toi-toi-toi: (an old European custom translated into words to wish you good luck). Saying toi (pronounce: toy) THREE times is derived from the custom of spitting three times over someone's shoulder for good luck. I guess it is easier to say toi-toi-toi than to actually spit.
Category: Colloquialisms
Here you will find “old wives tales”, superstitions and famous sayings. From “Three is the Magic Number” to language “hooks” like “of the people, by the people, and for the people. Definition: an informal word or expression which is more suitable for use in speech than in writing
beg, borrow or steal
Meaning: to do anything to get something. For example, "I would beg, borrow or steal that song because I love music so much."
ball of wax
Meaning: Everything. For example, "If we understand this we understand the whole ball of wax."
Continue reading ball of wax
lucky in love
Meaning: Having good luck in relationships. For example, "She is lucky in love because she has a new boyfriend already."
bite the bullet
Meaning: To adjust to unpleasant circumstances. For example, "The severe drought is forcing everybody to bite the bullet and use less water."
devil may care
Meaning: A free and careless attitude. For example, "He has a devil may care attitude when it comes to dating."
Lay an egg
Meaning: to make a mistake. For example, "Yesterday at the office I really laid an egg when I suggested that new company."
The three R’s
- reading
- (w)riting
- (a)rithmetic
Three-peat
Instead of doing it twice (repeat), it gets dome three times (three-peat).
Brew Ha Ha
I first heard this around 1974 on a Firesign Theater record, Lennon and Marx, in the skit Nick Danger, Third Eye. It went "What's all this breww ha ha?" Nick anawered "brew ha ha?" Then they went into laughter with ha ha ha.
I then heard it said regarding how Starbucks Coffee was causing a stir in the media by using quotations on their coffee cups. Brew ha ha was a clever play on words.
AWOL – absent without leave
Meaning: To leave without permission. A military originated term which is often shortened to AWOL. For example, "Joe left his post and is absent without leave.
Merry come
"Merry come, Merry leave, and merry come again."