Phrase-A-Week is a free service to e-mail you 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's the archive of posts:

A cock and bull story
Now is the winter of our discontent
Saved by the bell
Below the salt
Local derby
A load of codswallop
Pipe dream
Left in the lurch
The darling buds of May
Pass the buck
Take the Mickey
As pleased as Punch
Hobson's choice
Back to square one
Willy-nilly
Up the duff
Turn a blind eye
In the offing
As good as gold
The exception that proves the rule
Heavy metal
Rule of thumb
With bated breath
Over the moon
Scot free
At one fell swoop
The bitter end
Beat a hasty retreat
Beyond the pale
Hoist by your own petard
Minced oaths
Sleep tight
From sea to shining sea
Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
Christmas card sayings and phrases
Baker's dozen
Flavor of the month
The floozie in the jacuzzi
As keen as mustard
Daylight robbery
Between the Devil and the deep blue sea
Cop an attitude
You are what you eat
Be afraid, be very afraid
Push the envelope
Just deserts
Laughing-stock
Whipping boy
High, wide and handsome
A moveable feast
Speak of the devil
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
Break a leg
Lame duck
So sue me
The bee's knees
Nine days' wonder
Never-never land
Paint the town red
Lock, stock and barrel
Dead ringer
The whole nine yards
Ship-shape and Bristol fashion
Head over heels
Whet your appetite
Shake a leg
Taken aback
Shanks' mare
Go berserk
Heard it through the grapevine
Eat humble pie
Thumbs up
Helter-skelter
Flotsam and jetsam
Knuckle down
Draw a blank
Chock-a-block
Trick or treat
Come up trumps
On your tod
Kick the bucket
Steal one's thunder
As mad as a hatter
Jot or tittle
Tinker's damn
Merry Christmas
Point to point
Port out, starboard home - POSH
Beck and call
Read the riot act
Run amok
Full tilt
Know your onions
Stool pigeon
Spruce-up
Short shrift
Spitting image
True blue
Tell it to the marines
Tuckered out
A sledgehammer to crack a nut
Blue-plate special
Wild goose chase
Aid and abet
Heavens to Murgatroyd
In the doldrums
By and large
Skid row
On the wagon
Play ducks and drakes
Get underway
Curiosity killed the cat
Take umbrage
Rack and ruin
Coin a phrase
To a T
Curry favour
A flash in the pan
Run the gauntlet
Prime time
The whole shebang
Barking mad
Top dog
Toe the line
In the pink
On the warpath
Three sheets to the wind
The living daylights
Keep the ball rolling
Red herring
Grass up
On cloud nine
Spelling bee
Get down to brass tacks
Cooking the books
Boxing Day
Go off half-cocked
Parting shot
Ups-a-daisy
Best bib and tucker
I haven't got a clue
The devil to pay
Acronyms
Raining cats and dogs