Phrase of the hour
Chapter and verse
Precise supporting authority or full, exact details about a claim or event. Can mean exact source references or, more loosely, a complete detailed…
Uncover the storyA 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.
725
curious expressions
409
source-backed entries
855
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
Whoop it up
Celebrate or enjoy oneself loudly and energetically, or stir up noisy enthusiasm for a person, event, or cause. Informal. The phrase can describe…
Meaning & originYou can't have it both ways
You must pick one, not both, no double dip.
Meaning & originTickety-boo
In good order, satisfactory or progressing well. Informal and cheerful. Hyphenation and spelling vary considerably. Regional use: British and…
Meaning & originBurn your bridges
To cut off all retreat or ties, leaving no way back.
Meaning & originTake it with a grain of salt
Treat a statement cautiously rather than accepting it as wholly accurate, complete or sincere. 'A grain of salt' is the usual North American wording…
Meaning & originThere's the rub
That is the central difficulty, obstacle or inconvenient point. Somewhat literary but concise. Rub means obstacle here, not friction or massage…
Meaning & originKnock down a cheque
Spend an entire pay cheque lavishly, traditionally in a prolonged drinking spree. Dated colonial slang. It commonly implies heavy drinking and…
Meaning & originFine as frog hair
Exceptionally fine, delicate, excellent, or in very good spirits. Regional, humorous, and now relatively obscure Regional use: United States…
Meaning & originLanguage 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.