Explore the origins, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'rule the roost, to.' Delve into its historical context and contemporary relevance in language and society.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'rule with an iron hand/rod,' tracing its biblical roots and contemporary usage in literature and society.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'run a tight ship,' a metaphor for effective management and strict discipline.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'run around in circles, to,' a colloquial expression denoting indecisive or aimless activity.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'run circles/rings around, to,' including its historical context and contemporary relevance.
Explore the etymology, semantic analysis, and cultural significance of the phrase 'run in the blood/family, to,' a common expression denoting familial traits or characteristics.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'run of the mill,' including its etymology, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'run off at the mouth,' including its historical context and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'run one's head against a brick wall,' a vivid expression of futile efforts against insurmountable difficulties.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'run riot, to,' including its semantic nuances and cultural significance.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'run the gamut, to,' including its historical context and contemporary relevance.
Explore the historical origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'run the gauntlet.' Delve into its evolution from a military punishment to a metaphor for enduring criticism or danger.
Explore the etymology, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'run to earth, to.' Discover its origins in hunting and its evolution into a widely used expression for finding or discovering something.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'run to seed, to,' including its usage in literature and contemporary contexts.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'running battle,' an idiom rooted in naval warfare and widely used in contemporary discourse.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'to get/give the sack,' a colloquial expression denoting dismissal from employment.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'sacred cow,' a term denoting individuals or institutions considered beyond criticism.
Explore the origins, historical context, and cultural significance of the phrase 'sad sack,' denoting a pathetically inept individual, rooted in World War II cartoon character Sad Sack.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'a sad state of affairs.' Delve into its etymology, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'sadder and wiser,' a cliché that encapsulates learning from unfortunate experiences.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'sail close to the wind,' a metaphor for approaching impropriety or legal boundaries.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'sail under false colors,' a term rooted in maritime history and used to describe deceptive behavior.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural relevance of the phrase 'the same old rigmarole.' Delve into its historical context and contemporary usage in language and society.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander,' a proverb advocating for equal treatment and fairness.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'save one’s skin, to,' tracing its historical roots and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the cliché 'save your breath,' tracing its etymology from the sixteenth century to contemporary usage.
Explore the origins, etymology, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'saved by the bell,' a cliché denoting a last-minute reprieve, with historical and cultural insights.
Explore the origins and cultural significance of the phrase 'schoolgirl complexion,' its etymology, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance in language and advertising.
Explore the phrase 'scout's honor,' its origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance in modern language. Understand its usage and related expressions.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'scrape the bottom of the barrel,' tracing its historical roots and contemporary relevance.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'scratch the surface, to,' including its historical context and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'scream bloody/blue murder,' including its historical context and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'sea legs, to get one's,' tracing its nautical roots and contemporary applications.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'second nature,' a term denoting deeply ingrained habits and instinctual behavior.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'secret weapon,' from its wartime roots to its metaphorical use in various fields.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'see eye to eye.' Discover its biblical roots, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance in language and culture.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'see light at the end of a tunnel,' a metaphor for hope and resolution amidst adversity.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'see the light, to,' from its religious roots to its broader applications.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'see through someone/something, to,' a locution dating back to the sixteenth century.
Delve into the etymology, cultural significance, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'see you later,' a widely used informal farewell with historical roots and playful variations.
Explore the meaning, origins, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'seek and ye shall find,' including its biblical roots and cultural significance.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'seen better days,' tracing its historical roots from Shakespeare to modern usage.
Discover the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the cliché 'seen one, seen them all, if/when you’ve.' Explore its historical context and relevance in contemporary discourse.
Discover the origins, historical context, and cultural significance of the phrase 'a self-made man,' a term denoting individuals who achieve success through their own efforts.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'sell down the river,' a term rooted in betrayal and American history.
Explore the meaning, origin, and cultural significance of the phrase 'sell like hot cakes,' a popular expression denoting rapid sales. Discover its etymology, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'sell someone a bill of goods,' including its historical context and contemporary relevance.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'send packing,' a term used to describe the act of dismissing someone summarily.
Explore the historical and legal implications of the 'separate but equal' doctrine, its origins in Plessy v. Ferguson, and its eventual overturn in Brown v. Board of Education.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural relevance of the phrase 'separate the men from the boys,' a figurative expression distinguishing maturity and competence.
Explore the phrase 'separate the sheep from the goats,' its biblical origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance in sorting the superior from the inferior.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'separate the wheat from the chaff,' a metaphor for distinguishing valuable elements from worthless ones.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'set great store by, to,' including its historical roots and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the cliché 'Set in Stone' through a scholarly lens. Discover its etymology, semantic nuances, and usage in literature and contemporary discourse.
Delve into the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural relevance of the phrase 'set one’s cap for, to,' a term historically used to describe the pursuit of a potential mate.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'set one's heart at rest,' as used by Shakespeare and in John Ray's proverb collection.
Explore the phrase 'set one's heart on,' its origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance. Delve into its historical context and contemporary relevance.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'set one’s sights on,' its semantic nuances, and its relevance in contemporary discourse.
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.