Phrase of the hour
Under your thumb
Being controlled or dominated by someone, submissive to their will like a digit pressed firmly down, with no room to wriggle free.
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
Every odd phrase has
a story to tell.
Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
725
curious expressions
409
source-backed entries
855
research references
Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Start with a letter
Browse the cabinet
Pulled from the drawers
A few curious finds
Up to your neck
Deep in a mess or load, swamped.
Meaning & originA stumbling block
An obstacle that prevents progress or makes success difficult. Neutral and common in formal as well as everyday writing. Regional use: Biblical…
Meaning & originNot a leg to stand on
No basis or support, flimsy as air.
Meaning & originA sair fecht
A hard struggle, or a wry acknowledgement that life is difficult. Regional and often wry. The phrase can express real hardship without inviting a…
Meaning & originDinna fash yourself
Do not worry or trouble yourself, and do not make unnecessary effort over the matter. Regional, friendly and usually reassuring. 'Dinna' is Scots, not…
Meaning & originYou've got another think coming
You're wrong and need to rethink, a sharp correction.
Meaning & originJump down someone's throat
React suddenly and angrily to someone, usually by criticizing, scolding or rejecting what they have said before giving them a fair hearing. The…
Meaning & originNot just whistling Dixie
Speaking seriously or accurately rather than idly boasting, with emphasis that a claim has real substance behind it. Often best avoided in neutral…
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.