Phrase of the hour
War chest
A stock of money set aside in advance for a coming struggle, most often an election campaign, a legal battle, or a corporate takeover fight, though…
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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
Give the slip
To escape or dodge someone slyly, slipping away unnoticed.
Meaning & originKeep your pecker up
Remain cheerful, courageous, or determined despite difficulty. This chiefly British expression is old-fashioned and easily misunderstood…
Meaning & originYou've got rocks in your head
You are showing very poor judgment or proposing something the speaker considers foolish. A blunt insult to someone's judgment or intelligence. It can…
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 & 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 & originMind your Ps and Qs
Be careful about your manners, conduct, or details; behave properly and avoid mistakes.
Meaning & originGung ho
Informal adjective, American in flavour, meaning extremely enthusiastic, eager, or zealous, sometimes so much so that it sounds excessive or naive. It…
Meaning & originGo out on a limb
To take a bold risk or stand alone, venturing into uncertainty.
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.