Every article on the history of English, newest first.
Have you ever overheard the phrase “trial by fire” and remained puzzled as to what it might mean? Well, this article is here to solve exactly that! We will be covering what the phr…
If you’ve ever heard the phrase “play it by ear” in anything other than a musical context, you can be forgiven for any confusion as to its meaning. However, this article has got yo…
The phrase “two peas in a pod” is a popular English idiom that is so often used that its become cliche. If you don’t know the meaning of the term however, you’ve come to just the p…
If you want to understand the expression ‘walking on eggshells’, you’ve come to just the place! In this article, we will cover what the phrase means, how it may have originated, an…
Have you ever heard it said that someone has a “chip” on their shoulder? It’s an idiom, so you can be forgiven if you don’t know what it means. In this article, we’re going to spel…
When you are at a bar, pub, party, or restaurant, you are likely to overhear the request to have a drink “on the rocks”. In this context, this is an idiom referring to ice in one’s…
Ever heard the phrase “grasping at straws” and wondered what on earth it meant? If so, then this is the place for you. Here, we will cover what the idiom means, how it originated,…
If you use TikTok, or hang out with someone who does, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the phrase “bombastic side eye” complete with a matching video meme. However, a bombastic s…
The phrase ‘benefit of the doubt’ is often used in everyday conversation, but not always within the context in which it originated. In this article you’re going to learn all about…
In recent times, the phrase “soft girl era” has been increasingly bandied about on memes on social media apps. If you were ever unclear on what is meant by that, worry not, because…
Today, you often hear the phrase “throwing shade” used to describe the behaviour of political figures. It’s a figurative saying, so you can be forgiven for not knowing what it mean…
The phrase “chalk it up” is one that can be used in a range of different contexts. However, as an idiom, its meaning cannot be deduced from the individual words, which can lead to…