A curious dictionary of everyday English

Every odd phrase has
a story to tell.

Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.

1,435 curious expressions
1,119 source-backed entries
2,275 research references
Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.

Start with a letter

Browse the cabinet

See the full catalogue

Pulled from the drawers

A few curious finds

Show me another

Tickety-boo

In good order, satisfactory or progressing well. Informal and cheerful. Hyphenation and spelling vary considerably. Regional use: British and…

Meaning & origin

Dead ringer

A person or thing that looks exactly like another; an exact double. Typically 'a dead ringer for someone'. Informal and usually light-hearted; the…

Meaning & origin

Benching

Keeping a romantic prospect in reserve by maintaining just enough sporadic contact to keep them interested, while never committing to dates or a…

Meaning & origin

Loud budgeting

Being openly and unapologetically honest about spending limits, for example telling friends you are skipping dinner out because you are saving for a…

Meaning & origin

Language has legends. Evidence matters.

Colourful story or documented history?

Phrase origins are full of irresistible myths. We separate what historical sources can show from what remains disputed, and link the references behind researched entries.

How we research phrases