Phrase of the hour
Hang out to dry
To abandon someone to face trouble, criticism or punishment alone, especially after they had good reason to expect backing, often with blame shifted…
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.
1,415
curious expressions
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source-backed entries
2,235
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
Full steam ahead
Proceeding, or an instruction to proceed, with maximum speed, effort, and commitment and without hesitation or reservation; often an exclamation or…
Meaning & originTake a back seat
To assume, or be relegated to, a secondary or less prominent position while someone or something else takes the lead; also to choose to withdraw from…
Meaning & originMoney burns a hole in your pocket
Cash you itch to spend fast.
Meaning & originGo out on a limb
To take a bold risk or stand alone, venturing into uncertainty.
Meaning & originA cock and bull story
An absurd, far-fetched, or obviously false account offered as an explanation or excuse; an implausible tale. It implies the listener is not expected…
Meaning & originJump the shark
To reach a conspicuous moment when a television series or other long-running enterprise is perceived to sacrifice credibility or quality for a…
Meaning & originElephant in the room
A major, obvious problem that everyone present is aware of but deliberately avoids mentioning because doing so would be embarrassing or uncomfortable…
Meaning & originPart and parcel
An essential, expected, or inseparable component of a larger activity, system, or experience. Most often appears after be: something is part and…
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.