Shorter Dictionary of Catch Phrases

Rosalind Fergusson

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2003
• ISBN:
  9781134856060
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Filología
• Subtopic: Idiomas

This collection will appeal to everyone who has ever wondered about the origin of phrases like "all part of life's rich pattern" and "long time no see". It covers a wide range of catch phrases in current use in all parts of the English-speaking world. Most entries are drawn from the second edition of Eric Partridge's Dictionary of Catch Phrases (second edition, edited by Paul Beale), but have been completely rewritten in the light of recent research, and there are many additions. Catch Phrases include: close your eyes and think of England! have I got news for you!... refreshes the parts that other... cannot reach some mothers do'ave'em! you are awful, but I like you.

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I ask you! that’s ridiculous, don’t you think?; an expression of incredulous or derisive disapproval, intensifying the statement to which it is appended, as in how do they expect us to believe that? I ask you! Climbing trees at his age! I ask you! The phrase may be of French origin, possibly dating from the mid-1850s; it has been used in English throughout the 20th century.

I believe you, (but) thousands wouldn’t an expression of disbelief, often implying, in a jocular way, that the addressee is a liar, as in ‘It was an accident, honestly!’ ‘I believe you, thousands wouldn’t.’ A catch phrase of the late 19th-20th centuries.

I bet you say that to all the girls a feminine response to a flattering or complimentary remark (especially one prompted by an ulterior motive); also used as a derisive counterattack. Since the mid-1920s or earlier.

I can take a hint (often preceded by all right, OK, etc.) an ironic response to a command or an unvarnished request to do something. Since the 1930s.

I can hardly wait ironically applied to an imminent and undesirable (or unexciting) occurrence, as in ‘They’ve invited us round to watch a video of their holiday.’ ‘I can hardly wait.’ Since around 1930. In the UK, the phrase I can’t wait is sometimes used instead, as in Noël Coward’s Present Laughter (1943): “‘She’s coming to the station tomorrow morning to see us off-you don’t mind, do you?” “I can’t wait.’”

I could care less a chiefly US variant of I couldn’t care less, perhaps influenced by such phrases as I should worry.

I could eat that without salt a masculine remark applicable to an attractive girl or young woman who happens to pass by. The phrase has been used in this way since around 1945, but may be at least two centuries older—in Jonathan Swift’s Polite Conversation (1738) occurs the line: ‘But pray, my Lady Smart, does not Miss look as if she could eat me without salt?’ See also you look good enough to eat.

I couldn’t care less an expression of indifference, lack of interest or lack of concern, as in ‘She won’t be pleased. ‘I couldn’t care less.’ Since around 1940. The phrase is also used with different subjects and in different tenses, as in Sydney Moseley’s God Help America! (1952): ‘Ordinary citizens “couldn’t have cared less!”—to use a cant post-war phrase current in England.’

I didn’t know you cared an ironic response to a critical or unpleasant remark; also used in the same circumstances as this is so sudden! Since around 1945. In the mid-1970s the phrase was used as the title of a television comedy series by Peter Tinniswood.

I do not wish to know that see I say, I say, I say!

I don’t mind if I do! yes, please!; an expression of enthusiastic acceptance, as in ‘Won’t you join us? ‘I don’t mind if I do!’ The phrase probably dates from around 1860 in this form; an earlier variant is I don’t care if I do! It was popularized by the UK radio series ITMA (first broadcast in 1939), as the stock response of the character Colonel Chinstrap to any remark that could be interpreted as an offer of a drink. The phrase had been used in similar circumstances many years earlier, in a Punch cartoon of 1880: Porter. “Virginia Water!” Bibulous old gentleman (seated in railway carriage): “Gin and water! I don’t mind if I do!”’

I don’t know! elliptical for ‘I don’t know what to say (or think)!’; spoken in a tone of exasperation or shocked surprise, as in really, I don’t know! Whatever will they think of next? Late 19th–20th centuries.

I don’t know much about art (or music, etc.), but I know what I like a remark that ranks as number one in Gelett Burgess’s list of ‘bromides’ (clichés or platitudes) in his witty monograph Are You a Bromide? (1906). It probably dates from the late 19th century. The phrase occurs in Max Beerbohm’s Zuleika Dobson (1911): ‘She was one of the people who say “I don’t know anything about music really, but I know what I like.’” Henry James used a similar phrase in his novel Portrait of a Lady (1881): ‘I don’t care anything about reasons, but I know what I like.’ The variant I don’t know much about…, but I know what I don’t like is also heard in modem usage.

I don’t know whether I’m Arthur or Martha I don’t know whether I’m coming or going; used by men or women about themselves or (with he or she in place of I) about anybody in a general state of muddle. Used in Australia since the 1950s or earlier. In the USA, the phrase Arthur and Martha sometimes has sexual overtones, used especially by sado-masochistic homosexuals.

I don’t mean maybe see and I don’t mean maybe.

I don’t think! reverses the preceding (usually ironic) statement or remark, as in very funny, I don’t think!; also used as an expression of scepticism or disbelief, as in she said it was an accident—I don’t think! Since around 1880.

I don’t wish to know that see I say, I say, I say!

I feel like a mushroom: everyone keeps me in the dark and is always feeding me bullshit a catch phrase of the 1970s–80s, of US origin. Similar sentiments were expressed in a catch phrase of the early 1940s: I’m always out of the picture, just clambering round the frame.

I forgot to duck said, by way of explanation, by somebody with a black eye or similar injury. The phrase is traditionally associated with the US boxer Jack Dempsey, who said to his wife after losing the world heavyweight title in 1926: ‘Honey, I just forgot to duck.’ It also featured in a music-hall comedy sketch, and was repopularized in 1981 by the US president Ronald Reagan, after he was wounded in an assassination attempt.

I guess you’re trying to tell me something an ironic response to a point clearly made, as in ‘Drop dead!’ ‘I guess you’re trying to tell me something.’ Since around 1965. See also are you trying to tell me something?

I had’em rolling in the aisles said by a comedian who has succeeded in making the audience laugh uproariously. Since around 1920. Variants include I had’em in the aisles and I laid’em in the aisles. The phrase rolling in the aisles describes an audience that is helpless with laughter, as in by the end of his act they were rolling in the aisles.

I have my agents I’m well informed in the matter; I have private sources of information; often used jocularly in reply to the question ‘How did you know?’ Since around 1939. Variants include I have my spies and my spies are everywhere.

I have to hand it to you see hand it to you, I have (or I’ve got) to.

I have to see a man about a dog see see a man about a dog, I have (or I’ve got) to.

I haven’t got a thing to wear a catch phrase generally used by women ‘I haven’t got a suitable outfit (for this special occasion) that I haven’t worn at least once before’. The phrase dates from the 1890s or earlier; in modem usage it is often said in jocular self-parody.

I haven’t laughed so much since my auntie caught her tit in the mangle I haven’t laughed so much for a long time; a reaction, for example, to the misfortune of somebody who is unpopular. A sick joke of the 20th century, current many years before sick humour became fashionable. Variants of the phrase substitute mother or grandma for auntie, and/or left tit or tits for tit Nicholas Monserrat’s The Cruel Sea (1951) contains the phrase‘… since Ma caught her tits…’.

I hear what you say I don’t accept or agree with what you have just said in full, but I take your point. (A variant substitutes note for hear.) The phrase may be an elaboration of I hear you, meaning ‘the remark you have just made is untrue or not worth answering’, which is of Scottish origin and dates from around 1905. (In US usage I hear you means ‘I understand’, which is gaining currency in the UK in the 1990s.)

I hope I’m not interrupting anything said, for example, by one who enters a room and finds a couple kissing or embracing, or in any apparently compromising situation. Since the 1920s. I hope I don’t intrude is an earlier form of the phrase, dating back to the 19th century.

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Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Foreword
• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
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• U
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