Origins

[Dirk]

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/top-dog.html

Thought so.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

My Grannie always used to say that it was a "lazy wind" when it was very cold and chilled you to the bone. Her explanation was that it was too lazy to go around you.
I think it was regional to the Rhonda Valley? or northern England?

Anyhow it is in the urban dictionary with the same explanation...
"It is as we say locally a ‘lazy wind’ meaning, it’s a wind that cuts straight through you, it doesn’t go round"

 

[classic33]

My Grannie always used to say that it was a "lazy wind" when it was very cold and chilled you to the bone. Her explanation was that it was too lazy to go around you.
I think it was regional to the Rhonda Valley? or northern England?

Anyhow it is in the urban dictionary with the same explanation...
"It is as we say locally a ‘lazy wind’ meaning, it’s a wind that cuts straight through you, it doesn’t go round"

Same expression used in parts of the West of Ireland, with the same meaning.

 

[Dirk]

One origin of the word 'Nonce', that I've seen, relates to segregated prisoners.

Not On Normal Communal Exercise.

 

[screenman]

On the rivet, I am sure you all know.

 

[srw]

One origin of the word 'Nonce', that I've seen, relates to segregated prisoners.

Not On Normal Communal Exercise.

And "posh" comes from Port Out Starboard Home, and "daffodil" from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.

Like most folk etymologies, probably not right.

 

[srw]

On the rivet, I am sure you all know.

On the Nail - Bristol's "Nails" on which deals were done.

 

[Salar]

"Saved by the bell"

People used to sometimes wake up after being buried alive ( scratches on unearthed coffins prove this).

Special coffins were made with a bell contraption which could be rung if you wake up and heard by graveyard workers.

 

[Tim Hall]

And "posh" comes from Port Out Starboard Home, and "daffodil" from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.

Like most folk etymologies, probably not right.

"Bacronym" is the word you're looking for. See also Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.

 

[srw]

"Bacronym" is the word you're looking for. See also Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.

Bacronym is the (horrible portmanteau) word for that specific kind of folk etymology, but folk etymologies in general (like many of the ones in this thread) are rarely right.

 

[srw]

I thought that came from boxing bouts.

It did. But there is a patent for a coffin with a bell.

[edit]

For instance: http://www.google.com/patents/US500072 or the modern equivalent, the coffin with mobile phone: https://www.google.com/patents/WO20...ved=0CEEQ6AEwBWoVChMIm5b2h8LYyAIViDIaCh3yYwiz

 

[nickyboy]

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

One way to determine the age (and thus value) of a horse is to inspect its teeth. So if someone gifts you a horse you don't need to assess its value so you don't need to look in its mouth at its teeth