Phrase of the hour
A watched pot never boils
Waiting anxiously for something slows its seeming progress.
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.
1,145
curious expressions
829
source-backed entries
1,695
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
Je ne sais quoi
An elusive, hard-to-describe quality that makes someone or something distinctive and appealing, almost always in a positive way. It is a slightly…
Meaning & originRun the gauntlet
Pass through a threatening series of attacks, criticism, questions or other ordeals. Gantlet remains an accepted American spelling. Do not derive this…
Meaning & originZig when others zag
To take an unconventional or opposite approach from the crowd, choosing a unique path for advantage or flair.
Meaning & originLike a cat with nine lives
Surviving tough scrapes, always up.
Meaning & originShipping
Fandom slang for endorsing or hoping for a romantic pairing between two fictional characters or, more riskily, real people; a ship is the pairing…
Meaning & originKick over the traces
To rebel or break free, tossing off rules.
Meaning & originBy hook or by crook
By any means that prove possible, whether straightforward or not. The means may be merely resourceful or may shade into unscrupulous behaviour…
Meaning & originWhat's done is done
A past action cannot now be changed and should be accepted or left behind. Can express mature acceptance or an attempt to avoid accountability…
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.