something which hasn’t happened yet.

 

[Baldy]

Getting down to the nitty-gritty.

Comes from the slave trade, the nitty-gritty were the poor folk on the bottom deck.

 

[AndyRM]

What is that cat looking at to make him smile so much???
And he`s pointing a finger at it!

Could be nonsense, but my English Lit teacher told me that the Cheshire Cat was so named because there are loads of dairy farms around Cheshire so the cat was permanently pleased. Always liked that.

 

[matticus]

Can anyone translate this (from another thread):

i've a good mind to bosh the shoot holes windows late one nigh