Phrase of the hour
Safe and sound
Completely out of danger and found or returned without physical injury, loss, or damage. Sound retains its old whole or uninjured sense in this…
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
Every odd phrase has
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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
On the horns of a dilemma
Stuck picking between two bad options, torn.
Meaning & originWhen hell freezes over
Never, an impossible wait.
Meaning & originFamiliarity breeds contempt
Close or prolonged acquaintance can reduce respect and make faults more noticeable. It describes a possible effect, not a universal law; familiarity…
Meaning & originYou can't put the genie back in the bottle
Once out, it's done, no undo.
Meaning & originA watched pot never boils
Waiting anxiously for something slows its seeming progress.
Meaning & originNot worth a tinker's damn
Worth absolutely nothing, or so unimportant that it merits no concern.
Meaning & originOn the ball
Sharp, alert, and quick to act, right on top of things.
Meaning & originLike a bolt from the blue
A sudden, shocking surprise, out of nowhere.
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.