http://www.phrases.org.uk/a-phrase-a-week/ The meanings and origins of English phrases, sayings and idioms. A newly researched phrase is added each week. en-us Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT apaw@phrasefinder.co.uk http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bats-in-the-belfry.html What is the link between the phrases 'bats in the belfry', 'dead ringer' and 'saved by the bell'? Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cock and bull story.html Did this originate in the Cock and the Bull inns in Buckinghamshire - or is that just a cock and bull story? Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/fight-fire-with-fire.html Pass the petrol; I'm just going to put that fire out. Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/chop-chop.html Hurry up; there are choppy waters ahead. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/with-bells-on.html Bow bells? Seven bells? Hell's bells? Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/think-outside-the-box.html Which box is that? Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/toodle-oo.html I'll be toddling off. Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/high-flyer.html It's good to fly high - or is it? Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/till-may-is-out.html June. Time to take your coat off? Fri, 30 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/die-hard.html You mean there's an easy way? Fri, 23 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/let-the-cat-out-of-the-bag.html Didn't that piglet just miaow? Fri, 16 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/donkeys-years.html Howdy. I haven't seen you in donkeys. Fri, 09 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bandy-words-with.html Bandy. Isn't that like hockey? Fri, 02 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bale-out-bail-out.html Bale? Bail? Which is which? Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/blown-to-smithereens.html Blown where? Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/silver-bullet.html Who was that masked man? Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/point-blank.html What's the point? Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/chaise-lounge.html We all long to lounge. Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/guinea-pig.html A what, from where? Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/through-thick-and-thin.html A new double act? Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/strait-and-narrow.html Let's get this straight... Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/round-robin.html Hood? Redbreast? Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/raining%20cats%20and%20dogs.html Rein in those wild ideas. Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/acronyms.html As rare as hen's teeth - an old acronym. Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/devil-to-pay.html Just think. Do you owe him anything? Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/i-havent-got-a-clue.html Don't string me along Fri, 1 Feb 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/best-bib-and-tucker.html Would you need both? Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/ups-a-daisy.html Why daisy? Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/parting-shot.html With an arrow? Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/half-cocked.html Not the best time to go off. Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/boxing-day.html Seconds out? Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cook-the-books.html Cooking the books - making a comeback. Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/get-down-to-brass-tacks.html Or is that 'brass tax'? Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/spelling-bee.html Why not a spelling a, or c? Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/on-cloud-nine.html Or seven, or eight, or... Fri, 30 Nov 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/grass-up.html Who's a pretty boy then? Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/red-herring.html Trick or treat? Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/keep-the-ball-rolling.html What ball was that exactly? Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/living-daylights.html Jeepers, creepers, where'd ya get those daylights. Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/three-sheets-to-the-wind.html One, two, three - fall over. Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/on-the-warpath.html The road to rage. Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/in-the-pink.html Better than being in the red. Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/toe-the-line.html Toe? Tow? Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/top-dog.html Do you need to be a dog to be top? Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/barking-mad.html You don't have to live in East London to be barking. Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the-whole-shebang.html Shebang - is that like a ball of wax, or an enchilada, or a caboodle, or...? Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/prime-time.html Prime time - at 4am? Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/run-the-gauntlet.html Gauntlets. Running. No connection, surely? Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/flash-in-the-pan.html Which bright spark thought of this one? Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/curry-favour.html Curried horse? Surely not? Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/to-a-t.html T, tee, tea? Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/coin-a-phrase.html Who coined 'coin a phrase'? Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/rack-and-ruin.html Rack and ruin. Do you need both? Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/take-umbrage.html Take it? I'd need to know what it is first. Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/curiosity-killed-the-cat.html Or did it? Fri, 06 Jul 2007 11:00:00 GMT http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/get-underway.html Under, or over?. Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:00:00 GMT