As with before, these phrases may not have started out in nursery rhymes, but being in nursery rhymes may have encouraged them to be continued:
The Lion and the Unicorn (from the poem with the same name)
England and Scotland, especially when they are arguing.
Namby Pamby (from the same)
Too overprotective, too euphemistic.
Lost her pocket (from Lucy Locket)
Said about a girl who has lost something. A pocket was a pouch for money.
How many strawberries grow in the sea? (from A man in the wilderness)
A nonsense question.
Red herrings (from A man in the wilderness)
A false trail, a trifle considered important.
Walked a crooked mile (from There was a crooked man)
Said about someone who can not be trusted.
Crooked house (from There was a crooked man)
A house which leans to one side, or has criminals in it.
The Man in the Moon (from the same)
An anonymous person to ask about a particular subject.
A little lamb (from Mary had a little lamb)
Someone who follows close behind.
Mary Mary, quite contrary (from the same)
A saying for Marys-in particular Mary Whitehouse.
Three blind mice (from the same)
A chaotic group of people, or those unsure what they are about.
Dusty miller (from O the Rusty Dusty Miller)
A nickname for Millers (the job or the name) or people called Dusty.
Bonny and blithe (from Monday's Child)
Said about someone born on a Sunday. Most of the phrasing in this poem have been constant.)
When it returned, it came again (from There was a monkey)
Said about something or someone returning.
Paul Wimsett is an eBay seller and has also self published work on Createspace and Lulu.com.
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