Only Phrases

Meaning
This phrase is used to refer to an incident or accident which makes the life unlivable. Usually this is used to state misfortunes like loss of virginity or rape.

Origin
In medieval periods it was used to show pity on women. It was believed that death is much better than loss of honor. The phrase was then used in Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire as under:

“The matrons and virgins of Rome were exposed to injuries more dreadful, in the apprehension of chastity, than death itself.”

Edgar Rice Burrough’ Tarzan of the Apes brought this phrase again in public memory in the year 1914

Meaning
This is used to indicate a very small part of the whole.

Origin
It was used in Bible as:-
“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.”

Meaning
This phrase is used when highest quality is offered.

Origin
In 1601 it is believed to be used in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

BRUTUS:
Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
Like wrath in death and envy afterwards;
For Antony is but a limb of Caesar:
Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar;
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
O, that we then could come by Caesar’s spirit,
And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,
Caesar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods…

Meaning
This actually was an advertising slogan for De Beers’ diamonds but now a days its used to state the importance of diamonds as jewelery.

Origin
in 1948, a diamond company called De Beers launched a campaign using this phrase as an advertisement.

The earlier version of this phrase was in Anita Loos’ book Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The exact lines were:
“So I really think that American gentlemen are the best after all, because kissing your hand may make you feel very very good but a diamond and safire bracelet lasts forever.”

Meaning
It is used for person who is very good hearted but hardly respects law and lacks the skills which are used to politely interact in social gatherings.

This phrase is also used for people who themselves don’t commit any crime but are in contact or know the ones who are criminals.

Origin
This phrase is believed to be first used by John Fletcher in A Wife for a Month in 1624

Meaning
This phrase is used for people who provide a wise judgment in a tricky situation depending on the past experiences

Origin
It is considered to be attributed with biblical character Daniel who possessed very fine powers of judgment. In 1596, this phrase was used in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.

SHYLOCK:
A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!
O wise young judge, how I do honour thee!

Meaning
This phrase is used in its literal sense for a person or thing which is seen more in the light of sadness than in anger.

Origin
This phrase is believed to be created by Shakespeare’s Hamlet in 1603. It was Horatio who described the looks of his father’s ghost to Hamlet

Hamlet: What, look’d he frowningly?
Horatio: A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

Meaning
This means that usually a team fails because of the weakest performer of that team. This proverb is more used because of its literal meaning and does not actually relates to the chain links. It usually applies to technical features or an individual to lay stress on what could be a possible cause of failure.

Origin
It is believed to be originated by Anne Robinson in UK’s popular TV show. This phrase was then used all over the world to convey the message that failure is because of your weakest point. it gained more momentum when in 1812 William Windham used this phrase in one of his Parliament’s speech.

“The strength of a chain, according to an old observation, was the strength of the weakest link.”

Meaning
A Clinched fist. The fives are the fingers and thumb held together

Origin
“With their bunch of fives.” is believed to be first used in Charles Westmacott’s, The English Spy in 1825

Meaning
It is best to accept a minor real reward than the opportunity of a bigger one.

Origin of this phrase
It is believed to be in use from 13th century though in a different form. Ecclesiastes IX – A living dog is better than a dead lion.

Another version of this came in the 16th century when John Heywood recorded “Better one byrde in hande than ten in the wood.”

The latest form of the phrase came into existence somewhere in the 18th century. It was a directory of British folk ballads – The Vocal Magazine: Or, Compleat British Songster, 1781. In this it appears in the lyric of a song entitled ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’.