Phrase Finder

I research the meanings and origins of English phrases and run the website.

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

"Put your shoulder to the wheel" - what wheel is that?

https://t.co/8KMvfpEZ86 https://t.co/8KMvfpEZ86

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

'Back to square one'. Most people in the UK know how this phrase originated - except they don't...

https://t.co/fjKUwX9BND https://t.co/fjKUwX9BND

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

Here's a seasonal phrase for you. At Christmas, in English villages in the Middle Ages, mum was the word...

https://t.co/w0iQHSCiGf https://t.co/w0iQHSCiGf

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

'My way or the highway' is one of the archetypal American expressions that really exemplify the 'divided by a common language' notion.

Certainly it's born in the USA but it isn't as old as I expected...... https://t.co/bhHqZmUYau

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

My site lists nearly 700 proverbs. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" is the one that people read the most.

Perhaps that's because they agree with the sentiment, or perhaps they want to know the... https://t.co/POR9WG2Fv3

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

A proverb that sounds old but isn't...

https://t.co/j2OsYU8Ntu https://t.co/j2OsYU8Ntu

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

'A kettle of fish' means a muddle. You may think you know what a kettle is in that context, but not everyone agrees. See this to assess the contenders...

https://t.co/TNeQjVwRMg https://t.co/TNeQjVwRMg

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

People's names crop up all the time in English phrases and sayings, but which one the most?

There's a clear winner - Jack...

https://t.co/yPZWt1JcXD https://t.co/yPZWt1JcXD

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

You are most likely to come across a character saying "My backache is giving me gyp" in a British sitcom. But what is 'Gyp' and where did it come from?

https://t.co/aOWPaSAssD https://t.co/aOWPaSAssD

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

Here's one I had wrong previously and have now corrected.

We all make mistakes from time to time, and I was in good company - the OED have it wrong too.

https://t.co/fWz07akz1i https://t.co/fWz07akz1i

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

"Et tu Brute" - what Julius Caesar said before he died. Well, maybe...

https://t.co/nxvYSQGIQG https://t.co/nxvYSQGIQG

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

Lots of people come to my website to find out the meaning of the Latin phrase 'Carpe diem'.

If you're not sure about that one, here's the full monty...

https://t.co/yCs28BP4rs https://t.co/yCs28BP4rs

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

Of all the proverbs that I have listed on my website, this is the one that gets the most traffic - I don't really know why. Perhaps some people want it explained, or perhaps they just like the horse... https://t.co/VI6RbZ4SPA

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

Here's a quiz I made of 20 idioms that people often get wrong. See how many you know...

(and let me know what you think - if people like it I may do some more quizzes)

https://t.co/I7N4rq4MDC https://t.co/I7N4rq4MDC

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

Here's a quiz I made with 20 idioms that people often get wrong. See how many you know...

https://t.co/I7N4rq4MDC https://t.co/I7N4rq4MDC

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

Many of the phrases we use every day originated in England before any English-speaking people arrived in America. Things are changed now and global English has been added to from a mix of sources, notably... https://t.co/VXShlqGhOZ

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

I spent an enjoyable day at the Richard III exhibition yesterday. Great place and worth a couple of hours of your time if you find yourself in Leicester, England.

I found out some interesting... https://t.co/hKPeBQkjij

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

For no better reason than I'd like to publicize it. Here's a link to the Famous Last Words section of my website - https://t.co/zGcKXIOdXO https://t.co/zGcKXIOdXO

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

For no better reason than I'd like to publicize it - here's a link to the Famous Last Words section of my website. https://t.co/zGcKXIOdXO https://t.co/zGcKXIOdXO

[Phrase Finder @phrasefinder]

Ever been hit for six? Well, six what? The clue's in the picture. Find out more here - https://t.co/yyBHbUZpf4 https://t.co/yyBHbUZpf4