Why do they say peter out?
Etymology. 1846 US miners’ slang, from 1812 peter (“to become exhausted”). Various speculative etymologies have been suggested, either from St. Peter (from the sense of “rock”), French péter (“to fart”), or saltpeter (ingredient in gunpowder, hence used in mining).
What is another word for peter out?
In this page you can discover 14 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for peter-out, like: dwindle, miscarry, fail, grow, taper-off, fizzle-out, increase, develop, poop out, run down and run out.
Is petered out an idiom?
Of all of the proposed derivations of the word ‘peter’ in the idiom ‘peter out’, the one that best stands up to scrutiny is the link to saltpetre (potassium nitrate). This mineral was a constituent of the gunpowder that was used as an explosive in mining and was also used to make fuses.
What is the meaning of fizzled out?
Fail, end weakly, especially after a hopeful beginning. For example, The enthusiasm for reform has fizzled out in this state. The word fizzle dates from the early 1500s and meant “to break wind without making noise.”
What is ebb slowly?
to flow back or away, as the water of a tide (opposed to flow). to decline or decay; fade away: His life is gradually ebbing.
What is the meaning of faded away?
to slowly disappear, lose importance, or become weaker: The voices became louder and closer and then faded away again.
Why do they say bought the farm?
What is meant by the phrase “bought the farm”? It comes from a 1950s-era Air Force term meaning “to crash” or “to be killed in action,” and refers to the desire of many wartime pilots to stop flying, return home, buy a farm, and live peaceably ever after.
What does flaking out mean?
to fall asleep
intransitive verb. 1 slang : to fall asleep. 2 slang : to be overcome especially by exhaustion — see also flake entry 2 sense 2.
What does palming me off mean?
phrasal verb. If you say that someone has palmed something off on you, you feel annoyed because they have made you accept it although it is not valuable or is not your responsibility. [disapproval] I couldn’t keep palming her off on friends. [
What does frightfully sorry mean?
1. frightfully – used as intensifiers; “terribly interesting”; “I’m awful sorry” awful, awfully, terribly. colloquialism – a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech. Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection.
What is a leery?
Definition of leery : suspicious, wary —often used with of leery of strangersShe seemed a little leery of the proposal.