May 7, 2011 · I've searched multiple dictionaries and Etymonline but the only origin for "flog" that I can find is: 1670s, slang, perhaps a schoolboy shortening of L. flagellare "flagellate." This clearly rela...

Jun 7, 2025 · Eric Partridge, Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, fifth edition (1961) has this entry: bishop, flog the. (Of men) to masturbate: low: late C. 19–20. Also bash the bishop (esp. Army). …

Dec 19, 2017 · Doubling back to Brockett's 1825 glossary, and an 1830 publication by Robert Forby (Vocabulary of East Anglia, a vocabulary which the title page advertises as having been collected in …

Oct 19, 2013 · I saw an article recently where the author used the term "flogging a dead horse" where the term flogging was meant in the UK slang sense of "to sell".It was accompanied by a drawing of a …

Jul 17, 2012 · I'm looking for an analogy for my repeated attempts to revive interest in a project. The phrase beating a dead horse almost fits the bill, but a dead horse refers to a subject that is no longer …

Q&A for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts

Feb 11, 2020 · What is the difference between screen shot and screenshot, Where do we use screen shot and screenshot? Are they used interchangeably?

Jun 3, 2012 · What is the correct abbreviation of engineer? In my organization, some of my colleagues use Eng. and some use Engr.

Dec 7, 2014 · Is there a saying like that? I'm thinking it's something along the lines of working something too hard. I don't want to attempt to word it because I'll most likely butcher it horribly.

Jun 30, 2011 · 0 I had a different idea about the saying "skinning cats." I thought it was about using the cat of nine tails in the British Navy. It meant there are many ways to flog someone.