Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'bite the dust,' tracing its etymology from classical literature to contemporary usage.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'bite your tongue,' including its etymology, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary usage of the phrase 'fight to the bitter end,' a nautical term denoting perseverance to the last extremity.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'black as night/pitch/the ace of spades' in this comprehensive dictionary entry.
Explore the phrase 'black book, (put) in one’s'—its origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance. Delve into its transformation from a symbol of disgrace to a modern-day personal address book.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'black sheep,' a term used to describe a deviant or eccentric member of a group.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'bleed someone white,' a term signifying financial extortion or depletion.
Discover the origins, cultural significance, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'blessed event,' a sentimental cliché referring to the birth of a baby.
Uncover the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'blind alley,' a term denoting a literal or figurative dead end. Explore its usage across various contexts and its enduring significance in language and culture.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the cliché 'blind as a bat/beetle/mole.' Discover its historical context, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'the blind leading the blind,' a biblical proverb illustrating misguided leadership.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural usage of the phrase 'blithering idiot,' a term denoting a senseless babbler, with roots in the Scots dialect.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural impact of the phrase 'blood is thicker than water,' emphasizing the importance of family ties over other relationships.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'blood, sweat, and tears,' famously associated with Winston Churchill and its usage in literature and culture.
Explore the phrase 'bloody but unbowed,' its origins in William Ernest Henley's 'Invictus,' and its cultural significance in expressing resilience and defiance.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural impact of the phrase 'blow away,' from its Vietnam War roots to its contemporary usage in expressing surprise and admiration.
The largest and most comprehensive resource of its kind, The Dictionary of Clichés features thousands of unique clichés, idioms, jargon, slang, euphemisms, and metaphors, alongside common expressions.