'State of the Art" anyone know the origin or meaning?
969174
The state of the art is the highest level of development, as of a device, technique, or scientific field, achieved at a particular time.\n \nUsage note\nThe phrase "state of the art" should be hyphenated when it is used as an adjective, e.g.: "This machine is an example of state-of-the-art technology", but not when used as a noun, as in the sentence below.\n\nOrigin\nThe earliest known usage of the term "state of the art" dates back to 1910 from an engineering manual by H.H. Suplee titled Gas Turbine. It reads, "In the present state of the art this is all that can be done."
1088177
I haven't been able to find it in the cliche or phrase dictionaries.  I've seen it in books and usually it meant "searched exhaustively."\nAn example is "The detective really covered the waterfront, and has no further clues to pursue."
885363
Bollocks.\n\nIt was a saying made up from so called skilled tradesmen because the so called jack of all trades were showing them up and proving anybody could do their jobs with a little practise.
190899
That depends on how you are using it.  You could use it to imply that you are talking about one of the earth's ecosystems.  Or, you could be talking about your immediate surroundings.  I would go so far as to describe social climate.  It could also mean current mental state.  That's all I can honestly think of.
419845
The literal meaning is "from faith ,confidence"\nwhich we might translate as "out of faith comes confidence"\nor "out of faith comes trust".\n\nNot sure of the origins. The words could be used with religious sense but in other ways too.
283062
it comes from the adding of color to wool. for once you add the dye the color was set and could not be changed. so the phrase means something that cannot be changed.
809846
Blast from the past- it means up to mischief or " no good"  I do not know where it came from but it has been around since at least the 30-40's  \n\nI just googled shenanigans and it is from the 1920's and there actually was a play named that.  Try Wikipedia- but I am right about the meaning.
20626
It means that the software and interface are in testing mode to see how well it works for everyone. All software needs to be beta tested for bugs and problems. Sometimes such tests are open to the public, such as this one. We are the guinee pigs. ;)
149406
"The height of excellence".  \n\nHere's exactly what the site said... it's the Bee's Knees... much like my answer.  ;)\n\nA bee's "corbiculae", or pollen-baskets, are located on its\ntibiae (midsegments of its legs).  The phrase "the bee's knees", meaning "the height of excellence", became popular in the U.S. in the 1920s, along with "the cat's whiskers" (possibly from the use of these in radio crystal sets), "the cat's pajamas" (pyjamas were still new enough to be daring), and similar phrases which made less sense and didn't endure:  "the eel's ankle", "the elephant's instep", "the snake's hip".  Stories in circulation about the phrase's origin include:  "b's and e's", short for "be-alls and\nend-alls"; and a corruption of "business".\n\nAlso, Oxford Dictionary has an interesting explanation, too.\n\nThe Oxford English Dictionary records the expression  bee's knee as meaning the type of something small or insignificant from 1797. The plural form is US slang dating from the 1920s, when there was an explosion of terms meaning 'the acme of excellence': compare the cat's whiskers/pyjamas. The first example is dated 1923. Some of these have lasted, and some have not (the flea's eyebrows, the canary's tusks).
691613
It means not suited to do a job well...\n\n in simple terms, someone is incompetent at something if they are doing a bad job with it!
102201
Plastic state.  \n:-) Hope this helps!
18371
It is an idiom intended to mean "be careful, pay attention to detail"  it has morphed, in recent times, to mean many other things including "be polite".\n\nThere are several theories about it's origin, but the one I believe makes the most sense is - mind your Pints and Quarts.  Meaning to keep track of what you order in a pup so you are not over charged.
1005478
It means atoning for extreme and delicate beauty while still being highly educable.\n\nAt least, that's what the Wikipedia says.\n\nThe Wiktionary thinks it means fantastic or wonderful.\n\nThe Straight Dope is sure it wasn't invented for the movie Mary Poppins, which made the term famous, but doesn't know what the meaning of the word is.
846937
/a.o. on the overhaul/\n\na.o. means account of.\non the overhaul is to examine completely so as to make any changes that are needed.
763328
Someone might be off sick at work, but I'm ill with a cold - so, both.\nWrath (just such a cool word)\nClose\nPower\nCraft to describe a hobby; skill to describe the talent needed to complete a complex action
473222
There seems to be no etymology for the phrase, but it's likely either:\n\n(1) The person became rich through "filthy" ways -- monopolies, bribery, underground activities, etc.\n(2) The person is so wealthy that they no longer care about moral issues; s/he has become morally "filthy".\n(3) "Filthy" is just being used as a theatrical adjective, like the way that "phat" means "cool" and that "the bomb" means "the best".
56678
OK \nOK has many meanings, the most common of which is an affimative command with unknown origins.\n\nOK can mean:\n\nThe expression "okay" in the English language and other languages. \nThe U.S. postal abbreviation for the state of Oklahoma \nThe IATA airline designator for Czech Airlines \nAn alternate reference to the international convenience store chain Circle K \nThe International OK Dinghy, a single handed racing dinghy \nOK! magazine, a British celebrity magazine \nΟΛΑ ΚΑΛΑ in Greek language which means everything is in order (OK!). \nSome think that the origin of the word OK comes from the combination of the number 0 and the first letter of the word "Killed", as a shorter way of saying "0 people were killed in the battle", or "0 killed". \nBut the true meaning of the word comes from a army-factory in the US. When the clothes were finished, the boss ( Oscar K***) Signed the clothes if they were good, with the letters OK!