Black as Newgate's knocker

Black as Newgate's knocker
  (UK)
  If things are as black as Newgate's knocker, they are very bad. Newgate was an infamous prison in England, so its door knocker meant trouble.

Dictionary of English idioms . . 2014.

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  • black as newgate's knocker — (UK) If things are as black as Newgate s knocker, they are very bad. Newgate was an infamous prison in England, so its door knocker meant trouble …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • black as Newgate's knocker — (UK)    If things are as black as Newgate s knocker, they are very bad. Newgate was an infamous prison in England, so its door knocker meant trouble.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • black as Newgate's knocker — Phrs. Very black …   English slang and colloquialisms

  • as black as Newgate's knocker — Meaning Pitch black. Origin Refers to the heavy iron knocker on the gate of Newgate Prison, London. Several other similes are used to indicate blackness: As black as a crow As black as a raven s wing As black as ink As black as Hell As black as… …   Meaning and origin of phrases

  • Marshalsea — The prison occupied two locations, the first c. 1329–1811, and the second 1811–1842. The image above is of the first Marshalsea in the 18th century …   Wikipedia

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