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Toad-eater

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At the final overthrow of the Moors, the Castilians made them their servants, and their active habits and officious manners greatly pleased the proud and lazy Spaniards, who called them mi todita (my factotum). Hence a cringing officious dependent, who will do all sorts of dirty work for you, is called a todita or toad-eater.

Pulteney’s toad-eater. Henry Vane. So called by Walpole (1742).

 

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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To
To
To-do
To Rights
To Wit
To (2)
To En (The)
To On (The)
To Pan (The)
Toads
Toad-eater
Toady
Toast
Tobit
Toboso
Tobosian
Toby (the dog)
Toby
Toddy
Toes
Tofana

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