Phrase of the hour
Caught with chaff
Fooled or nabbed by a trick, taken in.
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
Spit and image
A person who looks strikingly like another person, especially a close relative. Informal and normally used of physical resemblance. Spit and image can…
Meaning & originGone pear-shaped
Gone badly wrong or developed in an unintended and unsuccessful way. Informal. Usually applied to a situation, plan or performance rather than a…
Meaning & originYou've got your work cut out
Facing a tough, big job, all laid out.
Meaning & originUp in the air
Something uncertain or unresolved, still open to change or decision. It conveys ambiguity or suspense-plans, outcomes, emotions-hanging in limbo, with…
Meaning & originCold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
Extremely cold. The headphrase contains a vulgar anatomical joke. 'Brass monkey weather' is the neutral alternative. Regional use: United Kingdom and…
Meaning & originWhen push comes to shove
When it gets tough or critical, forcing action.
Meaning & originCaught in the crossfire
Trapped in a conflict not your own, hit by stray shots.
Meaning & originOn the horns of a dilemma
Stuck picking between two bad options, torn.
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.