Phrase of the hour
Take the gilt off the gingerbread
To strip the shine or fun, dull it.
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.
725
curious expressions
409
source-backed entries
855
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
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Don't question or critique a free gift, taking it as is.
Meaning & originFirst come, first served
People are dealt with in the order in which they arrive or apply. Often used attributively before basis, with or without hyphens depending on house…
Meaning & originRide shotgun
To sit in the front passenger seat of a vehicle. It can also mean accompanying, assisting, supervising, or protecting someone or something.
Meaning & originA foregone conclusion
An outcome treated as inevitable or effectively decided before full consideration. Often used with not or far from to reject overconfidence. It can…
Meaning & originIn the lap of luxury
Living in grand comfort or wealth, pampered.
Meaning & originWhen the cat's away
Chaos or freedom reigns when authority's gone.
Meaning & originLike turkeys voting for Christmas
Doing something foolishly against your own interests.
Meaning & originFly off the handle
To suddenly lose one's temper or become uncontrollably angry, often in an exaggerated or unexpected outburst. It's typically used to describe…
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.