intj. (common).—Nonsense!
OTHER COLLOQUIALISMS are—ALL BEER AND SKITTLES = Everything easy or to one’s liking; ALL UP, AS SKITTLES WHEN DOWN = a difficulty, something to tackle or do again.
1864. Orchestra, 12 Nov., 106. ‘To Correspondents.’ Se faire applaudir is not “to make onesself applauded,” and “joyous comedian” is simply SKITTLES.
1886. KIPLING, Departmental Ditties, ‘Padgate, M.P.’ ‘Where is your heat?’ said he. ‘Coming,’ said I to Padgate. ‘SKITTLES!’ said Padgate, M.P.
1889. Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette, 8 Feb. Plunging was NOT ALL BEER AND SKITTLES, as the Viscount had playfully and elegantly observed when a special pot had boiled over.
1890. Pall Mall Gazette, 4 Nov., 3, 1. It would present a useful object lesson to those who think that the artist’s life is ALL BEER AND SKITTLES.
1900. G. BOOTHBY, A Maker of Nations, v. SKITTLES it would have been, and of the most desperate description…. I can tell you I was just about played out.
