"Pantywaist"

In the 1890s, a type of children's underwear was introduced in which underpants were buttoned to the undershirt. Such pantywaists were intended for both boys and girls, but they proved much more popular for girls. Soon the term became a way for boys to mock their peers.

"Jaywalking"

Jaywalking The blue-jay was once considered a shy bird from remote woodlands,
and in the late 19th century jay became synonymous with 'hick.'
Rural dwellers were often dumbfounded by the chaos of big city traffic.
They crossed in the middle of the block and darted out into the middle of the street without looking for traffic.
Jaywalking meant 'hick walking.'

"Ham actor"

The ham actor: A reading (Denison's Monologues and Readings) Ham is an abbreviation of hamfatter, used to describe
second-rate performers in minstrel shows who were prone to exaggerated gestures. Minstrels blackened their faces with burnt cork and removed their makeup with ham fat rather than the cold cream that more affluent actors could afford.

To 'Toast' someone

The history of toasting, or drinking of healths in England As early as the 16th century, revelers put pieces of toast in wine.
Soon it became the custom to drain a glassful when someone was saluted.
One who drank all the wine consumed the toast as well.

"Toady"

Traveling medicine shows often planted an assistant in the crowd who would eat (or pretend to eat) a toad and suddenly fall victim to a fictitious dread malady. The medicine man, of course, just happened to have a miraculous cure for sale. The toadeater, soon known as a toady, was originally somebody willing to endanger or humiliate himself for his master.

"Red Tape"

English lawyers and government officials traditionally tied official papers together with red ribbon, which they called red tape.
Charles Dickens and Thomas Carlyle were among the first to use this expression to describe official sluggishness and government bureaucracy.

"Steal someone's thunder"

In 1709, English playwright John Dennis produced a tragedy that closed after a few performances. Only one element stirred the audience: thunder sound effects more realistic than any heard before on the stage.
Later, Dennis went to the theater and discovered that his sound effects had been appropriated for another production. "See how the rascals use me" he exclaimed. "They will not let my play run, but they steal my thunder."

"Eavesdropper"

Centuries ago, eavesdropping was a crime in England. Back then, houses were not equipped with gutters, but the roofs had wide overhangs, or eaves,
so that the rainwater would drip well away from the foundation.
The first eavesdroppers literally stood in these spaces to overhear private conversations.