A curious dictionary of everyday English
Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
Phrase of the moment
A person, thing, argument, or situation that is fundamentally different from the one previously discussed or expected. Informal but widely understood. British spelling uses 'colour,' and 'another color' is a…
Uncover the storyStart with a letter
Pulled from the drawers
A long way away, or not remotely close to a target, standard or result. Regional and informal. The source call is part of…
Meaning & originIn a precarious, fragile state, teetering on the edge of collapse or survival, held by the slimmest chance.
Meaning & originNabbed pilfering or stealing, caught cold.
Meaning & originTo stir things up or cause a fuss, rocking the calm.
Meaning & originTo head straight for something with speed and focus.
Meaning & originOlder folks or things resist change or learning, stuck in ways.
Meaning & originA case containing twenty-four bottles of beer. Current informal term and cultural identity marker Regional use: Canada…
Meaning & originHave a look or inspect something briefly. Informal. Spellings vary because the term was transliterated and transmitted…
Meaning & originLanguage has legends. Evidence matters.
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.