Phrase of the hour
Caught between a rock and a hard place
Facing a dilemma with no good options, stuck picking between two tough choices.
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
Every odd phrase has
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Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
1,849
curious expressions
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source-backed entries
3,174
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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
Chasing rainbows
Pursuing an impossible or illusory goal, wasting effort on something that can never actually be reached. Usually said with sympathy or gentle…
Meaning & originFit like a glove
To fit or suit exactly and perfectly, with nothing loose or forced. Used literally of garments and equipment that match the body's measurements…
Meaning & originIn for a penny, in for a pound
Once committed to a course of action, it is worth accepting the larger commitment needed to finish it. Often spoken at the moment a small undertaking…
Meaning & originMad as a March hare
Completely crazy or wildly eccentric, usually in a lively, harmless way rather than a threatening one. The simile is old-fashioned and more literary…
Meaning & originHalcyon days
A remembered period of happiness, prosperity, calm, or ideal conditions, almost always invoked retrospectively ('the halcyon days of something'). In…
Meaning & originSigns of the times
Events or trends regarded as characteristic evidence of the present period. Singular is common for one example; plural often refers to a cluster of…
Meaning & originMove heaven and earth
To make every possible effort to achieve something, however extreme or difficult the measures required. A strong hyperbole of determination, typically…
Meaning & originLike turkeys voting for Christmas
Doing something foolishly against your own interests.
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.