Phrase of the hour
Sing like a bird
To spill or sing out free, all voice.
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
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Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
1,025
curious expressions
709
source-backed entries
1,455
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
Wet behind the ears
Inexperienced or naive, still green and untested.
Meaning & originGive the game away
Reveal a secret, hidden intention, plan, or surprise, often inadvertently, so that a deception is exposed or the intended surprise is spoiled. The…
Meaning & originKeep your pants on
Hold off or chill, no haste.
Meaning & originFirst come, first served
People are dealt with in the order in which they arrive or apply. Often used attributively before basis, with or without hyphens depending on house…
Meaning & originFall between two stools
To miss both options, stuck in limbo.
Meaning & originIn a New York minute
Almost immediately; in an exceptionally short time. Current informal idiom Regional use: United States; possible Canadian York antecedent.
Meaning & originMake a mountain out of a molehill
To exaggerate a small problem into something much bigger than it is, often out of anxiety, drama, or misperspective, blowing minor issues out of…
Meaning & originGaslighting
Psychological manipulation in which a person persistently denies or distorts another's experiences until the victim doubts their own memory…
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.