meow
The conventional English representation of a domestic cat’s call.
Origin
Animal-call imitation.
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74 entries
Onomatopoeia
Bang, rustle, fizz, thud and other words whose sound helps perform their meaning.
49 historiesPhrase origins
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A small cabinet of curiosities
beep
A short, high-pitched electronic or mechanical tone.
Origin
Modern sound imitation.
howl
A long loud wailing sound made by wolves, dogs, wind or people.
Origin
Animal-call imitation.
beyond the pale
So unacceptable that it falls beyond recognised standards of behaviour.
Origin
From “pale” meaning a boundary or enclosed area, not specifically from one single Pale.
pass the buck
Avoid responsibility by transferring the decision or blame.
Origin
Nineteenth-century American poker slang.
codswallop
Nonsense; something considered absurd or untrue.
Origin
The true origin is uncertain. A popular story links it to Hiram Codd's bottle and 'wallop' for beer, but evidence for that neat tale is weak.