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(as) toey as a Roman sandal

The phrase is a pun: "toey" means anxious or aroused, and sandals expose one's toes. Primarily heard in Australia.
1. slang Very anxious. Carrie has been as toey as a Roman sandal waiting for the doctor to call with her test results. Can you get her to stop pacing around the room? Janine was as toey as a Roman sandal about her driving test today. I hope she passes and gets her license. I felt toey as a Roman sandal as I waited for them to announce the winner.
2. slang Longing for sexual activity; very aroused. I haven't seen my girlfriend in weeks, so of course I'm feeling toey as a Roman sandal! I hope to spend most of her visit in bed! A: "How can you tell that those two haven't been dating for very long?" B: "Because they're still toey as a Roman sandal around each other." I've been single for so long that I'm feeling toey as a Roman sandal. I'm definitely going home with someone from the bar tonight!
See also: roman, sandal, toey

be (as) toey as a Roman sandal

slang The phrase is a pun: "toey" means anxious or aroused, and sandals expose one's toes. Primarily heard in Australia.
1. To be very anxious. Carrie has been as toey as a Roman sandal waiting for the doctor to call with her test results. Can you get her to stop pacing? Janine was as toey as a Roman sandal about her driving test today. I hope she passes and gets her license. Well, I'm just toey as a Roman sandal! When are they going to announce the winner?
2. To long for sexual activity; to be very aroused. I haven't seen my girlfriend in weeks, so of course I'm toey as a Roman sandal! I hope to spend most of her visit in bed! A: "How can you tell that those two haven't been dating for very long?" B: "Because they're still toey as a Roman sandal around each other." I've been single for so long that I'm toey as a Roman sandal. I'm definitely going home with someone from the bar tonight!
See also: roman, sandal, toey

Roman hands and Russian fingers

A pun of "roaming hands and rushing fingers," referring to a tendency to make sexual contact that which is unwanted or unsolicited. Usually said of a man. Honey, I'm just not comfortable with you dating yet. All the boys your age have Roman hands and Russian fingers. Everyone has known that the director of the company had Roman hands and Russian fingers, but someone finally brought charges against him for it recently.
See also: and, finger, hand, roman, Russian

Roman holiday

An entertaining event, affair, or activity that relies on the exploitation, suffering, or failure of others. A metaphor taken from Lord Byron's poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, which refers to the practice of having gladiators fight to the death for the amusement of spectators. I think tabloids exist and flourish as a means of providing people with miniature Roman holidays. Being able to see celebrities at their absolute worst gives us a perverse feeling of satisfaction. I'll never understand the allure of boxing, watching two people beat each other half to death like we're on some sort of Roman holiday.
See also: holiday, roman

when in Rome (do as the Romans do)

proverb One should do what is customary or typical in a particular place or setting, especially when one is a tourist. I know you don't normally get relish on your hot dog, but that's the thing here. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I don't love cotton candy, but we are at a carnival. When in Rome, right?
See also: Roman, Rome

when in Rome, do like the Romans do

proverb One should do what is customary or typical in a particular place or setting, especially when one is a tourist. I know you don't normally get relish on your hot dog, but that's the thing here. When in Rome, do like the Romans do. I usually avoid sugary foods like cotton candy, but we are at a carnival. When in Rome, do like the Romans do, right?
See also: like, Roman
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

when in Rome do as the Romans do

Follow local custom, as in Kate said they'd all be wearing shorts or blue jeans to the outdoor wedding, so when in Rome-we'll do the same . This advice allegedly was Saint Ambrose's answer to Saint Augustine when asked whether they should fast on Saturday as Romans did, or not, as in Milan. It appeared in English by about 1530 and remains so well known that it is often shortened, as in the example.
See also: Roman, Rome
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

a Roman holiday

an occasion on which enjoyment or profit is derived from the suffering or discomfort of others.
This expression comes from the poet Byron's description of the dying gladiator in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage as having been ‘butchered to make a Roman holiday’.
See also: holiday, roman
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

when in Rome do as the Romans do

Follow the local customs. This old proverb supposedly comes from St. Ambrose’s answer to St. Monica and her son, St. Augustine, who asked whether they should fast on Saturday as the Romans do, or not, according to Milanese practice. Ambrose replied, “When I am here (in Milan) I do not fast Saturday, when I am in Rome, I fast on Saturday.” This Latin saying was translated into English by the fifteenth century or so and has been repeated ever since.
See also: Roman, Rome
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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