Phrase of the hour
A siren call
An appeal hard to resist that leads, if obeyed, to a bad end - the tempting offer, cause, or ideology whose believers end up wrecked. The siren song…
Uncover the storyA curious dictionary of everyday English
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Discover what peculiar British and American expressions mean, where they came from, and how people actually use them.
1,857
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Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Start with a letter
Browse the cabinet
Pulled from the drawers
A few curious finds
Galore
In large numbers or amounts; abundantly, plentifully. It is nearly always postpositive, following the noun it modifies ('opportunities galore', 'food…
Meaning & originUpset the applecart
To spoil a plan, arrangement, or otherwise stable situation, usually suddenly; to ruin things that were going smoothly. Commonly used with a…
Meaning & originOn the ball
Sharp, alert, and quick to act, right on top of things.
Meaning & originYou're the bee's knees
You are excellent, outstanding, or greatly admired. The bee's knees can also describe an excellent thing.
Meaning & originHush money
Money paid to stop someone revealing information, usually about the payer's own misconduct. The payment buys silence rather than any service, so the…
Meaning & originDon't shoot the messenger
Spare the bearer of bad news, not their fault.
Meaning & originMoney doesn't grow on trees
A warning that money is not easily obtained and should not be spent or requested carelessly; said especially to someone, often a child, who treats…
Meaning & originHappy as Larry
Extremely happy and carefree. Usually positive and informal, with no necessary reference to a real Larry. Regional use: Australia, New Zealand, United…
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.