Phrase of the hour
Eat crow
To admit a humiliating mistake and take the bitter hit, swallowing pride like a tough, unpalatable bird-grudgingly accepting defeat.
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
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725
curious expressions
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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
Bigger than Dallas
Enormous, spectacular, conspicuous, or so obvious that it should be impossible to overlook. Strongly regional and hyperbolic. Outside Texas it may…
Meaning & originBy hook or by crook
By any means that prove possible, whether straightforward or not. The means may be merely resourceful or may shade into unscrupulous behaviour…
Meaning & originNot worth a brass farthing
Worth next to nothing, cheap junk.
Meaning & originJump ship
To ditch a failing venture or group.
Meaning & originIn the doldrums
In low spirits, inactivity, or a period of stagnation. The Doldrums can also name the equatorial belt of light and variable winds and calms.
Meaning & originMethod in the madness
A rational plan or purpose concealed beneath apparently strange or chaotic behaviour. Usually reassuring or humorous. British English favours method…
Meaning & originFish out of water
Feeling awkward, uncomfortable, or out of place in an unfamiliar environment. It captures disorientation or mismatch-someone struggling to adapt-with…
Meaning & originUp to scratch
Meeting a decent standard or readiness, good enough to pass muster.
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.