Phrase of the hour
The pot calling the kettle black
A hypocritical criticism in which the accuser has the same fault as the accused. A direct accusation of hypocrisy. The shortened 'pot, meet kettle' is…
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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.
1,355
curious expressions
1,039
source-backed entries
2,115
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
Keep your nose to the grindstone
To work hard and steady, focused down.
Meaning & originLang may your lum reek
May your household remain warm, inhabited and prosperous for a long time. Warm, celebratory and strongly Scottish. Often heard around Hogmanay, but…
Meaning & originTouch grass
A dismissive instruction telling someone to go offline and reconnect with reality, aimed at people whose views seem warped by spending too much time…
Meaning & originIn like a dirty shirt
Eagerly involved, quickly inserted, or forcefully participating in something. Current informal simile, more frequent in Canada Regional use…
Meaning & originEvery cloud has a silver lining
A hopeful reassurance that even in bad situations, there's a positive aspect or potential for good to emerge, encouraging resilience and optimism. It…
Meaning & originA sea change
A profound transformation in character, condition, policy or outlook. Means a major transformation, not merely any alteration. Hyphenation is optional…
Meaning & originNow-now
Very soon or a short time ago, with the direction in time supplied by context. Context matters: it can point shortly forward or shortly backward. Just…
Meaning & originIn a New York minute
Almost immediately; in an exceptionally short time. Current informal idiom Regional use: United States; possible Canadian York antecedent.
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.