Phrase of the hour
The whole ball of wax
Everything involved in a matter: the complete collection, arrangement, business, or set of related concerns. Informal and sometimes slightly…
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1,555
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
Queer street
A difficult or precarious situation, especially financial trouble. The expression is dated and may be misunderstood because queer now has prominent…
Meaning & originToo big to fail
Describes a bank or other institution so large and interconnected that its collapse would devastate the wider economy, so governments are expected to…
Meaning & originEaten out of house and home
Said of a person, animal or habit whose consumption is so large it ruins the household footing the bill; today usually hyperbole with affectionate…
Meaning & originKowtow
To kneel and touch the forehead to the ground as an act of reverence or submission - the literal historical sense - but in modern English almost…
Meaning & originGo to Jericho
A dismissive command to go away, get out of sight and leave the speaker alone. Dated euphemistic dismissal, roughly 'go away' or a softened 'go to…
Meaning & originA bit part
A small acting role with only a few lines, ranking below a supporting part and just above work as an extra; by extension, anyone's minor walk-on role…
Meaning & originMove heaven and earth
To make every possible effort to achieve something, however extreme or difficult the measures required. A strong hyperbole of determination, typically…
Meaning & originMusic to my ears
Extremely pleasing or welcome to hear, said especially of good news or of words you have long wanted someone to say. The thing heard need not be…
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.