What would sandwiches be called if not for the Earl of Sandwich?

спрашиваетJoanna Witt · 1 ответ

I think we all agree that the sandwich is named after the 4th Earl of Sandwich John Montagu (1718-1792). However, why exactly he gave his name to the snack is less certain. It is Edward... Читать далее

Eleanor Maier7 лет3,3 K

Associate Editor, the Oxford English Dictionary.

What is the origin of the phrase 'for toffee', as in 'he can't write for toffee'?

спрашиваетJoanna Witt · 2 ответа

The colloquial phrase ‘not to be able to do something for toffee’ means to be incompetent at something, and the earliest evidence we’ve found for its usage is from 1896. That doesn’t mean... Читать далее