Where did nilly willy originate?
Q: The first citation for “willy-nilly” in the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1608. The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology says it’s a contraction of “will I, nill I” or “will he, nill he” or “will ye, nill ye.” The word “nill” is from the Old English “nyllan,” a combination of “ne” (no) and “willan” (will).
Is Willy Nilly slang?
Meaning of willy-nilly in English willy-nilly. adverb. informal.
What does the term Willie mean?
A boy’s or man’s willy is his penis. [British, informal] See give sb the willies.
Is Willy-Nilly an idiom?
1 do something whether you want to or not: She was forced willy-nilly to accept the company’s proposals. 2 do something in a careless way without planning: Don’t just use your credit card willy-nilly. This expression is a shortened form of ‘willing or not willing’.
What does Wiley niley mean?
in a disorganized or unplanned manner; sloppily. whether one wishes to or not; willingly or unwillingly: He’ll have to do it willy-nilly.
What is a Villy?
Proper noun Villy c (genitive Villys) A male given name, variant of Willy.
What does wellies mean in England?
Noun, slang: A name for a pair of rain boots. Short for Wellington boots. Primarily used in the UK, but recognized in other countries. Wellies are waterproof boots, most often made from rubber or a rubbery plastic.
What does Bow Wow mean in English?
the bark of a dog
1 : the bark of a dog also : dog. 2 : noisy clamor. 3 : arrogant dogmatic manner.
Where did brass tacks come from?
According to one, brass-headed tacks were used in the foundation of chairs, so when you went to reupholster them, the tacks were last things you “got down” to after removing the covering and stuffing. Hence, that’s when the craftsman was really getting to the heart of the matter.
Who wears the trousers meaning?
or to wear the pants. phrase. If one person in a couple wears the pants, or in British English wears the trousers, they are the one who makes all the decisions. [informal] She may give the impression that she wears the trousers but it’s Tim who makes the final decisions.
What is the dictionary definition of willy nilly?
English Language Learners Definition of willy-nilly : in a careless and unplanned way : in a way that does not allow any choices or planning See the full definition for willy-nilly in the English Language Learners Dictionary
Which is the correct spelling Wille we or Nill we?
There are many spellings in early citations, which relate to the ‘with or against your will’ meaning of the phrase – ‘wille we, nelle we’, ‘will he, nill he’, ‘will I, nill I’, etc. The expression also appears later as ‘nilly willy’ or ‘willing, nilling’, or even, in a later humorous version ‘william…
How old was willy nilly when he lived in the red farmhouse?
When Willy was two years old, he lived in a red farmhouse with a yard in front of it. One bright morning Willy’s mamma put on his straw hat, and sent him out in the yard to play. What Do “a.m.”
