Origin of "as useful as a chocolate teapot / fireguard"
Uncertain. The mark impressed on a chocolate teapot with twisted reed handle, similar to Wedgwood ware; in the possession of Mr. T. Hughes, Chester. Whichever meaning Chaffers & Litchfield had in mind for the phrase chocolate teapot, it seems certain that this particular vessel was neither useless nor edible nor particularly easy to melt.
Does English have a version of "pouring water on a goose"?
Nov 12, 2020 · Pouring water on a duck to as useless as a chocolate teapot or to keep with the aquatic theme, a fish with a bicycle; it's pointless. Dunn's modesty is appropriate, as 'A needs a B like a C needs a D' was a well-established format in the USA many years before 1970; for example, this usage in the Connecticut newspaper The Hartford Courant ...
A phrase for something that has a lot of advantages but comes …
As per the example in the phrase itself, the problem is that you need to make some tea. At first glance, a teapot would be useful, as it is the proper vessel for brewing a good tea. However, as it is made of chocolate, it serves no use in actually making tea.
Origin of "queer as a clockwork orange" - English Language
Jan 9, 2017 · "queer as a chocolate orange' was in use as a slang phrase prior to its influnence on the title of Anthony Burgess's novel A Clockwork Orange,1962, later a film by Stanley Kubrick. Another variant was 'as soft as a chocolate teapot', which alluded to soft, i.e. effeminate men. From — Slang Lexicographer by Jonathan Green:
Is there an expression for when you have something but cannot …
Apr 27, 2014 · Their right to strike is about as much use as owning a chocolate teapot. Millions of people have a right to strike but don't use it because they'd be shooting themselves in the foot (doing themselves more harm than good.) The question makes perfect sense. In fact, the example given is very common.
Antonym of "recommend" - English Language & Usage Stack …
In common usage a recommendation can be positive or negative "The committee recommends not purchasing a chocolate teapot." – James Anderson Commented Nov 18, 2011 at 8:59
idioms - Are there any commonly used "Couldn't organise an X in …
Jul 9, 2017 · An Elephind search turns up a number of relatively mild yet colorful antecedents to the more vulgar "couldn't organize an X in a Y" expressions that Andrew Grimm mentions.
What's the meaning of "wooden loaf", the famous expression used …
Jun 16, 2021 · A "wooden loaf" is simply a useless object. It is not a real thing. There are many such imaginary objects in the English language but you can also make up your own (as Ghandi may have done here). Usage is often of the form: "He is as useless as a chocolate teapot." or "It is as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.".
Common phrases for something that appears good but is actually …
I've heard "hollow bunny" used, in reference to chocolate easter bunnies. The term is sometimes used to describe something disappointing – something that doesn't live up to expectations. (Maybe you were wanting something much worse than being merely disappointing, but bad is a rather vague word, so it's hard to know for sure.
Is there a proverb or idiom describing incompetence?
Aug 22, 2016 · 22.6k 30 73 123. 1. Nice, I have never heard of it. Although I am afraid this is a proverb related to organizing skills. – Matsmath. Aug 22, 2016 at 14:13. As @Matsmath said, to me this describes someone who is disorganised, rather than general incompetence. – Ellis. Aug 23, 2016 at 9:50.