A 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.

825 curious expressions
509 source-backed entries
1,055 research references
Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.

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Crocodile tears

A display of sorrow or sympathy that is insincere; tears or grief put on for effect by someone who does not actually feel it. The phrase usually…

Meaning & origin

A labour of love

Work undertaken chiefly from affection, commitment or enjoyment rather than for reward. Labour is British spelling and labor American. The work can be…

Meaning & origin

May Two-Four

Victoria Day or its long weekend in Canada. Current informal holiday name Regional use: Canada, strongest in Ontario and also familiar in British…

Meaning & origin

See the elephant

Gain a much-anticipated but often harsh or disillusioning experience. Historical and now obscure Regional use: United States, especially 19th-century…

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.

How we research phrases