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.

725 curious expressions
409 source-backed entries
855 research references
Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.

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Jump the shark

To reach a conspicuous moment when a television series or other long-running enterprise is perceived to sacrifice credibility or quality for a…

Meaning & origin

Smart aleck

Someone irritatingly smug about being clever or knowledgeable. Current informal and mildly insulting Regional use: United States, with early Western…

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