PhrasesHub

Sexton Blake

    Definitions

      • someone who is a detective or investigator
        Referring to someone who is good at solving problems or mysteries

      • someone who is nosy or likes to pry into other people's business
        Describing someone who is overly curious or intrusive

    Examples of Sexton Blake

    • The investigation hit a dead end as we couldn't find any leads, it's like searching for a needle in a haystack.

      This idiom is commonly used when the task at hand seems almost impossible due to the overwhelming amount of options or lack of information. It refers to the difficulty of finding a single needle (a small, thin object) in a large stack of hay (a fluffy, tangled mass of dried grass).

    • She worked tirelessly to uncover the truth, but the more she dug, the deeper she got in a web of deceit.

      This idiom is used when someone starts to uncover secrets and information that lead them into a complicated and confusing situation. It refers to the feeling of being trapped in a web, much like a spider's creation.

    • The criminal slipped though our grasp once again, but we won't give up until he's behind bars.

      This idiom is used when someone almost catches a criminal, but the criminal manages to escape. It refers to the feeling of grabbing something, but then having it slip away again.

    • He was a master of disguise, able to blend in with the crowd like a chameleon.

      This idiom is used to describe someone who is very good at changing their appearance or behavior in order to blend in with their surroundings. It refers to the way chameleons change color to match their environment.

    • Sexton Blake's arch-nemesis, The Phantom Flipper, had successfully slipped through his grasp once again. It seemed like he could never catch a break against the elusive criminal mastermind. Blake fumed, "The Phantom Flipper always manages to flip us the bird!"

      In this example, "flip us the bird" is an idiom that means to make an obscene gesture. In this context, Sexton Blake is frustrated that The Phantom Flipper always seems to outsmart and defeat him, expressing this frustration with the colloquialism.

    • Sexton Blake had always been a stickler for the rules, but in this case, he was forced to bend the law to stop The Phantom Flipper's latest scheme. Blake reluctantly sighed, "Sometimes, you've got to break a few eggs to make an omelet."

      In this example, "break a few eggs to make an omelet" is an idiom that means sometimes you have to take drastic measures to achieve a particular result. Blake is acknowledging that while he typically follows the law, in this instance, he'll have to violate it to overcome his enemy's plot.

    • Sexton Blake was a seasoned detective, but even he was left speechless by The Phantom Flipper's latest caper. He gaped, "I'm all out of ideas. This case has really flipped me out!"

      In this example, "flipped me out" is an idiom that means left one feeling bewildered or perplexed. Blake is admitting that he's run out of options, and the situation has resulted in him being bewildered and perplexed.

    • Sexton Blake's arch-nemesis, The Phantom Flipper, had finally been apprehended, and all of his schemes had crumbled. Sexton Blake chuckled, "It just goes to show that crime doesn't always pay, but justice always gets its say!"

      In this example, "crime doesn't always pay but justice always gets its say" is an idiom that means although criminal behavior may result in temporary gains, punishment and justice will eventually catch up with the offender. Blake is celebrating his victory over his nemesis and the fact that justice has ultimately prevailed.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "Sexton Blake" can have two different meanings, depending on the context it is used in. It can either refer to someone who is a detective or investigator, indicating their problem-solving skills, or it can describe someone who is nosy and likes to pry into other people's business, suggesting that they are overly curious or intrusive.

    Origin of "Sexton Blake"

    The idiom "Sexton Blake" originated from the name of a fictional detective created by British author Harry Blyth. The character first appeared in a series of detective novels in the early 20th century and became very popular in British popular culture. As a result, the name "Sexton Blake" became synonymous with the idea of a detective or investigator, leading to the use of the idiom to describe someone with similar qualities.

    The idiom's usage to describe someone nosy or intrusive may have developed from the character's investigative nature, as well as the stereotype of detectives being overly curious and persistent in their pursuit of solving mysteries. Over time, the idiom has evolved to encompass both meanings, depending on the context in which it is used.