Phrase of the hour
Up to your ears
Buried deep in something, swamped.
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.
1,901
curious expressions
1,585
source-backed entries
3,378
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
In the wake of
Following directly behind or, more often today, happening as a consequence of; in the aftermath of. The metaphor is a ship's wake, the trail of…
Meaning & originKeep your eyes peeled
To stay sharply alert or watchful, scanning for signs.
Meaning & originThrow the cat among the pigeons
To say or do something that causes sudden uproar, alarm, or scandal among a previously settled or complacent group - most often by revealing a…
Meaning & originOn the skids
Slipping down or failing.
Meaning & originDeep dive
A thorough, detailed examination or analysis of a subject, also used as a verb meaning to examine something in depth. Common in business, journalism…
Meaning & originTabula rasa
A completely blank state; in philosophy and psychology, the notion that the mind begins empty and is written on entirely by experience. In everyday…
Meaning & originAt His Majesty's pleasure
For an indefinite period subject to lawful Crown or government authority, especially in the formal language of detention and release. Formal legal…
Meaning & originCheap at half the price
A humorous way to call something very expensive; it is also sometimes used illogically to praise a bargain. Potentially ambiguous. Publish only with…
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.