Strike:
To go on strike is to withdraw your labour; to cease work for an
employer. This saying is another with a nautical background. The Strike
in this instance is the one used to strike (lower) the sails on a
sailing ship. A crew which was in dispute with an owner simply refused
to strike the sails and the ship could not move. The word in this sense
was first recorded in 1768.
Stroppy: To get stroppy is a term used to indicate that someone is a
little obstinate, unpleasant. Why stroppy? This is a shortening of
"obstreperous", but maintaining the original meaning.
Stump: When you stump up with the cash you do the American equivalent
of paying on the nail; i.e. you hark back to the days when bargains
were sealed by placing the money on a tree stump.
Stumped: To be stumped is to be halted in a ; project - to find a task
difficult to continue . This comes from 19C USA and originated in the
task of ploughing newly cleared farmland - the ploughman couldn't
proceed because an uncleared tree stump was in the way.
Suck up: To suck up to someone is to curry favour with them, to be a
toady, to ingratiate oneself to them. The saying comes from the mid
19C, but why 'suck up'. I haven't found the answer yet, but one
reference suggests a sexual origin. Also, to 'suck' someone is to
swindle them, hence 'sucker', but this doesn't seem to be related.
Sway: To hold sway is to wield or bend power. This is an archaic use of
the word which comes from C16th Old Norse itself meaning to bend, a
motion still implied in modern usage.
Swim: If you are in the swim then you are in a good position; well in
with the right people. Swim in this instance is based on the fact that
river fish keep together in a group called a swim. A fisherman who can
position himself to be in the swim will likely catch a large number of
fish.
Swoop: A fell swoop is a sudden, complete and often unexpected event;
over and done with great speed and totality. Why fell? This comes from
the 13th century Old French word fel meaning "cruel". The speed of a
fell swoop is so great as to be regarded as cruel by some. Our word
Felon comes from the same source.
