Phrase of the hour
All and sundry
Every person without distinction or exception; everyone in a particular group or place. Now mildly formal or old-fashioned. It normally refers to…
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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
Bark up the wrong tree
Pursue a mistaken lead, blame the wrong person or use an approach that cannot produce the result being sought.
Meaning & originYou've got your work cut out
Facing a tough, big job, all laid out.
Meaning & originSpill the beans
Reveal secret or previously hidden information, often indiscreetly or sooner than intended.
Meaning & originKeep your pants on
Hold off or chill, no haste.
Meaning & originNot my cup of tea
Not to your liking or style, unappealing.
Meaning & originWhen the cows come home
A long, vague wait, maybe never.
Meaning & originKindly revert
Please reply or respond, usually to a message or request. Formal and regionally standard. Revert back is common locally, though editors elsewhere may…
Meaning & originCarry coals to Newcastle
Supply something where it is already plentiful, making the effort needless. Newcastle refers to Newcastle upon Tyne, not another city of the same…
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.