'A Phrase A Week' is a free service - we e-mail an explanation of the origin of a commonly-used English phrase each week.

We research the origins of phrases continuously and publish them in our idioms and phrases section. Here are some recent additions:

Round Robin
Strait and narrow
Through thick and thin
Guinea pig
Chaise lounge
Point blank
Silver bullet
Blown to smithereens
Bale out/bail out
Bandy words
Donkey's years
Let the cat out of the bag
Die-hard
Ne'er cast a clout till May be out
Toodle-oo
Think outside the box
With bells on
Chop-chop
Fight fire with fire
A cock and bull story
Bats in the belfry
Warts and all
As easy as pie
In a cleft stick
Come a cropper
Chip on your shoulder

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