cricket

a cricket on the hearth

A sign of good health and good fortune. I'm putting this cricket statuette here because a cricket on the hearth is supposed to bring good luck.
See also: cricket, hearth, on

holy crickets

An exclamation of surprise, shock, or astonishment. Holy crickets, the bill for that dinner is nearly $200! We won the lottery? Holy crickets, that's amazing news!
See also: cricket, holy

it's just not cricket

It isn't fair, sportsmanlike, or legitimate. I know you want to avoid confrontation, but it's just not cricket to break up with someone by text message. You say it's just not cricket, but everyone else fluffs up their CV when they apply for a job.
See also: cricket, just, not

it's not cricket

It isn't fair, sportsmanlike, or legitimate. I know you want to avoid confrontation, but it's not cricket to break up with someone by text message. I don't see why you think it's not cricket—everyone else does it all the time.
See also: cricket, not

jiminy cricket

A minced oath for "Jesus Christ," expressing surprise, shock, or astonishment. Jiminy cricket, the bill for that dinner is nearly $200! We won the lottery? Jiminy cricket, that's amazing news!
See also: cricket

merry as a cricket

old-fashioned Jubilant; especially carefree, lively, and full of fun. Tom is playing outside, merry as a cricket. Though he acts as merry as a cricket, he is dreadfully unhappy when he is all alone.
See also: cricket, merry
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

It's not cricket.

 and It's not kosher.
It's not done.; It's not acceptable. You can't do that! It's not cricket!
See also: cricket, not

*merry as a cricket

 and *merry as the day is long
very happy and carefree. (*Also: as ~.) Mary is as merry as a cricket whenever she has company come to call. The little children are as merry as the day is long.
See also: cricket, merry
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

not cricket

Unfair, unsportsmanlike, as in It's not cricket to let him go without notice. This term, in which the sport of cricket is equated with upright behavior, survives in America despite the relative unfamiliarity of the sport there. [Mid-1800s]
See also: cricket, not
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

it's just not cricket

or

it's not cricket

BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED
People say it's just not cricket or it's not cricket to mean that someone's behaviour is unfair or unreasonable. Companies can't treat their staff like that — it's not cricket! Note: Cricket is traditionally associated with the values of fairness and respect for other players.
See also: cricket, just, not
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

not cricket

contrary to traditional standards of fairness or rectitude. British informal
The game of cricket, with its traditional regard for courtesy and fair play, has been a metaphor for these qualities since at least the mid 19th century.
See also: cricket, not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

it’s (just) not ˈcricket

(old-fashioned, British English, informal) it is not a fair or an honourable action or way of behaving
See also: cricket, not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

cricket

mod. acceptable. (See negative examples at not cricket.) Is it really cricket to play under two different names?

not cricket

mod. unfair; illegitimate; unorthodox. (See affirmative examples at cricket.) What do you mean it’s not cricket? You do it.
See also: cricket, not
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

not cricket, it's/that's

Unsportsmanlike, unfair, dishonorable. Eric Partridge traced this term to 1867 but believed it was not widely used until the early twentieth century. Among the early references in print is Stanley Houghton’s 1914 play, The Partners, “. . . but it is not playing the game. In other words, Cynthia, it is not cricket.” Although cricket is a sport popular exclusively in Great Britain and most of its former colonies, the term crossed the Atlantic and became a cliché in the United States as well.
See also: not
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer

cricket on the hearth

A symbol of good luck and health. A cricket on the hearth has been a sign of household luck for millennia and in many cultures. Crickets were widely considered to bring good fortune as well as a kind of companionship. Representations of a cricket have long been included as a fireplace decoration. The expression “to find a cricket on the hearth is the luckiest thing of all” comes from Charles Dickens's novella, Cricket on the Hearth.
See also: cricket, hearth, on
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • a cricket on the hearth
  • cricket on the hearth
  • hearth
  • albatross
  • (one) (has) never had it so good
  • be as good as new
  • as good as new
  • (as) good as new
  • (it's) good to have you (here)
  • as good as it gets
References in periodicals archive
- Sindh Cricket Association includes Karachi, Hyderabad and Larkana.
PCB unfolds ambitious domestic cricket season structure
The same will be the case for the List 'A' and T20 cricket.
Sports: Cricket: PCB unveils domestic cricket structure
Under the new system, 16 regional cricket associations had to be replaced by six cricket associations: Balochistan Cricket Association, Central Punjab Cricket Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cricket Association, Northern Cricket Association, Sindh Cricket Association and Southern Punjab Cricket Association.Similarly, district cricket associations were supposed to be replaced by city cricket associations.
LHC suspends newly-approved PCB constitution
Speaking on the coverage of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier Aarti Dabas, Head of Media Rights, Broadcast and Digital, said: "For the first time ever we are live streaming ten matches of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier, this a huge step forward in our ambition to creating more exposure and role models for women's cricket and getting the game to more fans across the world ahead of Australia 2020.
The ICC to live stream ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier matches for first time ever - Press Release issued by International Cricket Council
16 regional cricket associations will be replaced by six cricket associations, namely:
PCB Constitution 2019 comes into effect
As per Clause 49 (1), the existing BoG shall continue for a period until, at least, four members of the BoG are notified from amongst a pool of seven members (three Cricket Associations and four independent members).
BoG to have ten members, says new PCB constitution
'Fast and exciting, the T20 format is the perfect fit for the Commonwealth Games and offers another chance to showcase women's cricket on the global stage as part of our ambitious plans to accelerate the growth of the game, whilst inspiring the next generation of cricketers.
CRICKET-COMMONWEALTH-Women's T20 set for Birmingham Games
'There is still much to be done if cricket is to be included in the Olympics, with Los Angeles 2028 the earliest likely opportunity, and the ICC continuing to work internally to align cricket to pursue the sport's Olympic ambitions,' the WCC said in a statement.
Cricket could feature in 2028 Olympic games
that would not only generate income for the stadium but would also help in starting international level cricket in Quetta.
Quetta to host PSL matches in near future: PCB MD hints
According to the new domestic structure only six teams will be eligible to play the First Class Cricket in the country, two from Punjab and one each from Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces and the federal territory.
PM Imran Khan approves new domestic cricket structure
"For Indian fans, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 goes beyond the boundaries of a regular sporting event.
Seagram's Royal Stag launches limited-edition Cricket World Cup Pack
The selection and composition of cricket teams that represent Pakistan in cricket contests and tours, both in the country and abroad, to acquire, construct, develop and sustain stadia, grounds and other properties are also the key duties of the board.
PCB making all out support to bring international cricket back into the country
LAHORE -- Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Managing Director Wasim Khan on Sunday said bringing Test-playing teams to the country remains his top priority, as he reiterated the need to revive international cricket here.
Bringing Test-playing teams to Pakistan top priority: PCB MD
Sports Desk Chairman of International Cricket Council (ICC) Shashank Manohar praised advancements of the Bangladesh cricket expecting the country's bright cricketing future.
ICC chairman praises Bangladesh cricket
George Oweke, the manager of the project, leads Seeds of Gold down the wooden stairs housing the crickets."This is our cricket farm," he offers.
Lessons from shores of Lake Victoria on rearing crickets