Phrase of the hour
Laughing all the way to the bank
Making money easily or unexpectedly, reveling in profit with smug glee.
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1,435
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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
Send someone packing
Dismiss, reject or drive someone away abruptly and decisively. Informal and forceful. In sport it commonly means eliminate from a competition…
Meaning & originNest egg
A sum of money saved and set aside, especially for retirement, an emergency, or some future purpose. The term often implies a growing reserve that is…
Meaning & originGet the sack
To be dismissed from a job, usually unceremoniously. The phrase is informal and common in British and Australian English; in American English 'get…
Meaning & originPut the heart crossways in someone
Give someone a sudden severe fright or shock. Informal and emphatic. Often used immediately after a startling noise or unexpected appearance. Regional…
Meaning & originStill waters run deep
A quiet or reserved person may have substantial intelligence, feeling, or complexity beneath the surface. Now usually approving, though older examples…
Meaning & originKeep it under your hat
To keep something secret, tucked away.
Meaning & originLike turkeys voting for Christmas
Doing something foolishly against your own interests.
Meaning & originFor the birds
Completely worthless, trivial or beneath serious attention; fit only to be dismissed. An informal American put-down applied to things, ideas and…
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.