What is the origin of 'sleep tight'?
Read moreOne of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
noun
1
‘look here, mister know-all’variant form of Mr, often used humorously or with offensive emphasis- ‘You can't get away with changing the subject mister!’
- ‘And mister, if you don't smarten up you'll end up just like her.’
- ‘Hold your tongue mister, you're going to say something stupid.’
- ‘I may be pregnant but I will get up and kick your butt mister.’
- ‘Well, I'm sorry, mister, but I've been a Frank Zappa fan since before you were even wearing diapers, okay?’
- ‘I think you've been reading too many Tom Clancy novels, mister.’
- ‘That's my wife you're talking about, mister.’
- ‘Well mister, we won't be having any of that.’
- ‘‘My memory has just been sold’ - well, boo-hoo, mister!’
- ‘She'd march him down the street to some secret bunker and shove his nose into a nuclear bomb and say, ‘Uh, huh, and what do you call this, mister?’’
- ‘You just wait until you have problems fitting into your tux, mister.’
- ‘"Well mister," she said, pointing her fork at him.’
- ‘Another voice could be heard that was even louder, ‘You don't have to like my decision mister but you will have to live with it!’
- 1.1informal Used as a form of address to a man whose name is not known.‘thanks, mister’
- ‘He said to me, ‘I understand there was some dancing going on, mister.’’
- ‘Thanks, mister, but I don't even know your name!’
- ‘With all due respect, mister, I think it is always our objective to win.’
- ‘There were no cries of, ‘Hey, mister, you need taxi?’’
- ‘As the fellow carried him ashore, the boy looked up and said, ‘Thanks for saving my life, mister.’’
- ‘‘I like your song, mister,’ Ronnie said as he dropped in the coins.’
- ‘‘Thanks, mister,’ I gasped at the guide who pulled me out.’
- ‘He could only speak a few words, pleading ‘No, mister.’’
- ‘Yes, I think the audience is well aware of that, mister.’
- ‘One or two young Iraqi boys approached them awkwardly and tried to say hello… ‘Mister, mister!’’
- ‘"Sorry mister, I didn't mean to startle you," he said.’
- ‘Then some kid will turn up on a Saturday from Auchtermuchty or somewhere like that and say to me, ‘Hey, mister, are you the man that does the rugby?’’
Origin
Mid 16th century: weakened form of master in unstressed use before a name.
Pronunciation
noun
A device with a nozzle for spraying a mist of water, especially on houseplants.
- ‘Use a mister for larger planter boxes with the same method that you used with the drippers.’
- ‘In warm weather a mister will be attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies too!’
- ‘I recommend a plant sprayer / mister rather than a water pistol, unless you really need to intervene at a distance.’
- ‘If you do not have time or do not need to wash your hair, just dampening it slightly with a mister or wet comb should do the trick.’
- ‘A fun way to make sure your bird gets his regular shower is to use a mister.’
- ‘The exhaust pipe was very hot, so I sprayed it with the mister I use for my seedlings to dry to cool it down.’
- ‘And I carry a small spray bottle - a mister - to hydrate my face and eyes.’
- ‘Rabbits, which find the knee-high orchard grass perfectly hospitable habitat, have also presented problems, particularly since they have shown a penchant for the spaghetti tubing that connects the irrigation hose to the misters.’
- ‘After planting, soak the bottom of the container in a pan of water until the surface is wet or spray with a mister until well-watered.’
- ‘Also use a pebble tray or spray plants often with a mister to increase humidity.’
- ‘Blend a cup of cold water with 12 drops of jasmine essential oil, put the mix in a spray bottle with a fine mister, and spritz your lower legs before you go to sleep.’
- ‘He poured the entire liquid contents into a small mister and smiled.’
