Phrase of the hour
At death's door
So close to dying that the arrival is nearly announced - said of the critically ill, and by extension of anything tottering: firms, seasons, careers…
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Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Folklore labelled honestly.
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A few curious finds
Dead ringer
A person or thing that looks exactly like another; an exact double. Typically 'a dead ringer for someone'. Informal and usually light-hearted; the…
Meaning & originThe icing on the cake
An extra benefit or pleasing feature on top of something already good, making a good thing better; also used ironically of a final aggravation heaped…
Meaning & originGreen with envy
Extremely envious: someone turns or is green with envy when they keenly want what another person has. Usually light or exaggerated in tone, and most…
Meaning & originMore than you can shake a stick at
Used of a quantity or number too large to count or take in, typically in the pattern 'more X than you can shake a stick at'. It conveys abundance with…
Meaning & originLie through your teeth
To tell a blatant, deliberate falsehood with no attempt at subtlety and no apparent shame. It conveys more than ordinary dishonesty: a barefaced lie…
Meaning & originSet your teeth on edge
Cause an unpleasant physical sensation in the teeth or make someone acutely irritated or uncomfortable. It can describe either a literal dental…
Meaning & originVanish into thin air
To disappear completely and mysteriously, leaving no trace, sign, or explanation behind. Applied to people, objects, money, files, and hopes alike, it…
Meaning & originTruth will out
Hidden facts cannot stay hidden forever; however carefully a lie or secret is guarded, the truth will eventually come to light. Often said with a…
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.