"Well, yes, Aunty! Only it wasn't exactly Sugar, you know! It was Soap we agreed to give up!"
MR. PUNCH'S DICTIONARY OF PHRASES.
Journalistic.
"At the Duchess of Drinkwater's fashionable reunion, held last night, I noticed among the first-comers, &c.;" i.e., I got all my information, when it was over, as well as I could, from an inebriated linkman.
"What is this we hear about a certain——?" We're not certain of our authority, but can't miss the opportunity of being first in the field with the rumour of a scandal, so we put it into an interrogatory form, which can't do any harm to us.
"The greatest excitement prevails;" i.e., Two men who were not present on the occasion discuss it under a lamp-post and the influence of liquor.
Social.
"You must come and dine with me one night;" i.e., "It sounds hearty, but as a fixture I'll relegate it to the Greek Kalends."
"How well you are looking!" (to a Gentleman); i.e., "You are getting awfully stout, and must drink more than is good for you." Ditto, ditto (to a Lady); i.e., "Your figure and complexion are entirely gone."