Our database is made from Phrases, Idioms and Sayings that are in common use in English. Basically that includes anything that most people will have heard before and will recognise the meaning of.

The many thousands of phrases that are used every day in colloquial speech, like the whole nine yards, go for it and kiss and make up.

Cockney Rhyming Slang like apples and pears and currant bun.

The list is long and comprehensive and currently contains more than 1,000 entries. We continuously add new ones as they become known and as a subscriber you will also have the option of sending them to us.

Whether you want to resolve a friendly argument over how a saying or phrase originated or whether you just enjoy words, you'll probably find something here to interest you. Are you a professional writer? If so, you may find that these Pages could make your life easier.

Have you ever wondered where some of them used in everyday language come from? Many of them common in daily English originate from a wide variety of sources - folklore, history, literature, mythology, language & culture of other countries, old customs & practices, religion, science and superstition. Here you will find the Main Index for alphabetized pages with explanations of their meanings and where they originated. In some instances, we've provided examples. Some are waiting for your feedback!


• French Phrases

• Latin Phrases

• Mondegreens

• Nautical Phrases

• Phrases Coined by Sir Walter Scott

• Phrases from Shakespeare

• Phrases of Reduplication

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