Have you ever wondered why we say “God bless you” or “caught red-handed”? Despite their simple meanings today, their origins are anything but straightforward. In fact, many idioms we use now have ...

Idioms are weird, funny, catchy, and have an incredible ability to convey a lot of meaning in a small number of words. They often have strange or unique origins and evolve over time as they become a ...

Language is a living archive. Hidden inside the phrases you use every day are stories of ancient wars, medieval punishments, market swindles, and superstitions so bizarre they’d make your jaw drop.

Why do we say “elephant in the room”? Why do we say “dog and pony show”? And why do we say “sly as a fox”? These and many other popular expressions are part of everyday life in the English language — ...

With a nod to All Creatures Great and Small, explore familiar expressions—from pecking order to when pigs fly—that grew out of farm work and time spent around animals.

The post 13 everyday idioms that make zero sense until you know where they come from appeared first on Upworthy.

Some English idioms are so familiar that you can probably finish them instantly. Others are a little trickier, and you might find yourself trying to remember exactly which word comes next. From ...

Being a linguist—and someone who has tried to learn several languages (including English) in addition to my mother tongue (Flemish Dutch)—I have an annoying habit: instead of paying attention to what ...

Idioms can be especially confusing for young children because they often interpret language literally. Even when they ...