Phrase of the hour
Cheap at half the price
A humorous way to call something very expensive; it is also sometimes used illogically to praise a bargain. Potentially ambiguous. Publish only with…
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
Every odd phrase has
a story to tell.
Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
925
curious expressions
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research references
Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Start with a letter
Browse the cabinet
Pulled from the drawers
A few curious finds
Still waters run deep
A quiet or reserved person may have substantial intelligence, feeling, or complexity beneath the surface. Now usually approving, though older examples…
Meaning & originDamp squib
A disappointing event or effort that produces far less effect than expected. Do not list 'damp squid' as a standard variant; it is a common…
Meaning & originPut the heart crossways in someone
Give someone a sudden severe fright or shock. Informal and emphatic. Often used immediately after a startling noise or unexpected appearance. Regional…
Meaning & originSee which way the wind blows
To wait and gauge the situation, testing the drift.
Meaning & originMake a rod for your own back
To set up your own trouble, self-made.
Meaning & originA wolf in sheep's clothing
Someone hiding bad intent behind a gentle facade, deceptive.
Meaning & originA month of Sundays
An extremely long or seemingly endless period, usually in negative statements about likelihood. Informal hyperbole. In a negative construction it can…
Meaning & originOn the wallaby track
Travelling the country on foot in search of work or subsistence. Historical Australian slang. It evokes itinerant labour and hardship; modern use is…
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.