English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
Idioms and Englishes
Long arm (British English)
Long leg (Nigerian English)
Long arm means far-reaching power: You can’t escape the long arm of the law.
Long leg means undue influence: She got the job through her long leg.
To butter someone up (British English)
To butter someone’s bread (Nigerian English).
To butter someone up is to be very kind or friendly to someone or try to please someone, so that that person will do what you want them to do:
You have to butter them up a bit more before they will agree.
To butter someone’s bread is to make them enjoy favour:
This year, I pray that the Lord will butter your bread.
GAB
