Phrase of the hour
The die is cast
A decision has been made that cannot be reversed; events have passed the point where anyone can turn back. Used at moments of irrevocable commitment -…
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.
1,295
curious expressions
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source-backed entries
1,995
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
Run of the mill
Ordinary and unremarkable, just standard fare.
Meaning & originIn the soup
In a messy trouble or fix, deep.
Meaning & originThrow your hat in the ring
To announce that you are entering a contest, most often to stand as a candidate in an election, or to accept a challenge that others have declined…
Meaning & originBack to square one
Back at the starting point after an attempt has failed or previous progress has been lost, requiring the work to begin again.
Meaning & originLike a dog with two tails
Over-the-top happy or thrilled, all wag.
Meaning & originSend someone packing
Dismiss, reject or drive someone away abruptly and decisively. Informal and forceful. In sport it commonly means eliminate from a competition…
Meaning & originUp the boohai
In a remote, out-of-the-way or vaguely unknown place. Informal and comic. Boohai has several historical spellings, reflecting the reshaping of the…
Meaning & originMake hay while the sun shines
To seize an opportunity while conditions are favorable, acting fast before chances fade.
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.