Phrase of the hour
The better part of valour is discretion
Caution or withdrawal can be wiser than taking a needless risk merely to appear brave. Often lightly humorous or self-justifying. Valour is the…
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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
Play cat and mouse
To toy with an opponent - letting them almost escape, or almost succeed, before closing in again. The phrase covers a pursuer who could finish things…
Meaning & originBlue chip
A blue chip is a share in a large, established, financially dependable company, and by extension any first-class, reliably valuable asset or person…
Meaning & originTurn up trumps
Produce an unexpectedly good result or prove especially helpful when needed. Informal and approving. Come up trumps is a very common modern form…
Meaning & originNot worth a tinker's damn
Worth absolutely nothing, or so unimportant that it merits no concern.
Meaning & originWhen in Rome, do as the Romans do
Advice to follow the customs, habits or rules of the place you are visiting or the group you are mixing with, rather than insisting on your own ways…
Meaning & originPacked like sardines
Pressed tightly together in a cramped space with no room to move comfortably, typically of people in a train, lift, room or vehicle. The comparison is…
Meaning & originSick to death
Fed up or done.
Meaning & originUp to snuff
Of a satisfactory or acceptable standard: 'the second rehearsal wasn't up to snuff'. Usually negated ('not up to snuff') to criticize quality or…
Meaning & origin
Language 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.