Meaning: To be paying attention, to respond promptly, to be doing one's job.
Example: If you were a bit more on the ball, we might have averted the reactor melt down.
Origin: From the early days of baseball. A pitcher who "had nothing on the ball" was one who was having a bad outing. The term implies that the pitcher has no control or speed on the ball.
Example: I refuse to pay even one red cent for the work until you complete the whole job.
Origin: The "Red" refers to both the color of a penny (one cent) and the image that used to be on the penny, an American Indian head. Redskin is a slang term used for American Indians.
Before today's Lincoln penny was the Indian Head penny.
The Indian Head penny was first issued in 1859 and looks just like that as issued in 1908 (before the Lincoln Cent). The only difference was that those from 1859-1864 were of a different copper-nickel alloy while 1864 started the common bronze, which was used until 1982. (You didn't know it changed then, did you?)
The copper-nickel alloy has a reddish tint, which turns redder with time and skin oil.
Before the Indian Head penny was the "Buzzard Cent", as the One Cent coins in 1856-1858 were called. The flying eagle on the coin was damned as an ugly bird and it wasn't popular. However, it was the first "small cent" using about the same size as our penny today.
In the half century before this, One Cent coins were about the size of today's Half Dollar! (of course they were also worth something then)
Example: You have the choice. Pay your gambling debts or go on the lam.
Origin: "Lam" is by definition to leave or flee, especially from the law. The confusion about this phrase is that "lam" is not a commonly used word. Many people assume the phrase to be "on the lamb"
Meaning: To create a response, position, or statement without planning ahead.
Example: Kennedy's speeches were never on the fly, but always prepared.
Origin: "On the fly" is a shortened version of "flying by the seat of your pants". It refers to flying a plane in response to what is seen and felt through the course of the flight, instead of executing against a prepared flight plan.
