Skip to main content

Jimmy Onions 

An exclamation created and popularised in North West England. Can be used to express shock, fear, or delight (depending on the tone it is exclaimed).
1) John: ‘James, she’s definitely into you pal!’

James: ‘Jimmy Onions, I knew it!’

2) ‘Jimmy fucking Onions, that was one scary ride!’

burning onions 

A person is said to be "burning onions" when they are having a hard time accomplishing a specific goal.

Unlike "spinning your wheels" this phrase does not contain any insinuations of harming the environment with toxic smoke. In fact, onions are better to eat than wheels, so it's really the healthier of the two phrases.
Sal: My apartment is already full of plants and I'm burning onions trying to find room for my new Aloe Vera plant!
Luces: Oh no, I hope you can make room for it!
burning onions by MavenRenman December 30, 2020

tip-toeing around the onions

To work hard and be wary of right and wrong choices, usually used when discussing or describing work history and/or life choices.
MOM: "Your father and I have worked so hard trying to give you and your brothers the best life possible!"

DAUGHTER: " You don't think I don't know that!"

MOM: "You have no idea! We've both been Tip-toeing Around The Onions since birth for you!"

DAUGHTER: " Okay, Okay I get it, Jeez!"

basket of onions 

A category of men who seem to be a hunky gentlemen full of good surprises, until you have a look at the inside and only end up in tears.
The guy she broke up with is one of those basket of onions guys.

Know Your Onions 

A glorious piece of 1920s slang, to know your onions is to know what's going on.
PERSON 1 “How come you know about my new job at McDonald's?”
PERSON 2 “I make it my business to know what's going on.”
PERSON 1 “Wow, you really do know your onions.”
Know Your Onions by C L G July 4, 2021

Orion’s Gucci Belt 

(n.) A wealthy neighborhood or region, named after what its spoiled children see when they spot Orion’s Belt in the sky.

The backyards in Orion's Gucci Belt may smell vaguely of George Bush's breath. It's an urban legend that the people who live in Orion's Gucci Belt root for financial crises and own large birds of prey that steal from the poor.
Person 1: "Wanna go to Chipotle?"
Person 2: "This is not the Rust Belt. This is Orion’s Gucci Belt. We feast at the Cheesecake Factory."
Orion’s Gucci Belt by nolandc September 26, 2019