Phrase of the hour
Play to the gallery
To perform or behave in an exaggerated, crowd-pleasing way calculated to win popular applause, rather than acting with subtlety, judgment or…
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1,941
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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
Son of a gun
A friendly, usually affectionate label for a mischievous or roguish person, or an exclamation of surprise, admiration or mock reproach. In American…
Meaning & originCash cow
Business jargon for a product, division or asset that reliably generates more cash than it costs to maintain, its surplus typically diverted to fund…
Meaning & originApple of your eye
A person or thing that is especially loved, prized, and protected above others. Warm and usually personal. It can refer to a prized object or project…
Meaning & originHead and shoulders above
Measurably or dramatically better, taller or more impressive than everyone or everything else in a comparison. Applied to quality, ability…
Meaning & originPin money
A small sum of money for incidental personal spending. Historically it meant an allowance a husband gave his wife for her own purchases, a sense now…
Meaning & originTake it with a grain of salt
Treat a statement cautiously rather than accepting it as wholly accurate, complete or sincere. 'A grain of salt' is the usual North American wording…
Meaning & originToo much of a good thing
Even something pleasant or beneficial turns unpleasant or harmful when taken to excess. Usually said with wry resignation about indulgence - food…
Meaning & originHang in there
To endure or persist through tough times, holding on.
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.