Phrase of the hour
Double-double
A coffee prepared with two servings of cream and two of sugar. Current informal food-and-drink term Regional use: Canada.
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
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Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
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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
The best-laid schemes of mice and men
Even carefully made plans can be defeated by events beyond anyone's control. Literary but widely recognized. 'Schemes' is Burns's wording; 'plans' is…
Meaning & originTake it with a grain of salt
Treat a statement cautiously rather than accepting it as wholly accurate, complete or sincere. 'A grain of salt' is the usual North American wording…
Meaning & originThe whole shebang
The entire thing, group, operation, or collection. Current informal idiom Regional use: United States, later widespread.
Meaning & originMan does not live by bread alone
People need intellectual, emotional, or spiritual nourishment as well as material necessities. Traditional man is generic; people do not live by bread…
Meaning & originWash your hands of something
Disclaim responsibility for, or end involvement with, a person or problem. Often implies a conspicuous or morally questionable refusal of…
Meaning & originIn the lap of luxury
Living in grand comfort or wealth, pampered.
Meaning & originOver a barrel
Helpless, trapped, or subject to another person's control. Current informal idiom Regional use: United States; now widespread.
Meaning & originAn elegant sufficiency
A deliberately formal and often humorous way of saying that one has had enough to eat or drink and is politely declining another helping. Usually said…
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.