Phrase of the hour
Loophole
An ambiguity or gap in a set of rules - a law, contract, or tax code - that lets someone evade its intent while staying technically inside it. The…
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
Every odd phrase has
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Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
2,006
curious expressions
1,690
source-backed entries
3,678
research references
Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Start with a letter
Browse the cabinet
Pulled from the drawers
A few curious finds
Caught with your hand in the till
Nabbed pilfering or stealing, caught cold.
Meaning & originNull and void
Having no legal force, binding effect or validity, and therefore incapable of being enforced. Common in contracts and judgments, but also used…
Meaning & originCash cow
Business jargon for a product, division or asset that reliably generates more cash than it costs to maintain, its surplus typically diverted to fund…
Meaning & originWhat's the craic?
What is happening, what is the news or how are things? In this question craic usually means news or happenings. In good craic it means enjoyable…
Meaning & originA feather in your cap
An achievement, honour, or distinction that someone can be proud of and that enhances their reputation.
Meaning & originWooden nutmeg
A worthless imitation passed off as the genuine article; a petty fraud or sham product. Now dated and mostly historical, surviving mainly in…
Meaning & originA cloud on the horizon
A sign of trouble or difficulty that has not yet arrived but can be seen coming; a looming problem that threatens an otherwise good situation. Very…
Meaning & originTilt at windmills
To attack imaginary enemies or waste effort fighting opponents that exist mainly in one's own imagination; to pursue a vain, quixotic cause. 'Tilt'…
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.