Phrase of the hour
Fall off the wagon
To relapse into a bad habit, usually drinking, after quitting.
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
Hold the line
To stand firm or keep steady, resisting pressure.
Meaning & originSly as a fox
Cunning or sharp, sneaky smart.
Meaning & originSend someone packing
Dismiss, reject or drive someone away abruptly and decisively. Informal and forceful. In sport it commonly means eliminate from a competition…
Meaning & originCry over spilled milk
To waste time or emotion regretting something trivial or irreversible, lamenting a loss that can't be undone instead of moving on. It conjures a…
Meaning & originAll hat and no cattle
Showy, boastful, or impressive in appearance but lacking the experience, substance, wealth, or ability being advertised. Informal and insulting. It…
Meaning & originDouble-double
A coffee prepared with two servings of cream and two of sugar. Current informal food-and-drink term Regional use: Canada.
Meaning & originKeep your powder dry
Remain prepared and conserve resources until they are needed. A somewhat old-fashioned military metaphor, often used in politics, business, and…
Meaning & originGone for a Burton
Lost, ruined, broken or, in its original wartime use, killed. The death sense carries wartime associations; modern use more often concerns objects or…
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.