Phrase of the hour
Wet your whistle
To have a drink, usually an alcoholic one, and often one that moistens the throat or refreshes the drinker. It is a jocular, conversational way to…
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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
Wolf in sheep's clothing
Someone who presents a harmless, kind or trustworthy appearance while concealing hostile, greedy or predatory intentions. Almost always a warning that…
Meaning & originUgly duckling
A person or thing that seems plain, unpromising, or unimpressive at first but later develops into something admired or successful. Frequently used of…
Meaning & originCharity begins at home
One's first responsibility is to care for people and needs close at hand, especially family. Can defend reasonable local responsibility or excuse…
Meaning & originMansplaining
Explaining something in a condescending or overconfident way, especially a man explaining to a woman who in fact knows more about the topic than he…
Meaning & originFeather your nest
To make yourself comfortably wealthy, especially by quietly accumulating money, perks, or advantages through a job or official position. The phrase…
Meaning & originEat your hat
To admit a big shock or wrong, stunned.
Meaning & originDollars to doughnuts
A wager or assertion made with overwhelming confidence. Somewhat old-fashioned but still transparent Regional use: United States and Canada.
Meaning & originLike a kid in a candy store
Thrilled or wild with glee, all eyes.
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.