Phrase of the hour
Hold water
To stand up or hold true, solid as fact.
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
Phrase of the hour
To stand up or hold true, solid as fact.
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Pulled from the drawers
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 & originTo censor or expurgate a text by removing or rewriting material judged indecent, offensive, or otherwise unsuitable; by extension, to weaken or…
Meaning & originSlang 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 & originSeize 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 & originMisleading marketing or public relations that makes a company, product, or policy seem more environmentally friendly than it really is, typically…
Meaning & originNabbed doing something wrong, mid-move.
Meaning & originCharm, coax or cajole someone, sometimes in order to deceive them. Regional and dated. The phrase can imply either attractive persuasion or dishonest…
Meaning & originDifficult 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.
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.