Phrase of the hour
See the elephant
Gain a much-anticipated but often harsh or disillusioning experience. Historical and now obscure Regional use: United States, especially 19th-century…
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725
curious expressions
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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
Fool's gold
Something that looks valuable but isn't, a shiny fake.
Meaning & originDon't rock the boat
To avoid stirring trouble or change, keeping things steady.
Meaning & originA wolf in sheep's clothing
Someone hiding bad intent behind a gentle facade, deceptive.
Meaning & originEat like a pig
Eat a large amount, or eat in a way the speaker considers greedy, hurried, or messy. Informal and disapproving when aimed at someone else. It may…
Meaning & originBurn the candle at both ends
To overwork or exhaust yourself, pushing too hard.
Meaning & originGive a wide berth
To steer clear or avoid, keeping distance.
Meaning & originBirds of a feather flock together
People with similar interests, habits or character tend to associate with one another. Often shortened to birds of a feather. It can neutrally…
Meaning & originMake a clean sweep
To clear or win it all, total take.
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.