Explore the meaning, origin, and cultural significance of the phrase 'perish the thought,' including its etymology, semantic analysis, and contemporary relevance.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural usage of the phrase 'pick of the litter,' a term denoting the best selection from a group, often used metaphorically beyond its literal origins.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'pie in the sky,' tracing its roots to early 20th-century labor movements and its enduring relevance in contemporary discourse.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural relevance of the phrase 'piece of work, a,' from its Shakespearean roots to its contemporary sarcastic usage.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'a pillar of society,' including its historical context and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the cliché 'pinpoint accuracy,' from its military roots to its broader cultural significance.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'pipe down,' a term rooted in naval tradition and widely used in contemporary language.
Explore the origins, historical context, and cultural significance of the phrase 'a place for everything and everything in its place,' a maxim for neatness and appropriateness.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural relevance of the phrases 'plain as day' and 'plain as the nose on your face,' tracing their historical evolution and contemporary usage.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the cliché 'plain sailing,' a term rooted in navigation and used to describe effortless situations.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'to have a lot/enough on one’s plate,' a common expression denoting an overwhelming amount of responsibilities or tasks.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'play both ends against the middle,' including its etymology and cultural significance.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'play hardball,' a term denoting aggressive and competitive behavior, rooted in baseball terminology.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'play musical chairs,' a metaphor for rapid and confusing changes in jobs or decisions.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'play one’s cards close to one’s chest,' including its usage in literature and social contexts.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'play second fiddle, to.' Learn how this expression is used in various contexts and its contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'play the field,' including its historical roots in British horse-racing and its modern applications in dating and risk management.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'play the game, to,' including its historical context and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'play the race card,' including its historical context and contemporary relevance.
Uncover the origins, meanings, and cultural relevance of the phrase 'play with fire,' a metaphor for courting danger. Explore its historical context and contemporary usage.
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.