Phrase of the hour
An odyssey
A long, eventful journey - literal or spiritual - marked by wanderings, delays, reversals, and hard-won arrival. The word carries the shape of its…
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.
1,857
curious expressions
1,541
source-backed entries
3,209
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
Neck of the woods
The district, neighbourhood or general area where one lives or happens to be, as in 'not much happens in my neck of the woods'. Originally and still…
Meaning & originTongue in cheek
Said or done ironically, as a joke, rather than with the apparent seriousness; the speaker's pretended sincerity signals that the remark should not be…
Meaning & originBox of birds
Very well, cheerful or full of energy. Informal and upbeat, commonly used after feel, be or look. Regional use: New Zealand.
Meaning & originToe the line
To conform to a rule, standard or authority, especially where obedience is expected or enforced rather than freely chosen. It frequently carries a…
Meaning & originMind like a steel trap
Having a sharp, quick memory or wit, snapping shut on details.
Meaning & originThe rat race
A grinding, competitive way of life in which people chase money, status, or security at exhausting speed, typically in urban work. The phrase stresses…
Meaning & originPop your clogs
A humorous British euphemism meaning to die, roughly equivalent to 'kick the bucket'. Informal and strongest in British, originally northern English…
Meaning & originNeither use nor ornament
Completely useless, being neither practical nor even decorative. When applied to a person it is blunt and potentially insulting. Regional use: United…
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.