Phrase of the hour
The man on the Clapham omnibus
A figurative stand-in for the ordinary, reasonably educated and level-headed person, used especially in English law as the benchmark for how a…
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Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
1,759
curious expressions
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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
Tipping point
The moment a gradual change becomes sudden and irreversible - the threshold at which a slow accumulation of small pressures flips a system into a new…
Meaning & originKing's ransom
An extremely large sum of money, far more than something is worth or more than an ordinary person could pay. Almost always used hyperbolically about…
Meaning & originHats off to someone
Used to praise, congratulate or give credit to someone for an achievement or admirable act ('hats off to the crews who brought the harvest in before…
Meaning & originSchmooze
To chat in a relaxed, friendly, and persuasive way, often at parties, conferences, or work events, sometimes with an undertone of working the room for…
Meaning & originWith flying colours
With complete, conspicuous success; triumphantly. It is the standard way of saying that someone passed a test, examination, or ordeal not merely…
Meaning & originBox of birds
Very well, cheerful or full of energy. Informal and upbeat, commonly used after feel, be or look. Regional use: New Zealand.
Meaning & originA needle in a haystack
A person or thing that is extremely difficult, or practically impossible, to find because it is hidden within a much larger search area or mass of…
Meaning & originTurn King's evidence
Give evidence for the prosecution against one's alleged accomplices, usually in hope of leniency. Legal and sometimes figurative. In 2026 the UK form…
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.