IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishset one's cap at
Meaning: To try to attract someone as a romantic partner (dated).
Example: “In the old novel, every young woman in town sets her cap at the new doctor.”
Origin: Said of women from the 18th century, perhaps from putting on one's most attractive cap to catch a man's eye. Oliver Goldsmith's play She Stoops to Conquer (1773) has a version of it. The exact origin is uncertain.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Faire la cour à quelqu'un Literally: To make the court to someone
More English idioms
- after me, the deluge I don't care what happens after I am gone.
- lie through one's teeth To lie openly and shamelessly.
- slow on the uptake Slow to understand.
- kiss something goodbye To accept that one has lost something or will never get it.
- set one's sights on To decide to try to get or achieve something.
- God forbid Used to say that one hopes something bad will not happen.
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