The idiom “draw first blood” is believed to have originated from the practice of hunting, where the first person to draw blood from an animal was considered to have made the first successful attack. It has been used metaphorically since at least the 17th century to describe gaining an initial advantage over an opponent. The phrase also has a strong association with boxing, where drawing first blood would signify scoring a victory over someone. Over time, it has come to describe any situation where someone gains an early advantage in a competition or conflict

What is the origin of the idiom "draw first blood" and when to use it?

to [draw] first blood

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The origin of the phrase can be traced back to horse racing. In horse racing, when a horse wins one race, the owner may enter it into another race in the hopes of winning again. If the horse wins the second race, it is said to have "gone one better" than its previous victory. The phrase eventually came to be used in a broader sense to refer to any situation where someone outdoes or surpasses a previous achievement. It has been used in this sense in literature and popular culture, and is still commonly used today.

What is the origin of the idiom "go one better than somebody or something" and when to use it?

to [go] one better than {sb/sth}

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The origin of the phrase "clean one's clock" is uncertain, but it is believed to have originated in the early 20th century in the United States. The phrase is used to describe a defeat or victory in a competition or conflict. The most widely accepted theory is that the phrase comes from the idea of winding a clock, which involves cleaning the gears and springs inside the clock to keep it running smoothly. In the same way, "cleaning someone's clock" means to defeat or subdue them, possibly by disabling their ability to function properly.

What is the origin of the idiom "clean one's clock" and when to use it?

to [clean] {one's} clock

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The origin of the idiom "ahead of the curve" is rooted in mathematics and statistics, specifically the concept of a curve on a graph. In statistics, a curve on a graph represents a trend or pattern, and being "ahead of the curve" means being positioned on the graph ahead of the trend or the norm. The phrase likely emerged in the 20th century in the context of business and finance, where it was used to describe companies or investors who were able to anticipate market trends and stay ahead of their competitors. Over time, the expression has come to be used more broadly to describe anyone or anything that is innovative, forward-thinking, or ahead of the times.

What is the origin of the idiom "ahead of the curve" and when to use it?

ahead of the curve

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The phrase "blow someone's doors off" originated in the 1950s in the United States, primarily in the context of car racing. In car racing, to "blow someone's doors off" means to pass another car with such speed and force that the other car's doors appear to have been blown off. Over time, the phrase has come to be used more generally to mean to defeat or outdo someone decisively or impressively. It is often used in a competitive context, such as in sports, business, or politics.

What is the origin of the idiom "blow one's doors off" and when to use it?

to [blow] {one's} doors off

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The origin of the phrase is unclear, but it is likely related to the idea of getting the better of someone, which dates back to the 1500s. The use of "best" instead of "better" in the phrase "get the best of" may have developed later as a way to emphasize the severity or completeness of the defeat. Overall, the phrase implies a competitive or adversarial relationship between the two parties, with one ultimately emerging victorious over the other.

What is the origin of the idiom "get the best of somebody or something" and when to use it?

to [get|have] the (best|better) of {sb/sth}

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The phrase is a proverbial expression that originated in the US in the late 1800s. The phrase is often attributed to American inventor and businessman Ralph Waldo Emerson, who allegedly said, "If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, though he build his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door." The actual origins of the phrase are unclear, and there are many variations of the quote attributed to different sources. Regardless of its origins, the phrase has become a common metaphor for the pursuit of innovation and excellence in modern society.

What is the origin of the idiom "build a better mousetrap" and when to use it?

to [build] a better mousetrap

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The origin of the phrase "have the edge over someone or something" can be traced back to the world of sports, particularly in horse racing and fencing. In horse racing, the term "edge" was used to refer to a horse that was considered to have a slight advantage over the other horses in the race. This advantage was often due to factors such as the horse's breeding, training, or previous performance. In fencing, having the "edge" referred to having the advantage of being able to strike the first blow, which was considered to be a significant advantage in a sword fight. It can be employed in sports, business, academics, or any other realm where competition or comparison exists.

What is the origin of the idiom "have the edge over someone or something" and when to use it?

to [have] (the|an) edge (over) {sb/sth}

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The idiom has its origin in baseball. It refers to hitting a baseball so hard and far that it goes beyond the boundaries of the baseball field, resulting in an automatic home run. The idiom has been adopted into everyday language and is often used metaphorically to describe a remarkable success, achievement, or accomplishment that exceeds expectations or surpasses previous achievements. It can be used in various contexts, such as in business, sports, entertainment, or personal achievements.

What is the origin of the idiom "knock someone out of the park" and when to use it?

to [knock|hit] {sb/sth} out of the park

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The origin of the phrase can be traced back to the early 20th century when automobiles were becoming more prevalent. When a car would drive down a dirt road, it would kick up a lot of dust behind it. If another vehicle was following too closely, it would be difficult to see through the dust cloud and could get left behind. Therefore, to "leave in the dust" became a popular expression to describe someone or something that was so far ahead that they couldn't even be seen in the dust cloud behind them.

What is the origin of the idiom "leave somebody or something in the dust" and when to use it?

to [leave] {sb/sth} in the dust

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The origin of this phrase is uncertain, but it is believed to have its roots in early sporting events such as foot races and horse races, where the winner would often cross the finish line well ahead of the other competitors, leaving them "standing" in their tracks.

What is the origin of the idiom "leave somebody or something standing" and when to use it?

to [leave] {sb/sth} standing

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The origin of the idiom "one jump ahead" is believed to be from the sport of horse racing where a horse that jumps over a fence or obstacle ahead of another is said to be "one jump ahead." Over time, the phrase has been used in a variety of contexts. It has become a popular idiom that conveys the idea of being one step ahead of the competition or having a strategic advantage.

What is the origin of the idiom "one jump ahead" and when to use it?

one jump ahead

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The origin of the phrase is unclear, but it may have originated from sports, particularly basketball, where players are often told to "step up" their game in order to win. Another possible origin is from the game of chess, where a player who is not doing well may be advised to "step up" their strategy in order to win. The phrase became more widely used in the 1990s and has since become a common expression in business, sports, and other fields where performance is important. It is often used as a motivational tool to encourage people to strive for excellence and push themselves to be the best they can be.

What is the origin of the idiom "step up one's game" and when to use it?

to [step] up {one's} game

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The origin of the idiom "be streets ahead of somebody or something" is believed to have originated in British English in the 1980s. The idiom means to be far ahead of someone or something in terms of skill, ability, or quality, with the implication that the difference is so great that it is like being on different streets.

What is the origin of the idiom "be streets ahead of somebody or something" and when to use it?

to [be] streets ahead of {sb/sth}

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Its origins date back to boxing in the early 20th century, where a boxer who threw the first punch had a significant advantage over their opponent. The term was then adopted into everyday language to refer to getting ahead of someone in a non-physical sense. It became popular in the 1920s and 1930s, particularly in the United States, and has remained in use ever since.

What is the origin of the idiom "beat someone to the punch" and when to use it?

to [beat] {sb} to the punch

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Its origins can be traced back to the sport of curling, where it referred to a shot in which all of the stones of one team were removed from play. By the early 19th century, the term had been adopted more broadly to refer to any situation in which one side had completely defeated the other. Today, it is used in a variety of contexts to describe a decisive victory or a thorough elimination of something.

What is the origin of the idiom "clean sweep" and when to use it?

clean sweep

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Its origin can be traced back to the 16th century, where the phrase "come out uppermost" was used with a similar meaning. The expression "top" has long been associated with success and victory, and is commonly used in sports to refer to the highest score or the ultimate goal. Over time, the phrase "come out on top" became a popular idiom used in various contexts.

What is the origin of the idiom "come out on top" and when to use it?

to [come] out on top

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The phrase "win the day" is a relatively modern idiom. Its origins can be traced back to the 1800s, when it was first used in military contexts to describe a decisive victory in battle. The phrase gained wider use in the 20th century, especially in sports and politics.

What is the origin of the idiom "win the day" and when to use it?

to [win|carry] the day

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The origin of the idiom "front runner" is believed to have originated in the United States in the mid-19th century. The term originally referred to a person who led a horse race from the start, holding the lead position at the front of the pack of horses in a horse racing competition. Over time, the term "front runner" came to be used more broadly to describe anyone who is in the lead or expected to win in a competition or election. The phrase is now commonly used in politics, sports, and other competitive contexts.

What is the origin of the idiom "front runner" and when to use it?

front runner

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The phrase "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat" originated from the Roman gladiatorial games, where winning gladiators who narrowly escaped death were said to have "snatched life from the jaws of death". Over time, the phrase has come to mean turning a situation around and winning after being very close to losing, and is now used to describe any situation where someone achieves success despite facing difficult circumstances.

What is the origin of the idiom "snatch victory from the jaws of defeat" and when to use it?

to [snatch] victory from the jaws of defeat

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The idiom "by a nose" is believed to have originated in the world of horse racing, where it is used to describe a victory that is achieved by the smallest of margins. In a horse race, the winner is typically determined by which horse crosses the finish line first. If two or more horses are very close, the winner can be determined by a photo finish, where a camera captures the moment when the horses cross the finish line. In this case, "by a nose" refers to the fact that the winning horse's nose has crossed the finish line just before the noses of the other horses. The phrase has since been used more broadly to describe any situation where a victory is achieved by a very small margin, such as in sports, politics, or business.

What is the origin of the idiom "by a nose" and when to use it?

by a nose

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The phrase likely dates back to the 19th century when gambling was a popular pastime, and people frequently used card-related expressions in everyday language. Over time, the phrase "have the aces" has been adopted in broader contexts to describe any situation where someone holds a position of power or advantage.

What is the origin of the idiom "have the aces" and when to use it?

to [have|hold] (all|) the aces

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Dive into English idioms regarding victory, like "draw first blood" and "clean sweep".

English Idioms for "Victory"