Phrase of the hour
Not give a monkey's
To not care a bit, zero fuss.
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Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
1,973
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Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Folklore labelled honestly.
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A few curious finds
Walk the plank
To be forced to walk off a plank extended over a ship's side into the sea, the legendary pirate method of execution; figuratively, to be made to…
Meaning & originA straw in the wind
A small, early sign showing how a situation is likely to develop; a slight hint of the direction in which events are moving. The image is a straw…
Meaning & originSowing dragon's teeth
To take an action whose fruit is armed men - to plant, often with the best intentions, the seeds of future war or conflict. The classic use is…
Meaning & originA clean slate
A fresh start: the chance to begin again with past faults, debts or mistakes no longer counting against you. Merriam-Webster defines it as a person's…
Meaning & originDraw the line
To set a firm limit on what one is willing to accept, tolerate, or do. It is usually followed by 'at' plus the refused behaviour, as in declining to…
Meaning & originAll mouth and no trousers
Full of boasts or promises but unwilling or unable to act on them. Informal and mildly insulting. It may carry a suggestion of empty masculine…
Meaning & originBlood is thicker than water
Family loyalty outweighs other bonds such as friendship, professional duty, or fairness to outsiders. Usually quoted to explain why someone sides with…
Meaning & originGrin and bear it
To accept something unpleasant, painful, or unwelcome with forced good humour and without complaining, because there is no realistic way to avoid it…
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.