Explore the origins, semantic analysis, and cultural relevance of the phrase 'change one's stripes/spots, cannot,' a metaphor for the unchangeable nature of one's character, rooted in ancient proverbs and biblical texts.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'to bear a charmed life,' famously coined by Shakespeare and widely used to denote extreme luck and protection.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'chickens come home to roost,' a timeless expression of retribution and consequence.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'chief cook and bottle washer,' a colloquial expression denoting an individual with varied responsibilities.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural relevance of the cliché 'child's play, easy as/that's,' tracing its historical roots and contemporary usage.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'chip on one’s shoulder,' a term denoting a quarrelsome attitude or a lingering grievance.
Explore the origins, historical context, and cultural significance of the phrase 'clean as a hound’s tooth,' a simile denoting spotlessness and integrity.
Explore the meaning, etymology, and cultural significance of the phrase 'clean as a whistle,' including its historical roots and contemporary relevance.
Explore the etymology, semantic nuances, and cultural relevance of the phrase 'clip someone's wings, to,' tracing its roots from ancient Roman times to contemporary usage.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'close but no cigar,' a popular American idiom denoting near success. Delve into its etymology, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance.
Explore the meaning, origins, and cultural significance of the phrase 'coals of fire,' a metaphorical expression rooted in biblical tradition and used to describe acts of kindness towards adversaries.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'cold feet.' Delve into its etymology, semantic nuances, and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, meaning, and cultural significance of the phrase 'cold fish, a,' a term denoting an unemotional or unfeeling person, with historical and literary references.
Discover the origins, semantic nuances, and cultural significance of the cliché 'cold hands, warm heart,' a phrase suggesting that undemonstrativeness need not signify lack of feeling.
Explore the phrase 'cold heart, a' with a detailed analysis of its definition, etymology, semantic nuances, cultural usage, and contemporary relevance.
Explore the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of the phrase 'to give/show the cold shoulder,' a term denoting indifference or snubbing, with roots in 19th-century customs.
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.