| 单词 | to have a canary |
| 释义 | > as lemmasto have a canary P3. slang (originally and chiefly Irish English). to have a canary: to lose one's composure; to be extremely upset.Plausibly explained as a humorous play on coronary, but see also the comparable phrases to have kittens at kitten n. 3 and to have a cow at cow n.1 Additions. The much earlier literary malapropism of canary for quandary (used by Mistress Quickly in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor) is unlikely to be related. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > excitement > nervous excitement > be in state of nervous excitement [verb (intransitive)] to take ona1450 seethe1609 trepidate1623 to take on oneself1632 flutter1668 pother1715 to be upon the nettle (also in a nettle)1723 to be nerve all over1778 to be all nerve1819 to be (all) on wires1824 to break up1825 to carry on1828 to be on (occasionally upon or on the) edge1872 faff1874 to have kittens1900 flap1910 to be in, get in(to), a flap1939 to go sparec1942 to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964 faffle1965 to get one's knickers in a twist1971 to have a canary1971 to wet one's pants1979 tweak1981 1971 Irish Times 29 Apr. 13/4 The gallant fifteen of St Mary's, Are subject to sundry vagaries, When they play for the Cup, They so nearly slip up, Their supporters are having canaries! 1986 S. Gunnery We're Friends, aren't We? 68 He's grounded until he can collect his old age pension. Aunt Martha just about had a canary. 1997 L. Burrows in L. Holliday Children of Troubles (1998) iii. 296 My parents made it clear that they didn't approve and Granny nearly had a canary the night that Peter and Neil called at the door for me. 2006 Sunday Mail (Glasgow) (Nexis) 12 Feb. 78 Eck did it all under financial constraints that Advocaat, Walter Smith and Graeme Souness would have had a canary at. 2015 K. Miller Beauty & Werewolf viii. 81 I nearly had a canary watching you in there. < as lemmas |
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