Phrase of the hour
Keep your hair on
Stay calm or cool, no flap.
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.
2,006
curious expressions
1,690
source-backed entries
3,678
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
Money for old rope
Money or profit gained with very little effort, or a task that is exceptionally easy. It is chiefly British and informal, usually said of an easy job…
Meaning & originBoondocks
Informal, chiefly American term for a remote, thinly settled, rough or rural area, almost always used with 'the'. It began as soldiers' slang for…
Meaning & originBang for your buck
Value or impact received in return for money spent; usually heard as 'more bang for the buck', meaning a better result per dollar. The image is…
Meaning & originA moveable feast
An event, arrangement or state of affairs that has no fixed date or schedule and shifts as circumstances change, such as a deadline that keeps moving…
Meaning & originA tough act to follow
A performance, predecessor or achievement so outstanding that whoever comes next will struggle to match it. Farlex's examples run from an admired…
Meaning & originGive someone a hand
Two senses. To help someone with a task, as in asking for assistance with something heavy or complicated. Also, to applaud someone, that is, to clap…
Meaning & originBy and large
Generally, on the whole or after considering the main aspects. A sentence adverb usually set off by commas. 'By in large' is a mishearing, not a…
Meaning & originA shot across the bow
A warning that stronger action will follow unless the recipient changes course. The phrase covers everything from a regulatory letter to a shock…
Meaning & origin
Language 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.