Phrase of the hour
Vanish 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…
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Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Folklore labelled honestly.
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Green fingers
A natural talent for growing plants successfully, making them thrive where others fail. Chiefly British, and usually found in the phrases 'have green…
Meaning & originAn old flame
A former sweetheart, lover or romantic partner, especially one for whom feelings linger. 'Old' marks the affair as past; 'flame' carries the old…
Meaning & originWilly-nilly
Whether one wishes it or not; by compulsion, or in a later sense, without order or planning. The compelled sense and the disorderly sense both remain…
Meaning & originA favorite son
A politician favored above all by their own people: originally a candidate put up by a home-state delegation at a national party convention, usually…
Meaning & originBlow hot and cold
Behave inconsistently by alternating between enthusiasm and reluctance, approval and disapproval, or other opposite attitudes, leaving your true…
Meaning & originButter someone up
To flatter someone or lavish them with attentive kindness in the hope of winning favour or a specific benefit. The tone is usually teasing or faintly…
Meaning & originKeep your shirt on
A plea to stay calm or patient, holding off a hotheaded strip to fight.
Meaning & originCopper-bottomed
Completely reliable, secure or trustworthy; unlikely to fail under pressure. Informal but common in business and political language. It may describe…
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.