Phrase of the hour
Take the cake
To be the most outstanding or extreme example, for better or worse; now often used ironically of something especially surprising, annoying, or absurd.
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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
Neither use nor ornament
Completely useless, being neither practical nor even decorative. When applied to a person it is blunt and potentially insulting. Regional use: United…
Meaning & originCuffing season
Slang for autumn and winter, the stretch when single people are said to look for a partner to settle down with through the cold months, typically…
Meaning & originGhosting
Abruptly ending a relationship or communication with someone by cutting off all contact and ignoring their attempts to reach out, without any…
Meaning & originEven Stevens
Exactly equal or fairly balanced, especially once debts, favours or points have been settled between two people, so that nothing is owed on either…
Meaning & originThere's method in the madness
Said when someone's behaviour looks irrational, scattered, or chaotic but is actually guided by a hidden plan or logic. Usually offered as a wry…
Meaning & originOne fell swoop
A single sudden action that affects or disposes of everything concerned. Fell is an archaic adjective meaning fierce or deadly. 'One foul swoop' and…
Meaning & originThere's the rub
That is the central difficulty, obstacle or inconvenient point. Somewhat literary but concise. Rub means obstacle here, not friction or massage…
Meaning & originA sight for sore eyes
Someone or something that is very welcome or pleasing to see, especially after a long absence, a wait, or a spell of difficulty; a person whose…
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.