Phrase of the hour
Fair crack of the whip
A fair opportunity to take part, compete or prove one's ability. Informal. Fair go is the shorter and especially characteristic Australian equivalent…
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
Every odd phrase has
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Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
725
curious expressions
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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
Give the game away
Reveal a secret, hidden intention, plan, or surprise, often inadvertently, so that a deception is exposed or the intended surprise is spoiled. The…
Meaning & originWhere there's muck there's brass
Dirty, unpleasant or unglamorous work can produce worthwhile profit or prosperity. Informal and often approving of practical enterprise, though it can…
Meaning & originA drop in the bucket
A tiny part of a big whole, barely a dent.
Meaning & originBy and large
Generally, on the whole or after considering the main aspects. A sentence adverb usually set off by commas. 'By in large' is a mishearing, not a…
Meaning & originPlay hooky
Stay away from school or another obligation without permission. Current informal expression Regional use: United States, later North American English.
Meaning & originRun a tight ship
To manage strictly or well, all in line.
Meaning & originCross that bridge when you come to it
To deal with a problem only when it arises, not fretting ahead.
Meaning & originThe last best West
A historical promotional name for the Canadian Prairie West. Historical; survives in Prairie heritage references Regional use: Manitoba, Saskatchewan…
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.