Wordwizard

Shelley! I am surprised at you, although it's nice to know that you would contemplate having a soak with something other than a dictionary. Let me know if you manage it with The Boss though, I would love to know where he put his guitar.

I wouldn't want to have a bath with stuff that was over 50 years old personally. New bottles are quite cheap in most supermarkets I find.

You might come across a Liverpudlian being called a SCOUSER as well, but it all comes from the stew.

Because Tim Henman’s name is Tim, and it is a well known alliteration. I don’t think changing your original lead post is at all fair on the people who take the time and trouble to answer you Frank. If you want to go in a different direction, fine, but from my own point of view I would much rather yo...

I should have explained more clearly. What I meant was that I can accept that the word came from the fish, but I am still convinced that the expression came from billiards. I am not a fisherman, I have not eaten a fluke, and as far as I know have never seen one. I reiterate that it is not a popular ...

Thank you all. I think we can safely keep the worshiping of idols out of the equation. In its most simple form, the argument was "can an unmarried person be an adulterer?" I said "Yes", Shelly says "Yes" and Ken says "Yes"; unfortunately, all of the definitions I have seen of the word are a bit wool...

The arguments have convinced me that the expression came from the fish, but I remain adamant that it came from billiards, even though I agree that latterly it is sometimes used to describe a chance accident good or bad

The curse. Although in truth I wouldn't mind betting that it was probably never mentioned.

This question is to settle an argument. If a married woman sleeps with a man that is not her husband, she commits adultery. But, if the man is single is he an adulterer or a fornicator? I am convinced from a long ago implanted memory that even if only one of the pair is married, both commit adultery...

My guess is that it comes from the expression "brass neck", which means arrogance, someone who will not be moved from a course of action. Simply put, someone who cannot turn his head.

Brassed off is a real expression, and quite common, it means fed up.

Sandals feminine masculine. Might I suggest that your spellchecker is a little under used Jay?

I don't think I can agree with your connection to the fish, Ken. It isn't a popular dish, and I can't see for the life of me why a dead fish can be considered lucky. It's a bit like people who carry a rabbit's foot as a lucky charm. I have always thought that it didn't bring a lot of luck to the rab...

I would say from billiards or snooker, where it means points scored for which the player did not aim. A lucky shot. I don't know whether it arrived fully formed from a dialect or something though. Snooker itself was developed in India, so it could possibly come from there.

Frank, A bit pedantic aren't we? Or should a blind man not say "See you soon", or should we not start a letter "It's good to hear from you" when someone has written to you? They are all manners of speech, and should not be considered as being even remotely literal.

I have been running this through my mind since it was first posted. I am pretty sure that I have never taken a decision in my life, but I have made thousands. The friends with whom I have mentioned it seem to think the same, so I wonder if it is a translators' thing. I don't know.