Idiom: As black as Newgate's knocker

[Haihao]

One more 'as...as': As bright as a button.

Should I suggest a button is always touched so kept its brightness?

Thank you!

Haihao

[Yankee]

Hi Haihao

That's another one I don't know. I've heard "(as) cute as a button", however.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[MrPedantic]

You sometimes hear "as bright as a button" in the UK; though often with a punning sense of "bright = intelligent".

I wonder whether it refers to metal buttons, such as you find on e.g. military garments.

MrP

[Haihao]

Just a few more I have no idea about the origin of:

#1 As busy as a one legged arse kicker (the kicker would fall down if he tried to do so in his condition)
#2 As camp as a row of tents (it suggests ordinary or boring but why?)
#3 As broad as it is long (so it's square?)
#4 As brown as a berry (berry is more black than brown)

Thank you!

[MrPedantic]

Hello Haihao,

"Brown" in OE (brun) meant "dark and shining", like many kinds of berry; the specific range of colour is a later development.

In #3, yes, I would say so ("square"): "it has two equal dimensions", i.e. "there are two equal ways of looking at it".

In #2, "camp" (of a man) means "(engagingly) effeminate". It is a mock-simile: a "camp" is a collection of tents; therefore if you are as "camp as a row of tents", you are exceedingly effeminate (in an engaging way).

I haven't heard #1 before, but I like your interpretation.

All the best,

MrP

[Haihao]

Hello MrP,

Good to have your comments again and they convinced (not persuaded here ) me completely!

Haihao

[MrPedantic]

[Haihao]

I have a new one today:

As cold as a well digger's arse

Why should the digger's arse be cold enough?

[Haihao]

I have some more:

#1 As cold as a witch's tit -> Why? Is there some saying?
#2 As cold as any stone - > OK, stone is cold.
#3 As cold as blue blazes -> No idea. It's hot!