Where does the phrase works like a charm come from?

A charm was originally a magic spell in the form of a chant or verse recited to make something happen. Later the word came to mean an amulet.

Considering this, what does works like a charm mean?

work like a charm. Function very well, have a good effect or outcome, as in That knife-sharpener works like a charm, or Her deferential manner worked like a charm; he agreed to everything they'd asked for. This expression uses charm in the sense of “a magic spell.” [Mid-1800s] Also see work wonders.

One may also ask, what does worked a treat mean? 1. to be successful, or to operate successfully. I put a bit of oil on it, and it worked a treat.

Keeping this in view, what does it mean to work like a dog?

Working like a Dog. Simply put, this means to work extremely hard. Farm dogs work from sun-up to sun down, so they saying maybe referencing these hard working canines. However, day labor “grunt” workers have also been referred to as dogs (derogatory).

What is the meaning of hit the books?

hit-the-books. Verb. (idiomatic) To study, especially with particular intensity. They go to the beach when they should be hitting the books and then they wonder why they get bad grades.

Related Question Answers

What does it mean to have all your ducks in a row?

get/have your ducks in a row. to be well prepared or well organized for something that is going to happen: They should have had their ducks in a row beforehand, so they were ready to start the job when required.

What does it mean to mean business?

phrase. If you say that someone means business, you mean they are serious and determined about what they are doing. [informal] Now people are starting to realise that he means business.

Where did the saying work like a dog come from?

Simply put, this means to work extremely hard. Farm dogs work from sun-up to sun down, so they saying maybe referencing these hard working canines. However, day labor “grunt” workers have also been referred to as dogs (derogatory).

What does throw a dog a bone mean?

throw (one) a bone To attempt to appease or placate someone by giving them something trivial or of minor importance or by doing some small favor for them. (A reference to giving a dog a bone or scrap from a bigger portion of food.)

What does put on the dog mean in the South?

Put on (the) dog is an expression that means 'to make a display of wealth or importance, especially by dressing stylishly and flashily'. It's similar in meaning to the later expression put on the ritz.

What does it mean to die like a dog?

die like a dog, to To meet a miserable end. Actually, to lead a dog's life is no better, a fact pointed out about the same time that “die like a dog” first surfaced in print. In ancient Greek times dying like a dog was even worse because it signified being left unburied, a fate regarded with dread.

Why do we say worked like a Trojan?

work like a Trojan. To work very intensely for a long or continuous period of time, especially doing something thankless or menial. The boss had us working like Trojans to get the project ready on time. I worked like a Trojan the entire summer after high school to earn enough cash to buy my first guitar.

Why bark when you have a dog saying?

Why keep a dog and bark yourself. Don't do a chore that should be done by someone you hired to do it. A literal example of the expression would be a home owner who buys, trains, and maintains a guard dog, but stays up all night in case of intruders. ' [To which the woman replied] 'I won't keep a Dog and bark myself.

What does lie like a dog mean?

"to lie like a dog" to lie outrageously, boldly or brazenly.

What does run like the wind mean?

The phrase 'Run Like the Wind' means to run very fast. Example of Use: “She's very slight in build and she can run like the wind.”

Where does the expression sleep like a log come from?

Slept like a log This is a funny one, because as we know logs do not sleep. It is thought to have come from the early pioneer days in North America when lumberjacking was popular. These burly men would cut down trees with basic tools, such as band saws. The trees were then cut into big logs.

What does when pigs fly mean?

"When pigs fly" is an adynaton, a way of saying that something will never happen. The phrase is often used for humorous effect, to scoff at over-ambition.

What is tickled pink?

Tickled pink is an idiom that may not be as old as you think. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. Tickled pink is an idiom that means to be well pleased, to be amused, to feel great elation.

Why do we say hit the sack?

Before they went to bed, they would literally 'hit the hay' to make the mattress more comfortable and to make sure there were no bugs inside. The expression 'hit the sack' is thought to have originated from the sack that was stuffed with hay.

What is keep an eye?

keep an eye on someone/something. (also keep your eye on someone/something) to watch someone or something or stay informed about the person's behavior, esp. to keep someone out of trouble: Keep an eye on your brother while I'm out, please.

Will keep an eye on it meaning?

phrase. If you keep an eye on something or someone, you watch them carefully, for example to make sure that they are satisfactory or safe, or not causing trouble.

What is the meaning of zip your lip?

The meaning of Zip your Lip / Zip your Mouth Keep your mouth shut. Don't say anything (usually because it is a secret). Keep quiet about … (something. Again, often a secret).

Where does the expression hit the books come from?

In this phrase, hit means to start or to begin. Although no one knows the origin of the idiom “hit the books”, it seems to be related to early idioms such as “hit the trail,” which cowboys used when starting out on a journey. It's clear that this saying is a fairy contemporary one, probably from the mid-20th century.

What does the idiom hit the hay mean?

Hit the hay and hit the sack are two idioms that mean to go to bed. The assumption is that hit the hay and hit the sack come from the fact that mattresses used to consist of cloth sacks stuffed with hay. In the early 1900s, hit the hay came to mean to go to bed in general, wherever that may be.

What does drawing a blank mean?

draw a blank. informal. to fail to get an answer or a result: He asked me for my phone number and I drew a blank - I just couldn't remember it. Failing and doing badly.