Phrase of the hour
Leave much to be desired
To be noticeably inadequate, disappointing, or below the standard expected, often expressed as restrained criticism rather than a blunt condemnation…
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Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Folklore labelled honestly.
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Facts are chiels that winna ding
Facts are stubborn things that cannot simply be knocked down or dismissed. Literary Scots. It asserts the resistance of evidence to contradiction, not…
Meaning & originGet your hands dirty
To do the hard, practical, or unpleasant parts of a job yourself rather than supervising or delegating them; said with approval of a willingness to…
Meaning & originRaise the roof
To make a loud, wild ruckus or cheer, shaking the place with noise.
Meaning & originPop your clogs
A humorous British euphemism meaning to die, roughly equivalent to 'kick the bucket'. Informal and strongest in British, originally northern English…
Meaning & originKeep at bay
To hold a threat, an enemy or an unwelcome force at a distance and prevent it from advancing or doing harm. The object is usually something…
Meaning & originHit the nail on the head
To describe or address something with perfect accuracy, pinpointing the truth or solution without error or excess. It evokes a carpenter's precise…
Meaning & originAn albatross around your neck
A heavy burden of guilt, shame, or misfortune that someone cannot shake off, especially one created by their own actions. Usually said of a lasting…
Meaning & originWhistle-stop tour
A campaign swing built on many brief appearances in many small towns, classically delivered from the rear platform of a train that halts just long…
Meaning & origin
Language 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.