Phrase of the hour
On the horns of a dilemma
Stuck picking between two bad options, torn.
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.
725
curious expressions
409
source-backed entries
855
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
Make no bones about it
To state something plainly with no hesitation or fuss, bare of doubt.
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 & originA laughing stock
A person, group or thing made an object of widespread ridicule. Modern dictionaries usually close the compound as laughingstock, while British…
Meaning & originHair of the dog
An alcoholic drink taken in the belief that it will ease a hangover caused by earlier drinking.
Meaning & originA thorn in your side
A person or problem that causes persistent trouble or irritation. Side and flesh versions coexist, but they have distinct biblical textual histories…
Meaning & originCaught with egg on your face
Left looking foolish or publicly embarrassed because something you did, said, or predicted went wrong.
Meaning & originThe be-all and end-all
The most important, decisive or comprehensive part of something, treated as if nothing else matters. Often appears in negative statements that reject…
Meaning & originKick the bucket
To die. The expression is informal and can sound flippant when used about a recent or painful death.
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.