Where does this phrase/proverb come from? [more inside]
posted on Jun 20, 2008 - 10 answers

Please help me expand my base of quaint southern expressions, aphorisms and witticisms. [more inside]
posted on May 8, 2008 - 103 answers

SpanishFilter: How can I politely say "I've had enough" or "I'm full" in Spanish? [more inside]
posted on May 6, 2008 - 14 answers

face down, ass up - what do you call that in bed? (possibly NSFW) [more inside]
posted on May 4, 2008 - 27 answers

Commonly misused phrases or expressions? [more inside]
posted on Apr 2, 2008 - 165 answers

From whence the phrase "oohh, not in the broccoli" spoken in a stereotype ESL japanese speaker accent? [more inside]
posted on Mar 8, 2008 - 5 answers

Given a word, how can I search for terms and idioms containing that word? [more inside]
posted on Feb 5, 2008 - 11 answers

Martha Stewart prepared a soup base using only carrots, celery and onion and then she said there was a French phrase for this method but I couldn't catch it.
posted on Feb 1, 2008 - 11 answers

Does the phrase "It's a mad, mad world" have an origin? [more inside]
posted on Jan 19, 2008 - 4 answers

I want a quote to go on my phone case. 2 lines. 21 characters per line. Preferable inspirational, possibly latin. [more inside]
posted on Aug 27, 2007 - 21 answers

What is the origin of the phrase "(you're) a gentleman and a scholar", or what popularized it? [more inside]
posted on Aug 23, 2007 - 16 answers

Where does the usage of "speaks to" to mean "speaks about" or "speaks of" come from. For example, "It speaks to our will to be goverened that we allow these things to happen"? Characters on Boston Legal are constantly using it also. It speaks to my frustration that I've not been able to find anything on its etymology on google.
posted on Jul 23, 2007 - 18 answers

What is the origin of the phrase "we are all [blank] now"? The earliest 'famous' usage I'm aware of is Nixon's "we are all Keynesians now," but I don't know if that was really where it started.
posted on Jun 29, 2007 - 7 answers

Does the phrase "Please, not in the face!" (in reference to a metaphorical imminent beating) have a definitive, particular origin from a famous film or some other piece of pop culture? Or has it just sort of established itself from actual beatings?
posted on Jun 15, 2007 - 16 answers

What is the origin of the "I | ___" phrasing? [more inside]
posted on Apr 26, 2007 - 10 answers

Help me find a phrase that reads the same left-to-right as up-to-down. [more inside]
posted on Mar 5, 2007 - 12 answers

Where did the phrase "beat seven bells" (out of someone) come from? [more inside]
posted on Feb 27, 2007 - 8 answers

Where does the phrase "more [whatever] than you can shake a stick at" originate? [more inside]
posted on Jan 30, 2007 - 12 answers

What's the term (if there is one) for a previously-unfamiliar concept that you suddenly encounter all over the place for no apparent reason? [more inside]
posted on Jan 24, 2007 - 38 answers

Where was the phrase "strangely intriguing" popularized? [more inside]
posted on Jan 21, 2007 - 7 answers

A Mexican friend of mine recently used a Spanish phrase that literally translates out to, "The world is like a handkerchief." He says it means the same as "it's a small world." However, he doesn't know the origins of this phrase or why it means that. Being mathematicians, we think it's that any point on the handkerchief can be brought arbitrarily close to any other point on the handkerchief. Does anyone know the origin of this phrase?
posted on Dec 22, 2006 - 6 answers

What is the original origin of the phrase "Falling in love with you wasn't part of the plan?" Movie quote? Book? Anyone?
posted on Aug 19, 2006 - 8 answers

What's the origin of the phrase "out like Lottie's eye"? [more inside]
posted on Aug 18, 2006 - 3 answers

What is the origin of the phrase "right up my (his, her, etc.) alley"??? Is it as simple as referring to being "in my neighborhood of expertise" or is there some sort of bowling reference going on? Google's letting me down here -- but maybe my search capacities are a little rusty.
posted on Jul 18, 2006 - 2 answers

What is the origin of the saying "Wherever we go, there we are"? [more inside]
posted on Jul 13, 2006 - 35 answers

Does anyone know the origin of the phrases 'after the jump' or 'more after the jump'? [more inside]
posted on Jan 30, 2006 - 12 answers

Why is "some of my best friends are black/jewish/gay/whatever" seen not only as unconvincing when it comes to disclaiming bias but also as a stereotypical response by one who is biased? [more inside]
posted on Jan 25, 2006 - 41 answers

Does anyone know, loosely or extensively, of Kyrgystan's methods of web censorship of religion? [more inside]
posted on Dec 31, 2005 - 1 answers

What is the origin of the "I just threw up a little bit in my mouth" phrase? [more inside]
posted on Dec 6, 2005 - 27 answers

You got the powwwer! Which movie was this from? [more inside]
posted on Oct 10, 2005 - 35 answers

What is the etymology behind the word "Cohee"? [more inside]
posted on Sep 13, 2005 - 2 answers

The hurricane has my mother remembering a saying from back in the 1930s or 1940s. She says men who were trying to show off their muscles (flexing, striking a pose) would commonly say "Powerful Katrina!" Somewhat in the way I guess we might make a Popeye joke. Try Googling "Powerful Katrina" today of course and I get only hurricane news. Does anyone know: Is the phrase from an old comic strip, radio show, an opera, or did my mom dream the whole thing?
posted on Sep 1, 2005 - 8 answers

What is a 'moment of (something) zen'? I keep seeing this (on blogs in particular) and I don't know what it means. [more inside]
posted on Jul 22, 2005 - 17 answers

Where does the phrase "X, Y, Z Oh my!" come from? I read it all over the web, but I don't get the reference.
posted on Feb 16, 2005 - 5 answers

What's the origin of the phrase "hunt you down like a dog?" I can seem to find the origins of other phrases involving dogs pretty easily but not this one.
posted on Feb 3, 2005 - 16 answers

What's the original source of the phrase "we lose more [noun] that way"? Googling has failed me, since I'm not sure which of the many nouns I've heard inserted in there is the correct one.
posted on Jan 29, 2005 - 6 answers

What is the origin of saying shocked twice to indicate emphasis (e.g., "I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that you would insinuate such a thing.")? Googling just brings up examples of it in speech and no origin.
posted on Jan 14, 2005 - 29 answers

Is there a good online dictionary of idioms and phrases? I know there are online thesauri, but they don't have the colorful expressions from the original Roget's I.
posted on Dec 16, 2004 - 6 answers

LanguageFilter: Any Arabic speakers here? I'm trying to decipher an Arabic phrase: "Baashake ya halo." I might have spelled it wrong, but I know it's not a common Arabic phrase so much as it is slang. Any ideas?
posted on Dec 12, 2004 - 9 answers

English/Literature question: I was watching some old Futurama episodes, and I noted on two occasions the use of the phrase "fevered dream"... [mo inside yo]
posted on Oct 12, 2004 - 7 answers

What is the origin of the phrase "good times, good times..." (said in a mock wistful tone)?
posted on Apr 27, 2004 - 25 answers

Excuse me, but can anyone tell me: What exactly is the origin of the phrase Go piss up a rope? I know it's present in the American South and Midwest, but did it originate elsewhere? Does the phrase occur in other countries? And how exactly does one piss up a rope? Does it mean Go climb a rope (similar to Piss off!), or literally Go urinate up a length of braided twine? And, while we're at it, what the hell does the H stand for in Jesus H Christ? I've always wondered. [...a little more inside]
posted on Jan 19, 2004 - 13 answers

"As the sun sets slowly in the west, we wave goodbye and goodnight to our friends on the tropical island..."

I started saying this to my daughter as I dim the lights at bedtime - and I'm *sure* that it comes from some cheesy TV show or movie that I used to watch when I was a kid. But for the life of me I can't figure out what. My brother looked at me like I was nuts when I asked him...

The "As the sun sets..." phrase is all over the web. Can anyone out there help cool my fevered brain? Does anyone know where that phrase comes from?
posted on Dec 18, 2003 - 11 answers