Phrase of the hour
Burn the midnight oil
To work late into the night, often implying diligence or effort beyond normal hours.
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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
Not a snowball's chance in hell
No possibility at all, doomed to fail.
Meaning & originGive'r
Put in maximum effort, go hard, or proceed with full enthusiasm. Current, informal, and energetic Regional use: Canada, especially Western Canada and…
Meaning & originHair of the dog
An alcoholic drink taken in the belief that it will ease a hangover caused by earlier drinking.
Meaning & originKick the bucket
To die. The expression is informal and can sound flippant when used about a recent or painful death.
Meaning & originYou've got your work cut out
Facing a tough, big job, all laid out.
Meaning & originKick against the pricks
Resist authority or unavoidable pressure in a way that only hurts oneself. Potentially distracting today because prick has acquired other senses. The…
Meaning & originCharity begins at home
One's first responsibility is to care for people and needs close at hand, especially family. Can defend reasonable local responsibility or excuse…
Meaning & originHave a bone to pick
Holding a grievance or issue to settle, itching for a confrontation.
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.