"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."

Monday, 29 June 2009

Above-board

 
Above-board means open and honest. According to Dr Johnson it had its origins in card games where a player who let his hands drift below the table was probably changing his cards and therefore being dishonest. Those whose hands were visible all the time were above-board.
 

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