Delve into the etymology, semantic nuances, and cultural relevance of the cliché 'battle-ax,' a term historically used to describe a bossy, combative woman.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'boon companion,' a term denoting a favorite friend or convivial associate, tracing its origins from French and its usage in literature.
Explore the phrase 'break ground, to'—its origins, historical context, semantic nuances, cultural usage, and contemporary relevance in language and innovation.
Explore the phrase 'broad in the beam,' its nautical origins, cultural implications, and contemporary relevance. This entry delves into its historical context, semantic nuances, and usage in modern discourse.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'call a spade a spade,' a term denoting frank and explicit speech. Delve into its etymology, semantic nuances, and cultural significance.
Explore the meaning, history, and cultural significance of the proverb 'catch more flies with honey than vinegar' and its implications in various contexts.
Explore the phrase 'clinging vine,' its definition, etymology, semantic nuances, and cultural relevance. Delve into its historical context and contemporary usage.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'clothes make the man,' tracing its historical roots and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural relevance of the cliché 'crying over spilled milk,' a phrase emphasizing the futility of regret over irreversible actions.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural relevance of the phrase 'deaf as a post,' a simile with roots dating back to the sixteenth century.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'do one's own thing,' from its historical roots to its contemporary relevance in self-expression and individualism.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'don't give/care a rap for,' denoting something worthless or uninteresting.
Explore the etymology, cultural significance, and contemporary relevance of the phrase 'the fair sex' as a reference to females, tracing its origins and usage across history.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the cliché 'fat city,' denoting prosperity and success, with historical and contemporary insights.
Explore the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the phrase 'a fish out of water,' tracing its historical roots and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, historical context, and contemporary usage of the phrase 'flat as a pancake,' a simile denoting extreme flatness, with cultural and semantic insights.
Explore the origins, historical context, and cultural significance of the cliché 'for the life of me.' Delve into its etymology, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance.
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 etymology, semantic nuances, and cultural usage of the phrase 'forlorn hope,' tracing its origins from Dutch military terminology to its contemporary meaning as a desperate undertaking.
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.