Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the expression 'a long face, to wear/draw/pull,' a phrase denoting sadness or dissatisfaction.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'the ball's in your court,' a popular expression denoting responsibility and initiative.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural relevance of the phrase 'believe one’s own eyes, one cannot,' a timeless expression of incredulity.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'blow one’s top/stack/fuse,' a colloquial expression denoting a loss of temper.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'break a leg,' a common expression of good luck, particularly in the performing arts.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'not a dog's chance,' a colloquial expression denoting extremely slim odds or chances.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'down in the mouth,' a term denoting sadness or unhappiness, with historical roots in the seventeenth century.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'drive someone to drink,' a metaphorical expression denoting extreme annoyance or frustration.
Explore the meaning, history, and cultural significance of the phrase 'drop a bombshell,' a metaphorical expression denoting the announcement of sensational news.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'eat crow/humble pie/dirt,' a popular expression for acknowledging errors and humiliation.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'egg on one’s face,' a mid-twentieth-century Americanism symbolizing embarrassment or foolishness.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural relevance of the phrase 'enough is enough,' a timeless expression signifying sufficiency and the avoidance of excess.
Discover the meaning, etymology, and cultural relevance of the phrase 'explore every avenue,' a common expression denoting thorough investigation of all possibilities.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'fighting mad,' a colloquial expression denoting intense anger, with historical roots in late 19th-century America.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'flattery will get you nowhere,' a mid-twentieth-century expression cautioning against the use of flattery to achieve goals.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrases 'for heaven’s sake,' 'for Pete’s sake,' and 'for pity’s sake,' used to express surprise, emphasis, or exasperation.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the expression 'for the love of Mike/Pete/God,' a phrase denoting exasperation or surprise, with roots in early 20th-century euphemisms.
Explore the origins, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'get the lead out of one’s feet,' a colloquial expression urging prompt action.
Explore the phrase 'goes without saying,' its meaning, etymology, semantic nuances, and cultural significance. Learn how this expression is used in literature and everyday language.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'heavens to Betsy,' an expression of astonishment from 19th-century America.
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.