Stop standing there like cheese at fourpence and help me.
like cheese at fourpence
idiomOf a person: waiting idly or timewasting.
Origin
disputed originFrom the mill towns of Lancashire, where fourpence was considered expensive for cheese and hence cheese for sale at that price would not be bought.
The manager grew annoyed when he found his staff standing around like cheese at fourpence instead of working.
While the rest of the team labored under the deadline, he remained in the corner like cheese at fourpence, offering no assistance.
- 01
a little bit of bread and no cheese
Used to represent the song of the yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella).
- 02
and the like
And other similar items; et cetera.
- 03
be like
To say.
- 04
big cheese
A very important figure, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.
- 05
built like a brick outhouse
Synonym of built like a brick shithouse.
- 06
built like a brick shipyard
Synonym of built like a brick shithouse.
- 07
built like a brick shithouse
Of a man, having a muscular body, particularly with well-developed muscles of the chest, arms and abdominals.
- 08
chalk and cheese
Said of things that are very different, though possibly superficially alike.