What does the saying keen as mustard mean?

Definition of (as) keen as mustard

What is the origin of the saying keen as mustard?

The phrase is first recorded in William Walker's exhaustively titled Phraseologia Anglo-Latina, or phrases of the English and Latin tongue; together with Paroemiologia Anglo-Latina, 1672: "As keen as mustard."

What is the saying as something mustard?

That's why, as early as the 1600s, hot/strong/keen as mustard was a figure of speech for something extremely powerful, passionate, or enthusiastic.

What does act the mustard mean?

Definition: To be sufficient for something; to be of high enough quality. People often use this idiom in its negative form, such as he doesn't cut the mustard.

What is the simile for as keen as?

Keen as arrows. Keen as a razor. Keen as a hawk. Keen as a sword.

Does keen mean smart?

A keen intellect is one that's sharp in the sense of being mentally strong. A keen desire is an intense one.

What is a simile with K?

K. as keen as a razor. as keen as hunger. as keen as mustard. as killing as a plague.

What does the term Bob's your uncle mean?

Definition of and Bob's your uncle

British, informal. —used to say that something is easy to do or use Just complete the form, pay the fee, and Bob's your uncle!

What does regular as clockwork mean?

phrase. DEFINITIONS1. very regularly. She's there every day at 9, regular as clockwork.

Where did the phrase pass muster come from?

pass muster, to

To meet a required standard. This term originated in the military and once meant to undergo review without censure. George Gascoigne used it figuratively in 1575: “The latter verse is neither true nor pleasant, and the first verse may pass the musters” (The Making of Verse).

What does cut the mustard mean fart?

3. rude slang To fart. I can't believe you cut the mustard in the car. Now we have to smell it all the way home!

What does beating around the bush mean?

to avoid giving a definite answer or position. Please stop beating around the bush and tell me the full story.

Why do they say fit as a fiddle?

The violin was picked out as the exemplar because of the alliteration of fit and fiddle, and because the violin is a beautifully shaped instrument producing a very particular sound. But then fit came to mean 'in good physical shape' and so fit as a fiddle came to mean 'in good condition physically'.

What does keen as a bean mean?

(as) keen as a bean (not comparable) (simile, informal) Very keen; enthusiastic; eager.

Where does deaf as a post come from?

The first simile has its origin in John Palsgrave's Acolastus (1540): “How deaf an ear I intended to give him ... he were as good to tell his tale to a post.” It has largely replaced deaf as an adder, alluding to an ancient belief that adders cannot hear; it is recorded in the Bible (Psalms 58:3–5).

What does the phrase light as a feather mean?

Extremely lightweight. This simile can be used to refer either to physical weight, as in This load is light as a feather, or to texture, as in This cake is light as a feather. [ Mid-1500s]

What does happy as a lark mean?

(simile, colloquial) Very happy (sometimes with the extra connotations of being carefree or unaware of grimmer realities). She's happy as a lark with her ten dollar pay raise, even though the long-term prospects for the business are not good.

What does it mean to be as blind as a bat?

Definition of (as) blind as a bat

: unable to see well at all : having very poor vision Without glasses I'm blind as a bat.

What is the meaning of as white as?

Very pale in the face, as in She was white as a sheet after that near encounter. This simile, dating from about 1600, survives despite the fact that bedsheets now come in all colors.

What does fannys your aunt mean?

A phrase with the same meaning is 'Fanny's your aunt'. When used together it means complete or the whole lot. If Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt you've got a full set of relatives and you are complete.

Why do we say Fanny's your aunt?

Used as a humorous response to the phrase "Bob's your uncle," which is used to emphasize how easily or quickly something can be done. Primarily heard in UK, Australia.

Where does happy as Larry come from?

Larry Foley was an australian boxer who never lost a fight. His last fight was in the 1870's, he was paid the vast sum of £1000 and won the fight - "hence as happy as Larry".

What is a good simile for my heart was racing?

Heart Racing or Heart Palpitations is a feeling as if the heart is fluttering or pounding. Both definitely cliché's, but also similes. Here's another simile: My heart pounds as if it were a train on the tracks.

What are some famous metaphors?

Famous metaphors

• “The Big Bang.” ...
• “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. ...
• “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” ...
• “I am the good shepherd, … and I lay down my life for the sheep.” ...
• “All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.” ...
• “Chaos is a friend of mine.”

What is the simile of Swift?

Swifter than the falcon. Swift as a sun-beam. Swift as the summer lightning. Swift as arrow.