Phrase of the hour
Hold water
To stand up or hold true, solid as fact.
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
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.
1,465
curious expressions
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2,335
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Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Folklore labelled honestly.
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Browse the cabinet
Pulled from the drawers
A few curious finds
Blue blood
Descent from an aristocratic or noble family, or membership of the hereditary upper class generally. In modern use the phrase is often faintly ironic…
Meaning & originBowdlerize
To censor or expurgate a text by removing or rewriting material judged indecent, offensive, or otherwise unsuitable; by extension, to weaken or…
Meaning & originCuffing season
Slang for autumn and winter, the stretch when single people are said to look for a partner to settle down with through the cold months, typically…
Meaning & originCarpe diem
Seize the day: make the most of the present moment rather than trusting in or deferring to tomorrow. Used as an exclamation, a motto, or a modifier…
Meaning & originGreenwashing
Misleading marketing or public relations that makes a company, product, or policy seem more environmentally friendly than it really is, typically…
Meaning & originCaught in the act
Nabbed doing something wrong, mid-move.
Meaning & originPut the comether on
Charm, coax or cajole someone, sometimes in order to deceive them. Regional and dated. The phrase can imply either attractive persuasion or dishonest…
Meaning & originNecessity is the mother of invention
Difficult or pressing circumstances stimulate ingenuity, forcing people to devise solutions they would never have sought in easier times. It is said…
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.