Phrase of the hour
Gone pear-shaped
Gone badly wrong or developed in an unintended and unsuccessful way. Informal. Usually applied to a situation, plan or performance rather than a…
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.
725
curious expressions
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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
Out of sight, out of mind
People tend to forget or neglect someone or something that is no longer visible or present. Often describes neglect caused by absence; it may refer to…
Meaning & originOn the lam
On the run or fleeing, all dodge.
Meaning & originRun the gauntlet
Pass through a threatening series of attacks, criticism, questions or other ordeals. Gantlet remains an accepted American spelling. Do not derive this…
Meaning & originUp to your ears
Buried deep in something, swamped.
Meaning & originLet the cat out of the bag
Reveal a secret, usually unintentionally or before the intended time.
Meaning & originDon't upset the apple cart
Avoid disrupting a good setup or plan, keeping it steady.
Meaning & originQuiet as a mouse
Extremely silent or stealthy, barely making a sound.
Meaning & originCome the raw prawn
Attempt to deceive, impose upon or treat someone unfairly. Informal and confrontational, often used in a warning not to try a trick. Regional use…
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.