Phrase of the hour
A little bird told me
A playful way of saying that you learned something from an informant you prefer not to name. It typically teases or gently signals that you know a…
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.
1,145
curious expressions
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Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Start with a letter
Browse the cabinet
Pulled from the drawers
A few curious finds
Greenwashing
Misleading marketing or public relations that makes a company, product, or policy seem more environmentally friendly than it really is, typically…
Meaning & originSick as a pig
Real ill or down.
Meaning & originStool pigeon
An informer, especially one working for the police against other offenders. Dated but understood in crime contexts Regional use: United States, later…
Meaning & originOn cloud nine
Extremely happy, elated, or euphoric.
Meaning & originCut and dried
Already settled, prepared or decided, often in a routine way that allows little originality or debate. Commonly used in the negative, as in not cut…
Meaning & originWorth its weight in gold
Extremely useful or valuable, as in 'a calm navigator is worth their weight in gold on a polar expedition'. Invariably hyperbolic praise for a person…
Meaning & originEven Stevens
Exactly equal or fairly balanced, especially once debts, favours or points have been settled between two people, so that nothing is owed on either…
Meaning & originSick to death
Fed up or done.
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.