- skip - Brewer’s

Turnspit Dog

.

One who has all the work but none of the profit; he turns the spit but eats not of the roast. The allusion is to the dog used formerly to turn the spit in roasting. Topsel says, “They go into a wheel, which they turn round about with the weight of their bodies, so dilligently … . that no drudge … . can do the feate more cunningly.” (1697.)

 

previous entry · index · next entry

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.

previous entry · index · next entry

Turk
Turk-Gregory
Turkey
Turkish Spy
Turlupin
Turmeric
Turncoat
Turning the Tables
Turnip-Garden (The)
Turnip Townsend
Turnspit Dog
Turpin
Turtle Doves
Tussle
Tut
Tutivillus
Twa Dogs
Twangdillo
Tweeds
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Twelfth (The)