Phrase of the hour
Charity 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…
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
609
source-backed entries
1,255
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
Come from away
A person who is not originally from the Atlantic Canadian place being discussed. Current regional identity term; tone depends on speaker and setting…
Meaning & originSwan song
A final performance, appearance or piece of work, produced at or just before retirement or the end of a career; occasionally of something completed…
Meaning & originGreenwashing
Misleading marketing or public relations that makes a company, product, or policy seem more environmentally friendly than it really is, typically…
Meaning & originPut paid to
To end or kill off.
Meaning & originBetter late than never
Doing something after the ideal time is preferable to not doing it at all. Often said lightly after a delay. It can sound inadequate when the delay…
Meaning & originOff the cuff
Spoken, decided, or done without advance preparation; impromptu rather than rehearsed.
Meaning & originGo for the big skate
Coast or wait for a conspicuous scoring chance instead of contributing steadily to team play. Highly obscure and domain-specific Regional use…
Meaning & originKeep your eyes peeled
To stay sharply alert or watchful, scanning for signs.
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.