Phrase of the hour
Kick the can down the road
To delay dealing with a problem, pushing it off for later.
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
Every odd phrase has
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Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
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
Spill the beans
Reveal secret or previously hidden information, often indiscreetly or sooner than intended.
Meaning & originEat humble pie
Admit that you were wrong or accept defeat, usually after having spoken or behaved with too much confidence.
Meaning & originOn the ropes
In a tight spot or near defeat, reeling.
Meaning & originCaught between a rock and a hard place
Facing a dilemma with no good options, stuck picking between two tough choices.
Meaning & originFit to be tied
Extremely angry, irritated, or agitated. Informal and hyperbolic. It normally means very angry, not literally violent or in need of restraint…
Meaning & originDouble-double
A coffee prepared with two servings of cream and two of sugar. Current informal food-and-drink term Regional use: Canada.
Meaning & originHither and thither
In many different, changing or apparently aimless directions; repeatedly from one place to another. Literary or old-fashioned in ordinary prose…
Meaning & originBatten down the hatches
To prepare thoroughly for trouble or danger, securing everything tight.
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.