Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'flash in the pan,' a term denoting a brief triumph or promising start that ends in failure.
Explore the etymology, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the term 'fly-by-night,' an expression denoting unreliability and irresponsibility in business and beyond.
Explore the origins, historical context, and cultural significance of the phrase 'girl/man Friday,' a term denoting a trusted assistant, originating from Daniel Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe.'
Explore the origins, historical context, and cultural significance of the phrase 'Ground Zero,' from its atomic roots to its metaphorical usage in modern discourse.
Explore the origins and contemporary significance of the phrase 'groves of academe,' tracing its roots from ancient Greece to modern literary and cultural contexts.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'hail fellow well met,' a term denoting congeniality and superficial friendliness.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the proverb 'half a loaf is better than none.' Delve into its historical context, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary usage of the cliché 'half the battle,' a phrase denoting a successful start, rooted in an 18th-century proverb.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'hand to mouth,' used to describe living with minimal sustenance. Delve into its etymology, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary usage of the phrase 'hang out one’s shingle,' commonly used to denote the opening of a professional practice.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'hanged for a sheep as well as a lamb,' a proverbial expression reflecting the equivalence of punishment for minor and major offenses.
Explore the intricacies of the phrase 'the ins and outs,' its etymology, semantic nuances, and cultural significance. Delve into its historical context and contemporary relevance.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'kick upstairs, to,' a term used to describe promoting someone to a higher rank with less responsibility.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'know the ropes, to,' a term rooted in nautical history and widely used to denote expertise and familiarity with tasks.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'knuckle under, to.' Learn about its historical context and contemporary relevance.
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.