# Derry and Toms

idiom · Slang

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/derry-and-toms
Updated: 2026-06-06

## Meaning

bombs

## Examples

- The soldiers dropped their Derry and Toms on the target.
- The historical documentary showed footage of the planes dropping Derry and Toms over the city.
- The sirens wailed across the city as the residents braced themselves for the inevitable impact of the falling Derry and Toms.

## Origin

Referring not just to the famous London store, but to "derry" as to "have a derry on" meaning to dislike, referring to "down on", meaning prejudiced against, from Derry Down in Ireland.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.