Phrase of the hour
Foul play
Dishonest, treacherous or criminal conduct; sometimes violence suspected in a death or disappearance. In police reporting it often implies possible…
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.
725
curious expressions
409
source-backed entries
855
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
You can't put the genie back in the bottle
Once out, it's done, no undo.
Meaning & originShow a leg
Get out of bed, get moving, or demonstrate that you are awake. Informal and brisk. The accompanying story about sailors' wives should be labelled…
Meaning & originBurn your bridges
To cut off all retreat or ties, leaving no way back.
Meaning & originLike the clappers
Extremely fast or with great energy. Informal and lively. The verb changes with the action being intensified. Regional use: Chiefly British English.
Meaning & originEat your words
To retract a bold claim or boast, swallowing it back.
Meaning & originReap what you sow
Experience consequences that correspond to one's earlier actions. Often negative, but the underlying agricultural analogy permits beneficial…
Meaning & originEvery cloud has a silver lining
A hopeful reassurance that even in bad situations, there's a positive aspect or potential for good to emerge, encouraging resilience and optimism. It…
Meaning & originPut a sock in it
A blunt demand to shut up or stop making noise, stuffing chatter like a sock jams a gap-crude but effective.
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.