Every article on the history of English, newest first.
The phrase ‘black swan event’ has been bandied about fairly often since the turn of the millennium. However, not everyone understands what is meant by the term, or how the term cam…
Ever overheard someone debate whether or not to ‘spin the block’ and felt completely clueless as to what they may have meant? This article is going to explain it all. We’ll kick th…
Sometimes you might overhear someone say something along the lines of “I’m a little too long in the tooth for that”. The phrase is an idiom, and as such the meaning cannot be deduc…
You only need to have one miserable person in a group before someone mutters “misery loves company”. However, this phrase can have all sorts of connotations, and is often used as a…
“What is a sapiophile?” you may ask. Well, we’ve got an answer right here for you. In this article, we’re going to cover exactly what is meant by the term ‘sapiophile, before going…
The idiom and proverb ‘curiosity killed the cat’ gets banded around a lot – especially to people who tend to ask a lot of questions. So it makes sense to find a site like this that…
The phrase ‘apple of my eye’ is an idiom, which means that you can’t deduce the meaning of the phrase through the individual words, and you have to view the phrase as a whole. In t…
“It is what it is” – it’s a phrase you hear anywhere and somehow it means nothing but also means something. Confused? If so, you’re not alone. This article however, is going to cha…
You occasionally hear the phrase “for the birds” or “strictly for the birds” when the circumstances have nothing to do with birds at all. This is because the two phrases are idioms…
If you’re wondering why ‘DINKWAD’ in the title is in all caps it’s because it’s an acronym rather than a word. But even if you were to try and guess what it stands for, it might no…
People use the phrase “when in Rome” so much that it’s become cliche. But it’s only one half of the whole saying, and people are rarely in Rome when they say it. So, if you’re wond…
“Top of the morning” is a frequently heard (and spotted) greeting both in person and online, but the true origins of the phrase may surprise and enlighten you. This article is ongo…