Phrase of the hour
In deep water
In serious trouble or difficulty, typically a situation that has grown beyond what one can easily handle or escape; often used in progressive…
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.
1,465
curious expressions
1,149
source-backed entries
2,335
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
The lady doth protest too much
A sardonic aside suggesting that a vehement denial reveals what it tries to conceal: object too strongly and people assume guilt. The modern use…
Meaning & originPigs might fly
A sarcastic retort meaning that whatever has just been predicted or promised is so unlikely that it will never happen; used to mock over-optimistic…
Meaning & originThe thin end of the wedge
The first small stage of something that will grow into a much larger and usually unwelcome development. Typically deployed to argue that a…
Meaning & originGo belly up
To fail completely, collapse, or cease to exist; said especially of businesses, projects, plans, or schemes that go bankrupt or come to nothing, and…
Meaning & originPut the kibosh on
Stop, suppress, or bring an activity or plan to an end.
Meaning & originFair to middling
Acceptable or moderately good, but not especially impressive.
Meaning & originNon sequitur
A statement or conclusion that does not follow from what preceded it: in logic, an inference its premises do not support; in everyday speech, a remark…
Meaning & originYou can't put the genie back in the bottle
Once out, it's done, no undo.
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.