Phrase of the hour
Cheap at half the price
A humorous way to call something very expensive; it is also sometimes used illogically to praise a bargain. Potentially ambiguous. Publish only with…
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.
1,849
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Plain-English meanings.
Folklore labelled honestly.
Folklore labelled honestly.
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Realpolitik
A style of politics based on practical power, circumstances, and material interests rather than on ideology, ideals, or moral principles. Usually…
Meaning & originThird time lucky
Said to express or encourage the belief that a third attempt will succeed where the first two failed - sometimes as genuine confidence, sometimes as a…
Meaning & originOn the ball
Sharp, alert, and quick to act, right on top of things.
Meaning & originWar chest
A stock of money set aside in advance for a coming struggle, most often an election campaign, a legal battle, or a corporate takeover fight, though…
Meaning & originPush the boat out
To celebrate or spend much more generously than usual, laying on a lavish meal, party, round of drinks, or treat; also of doing something in notable…
Meaning & originLook before you leap
A proverb advising you to examine the risks and likely consequences of an action before committing to it, especially where a decision cannot easily be…
Meaning & originTurn the tide
To reverse the direction of a contest, crisis or trend, so that fortunes shift from one side to the other. It usually describes a decisive…
Meaning & originA sound bite
A brief extract, originally an audio or television clip of someone speaking, short enough to drop into a news bulletin; by extension any pithy…
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.