Phrase Finder

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  • Hold the phone - rose 01/February/04
    • Hold the phone - Henry 01/February/04
    • Hold the phone - R. Berg 01/February/04
  • "Quoted as saying" - sphinx 01/February/04
  • Murphy O'Meyer ... that does it - Sabine 01/February/04
  • To pop one's clogs - Larry Baruch 31/January/04
    • To pop one's clogs - Henry 31/January/04
      • To pop one's clogs - James Briggs 01/February/04
  • The Queen's "grey men"? - ESC 30/January/04
  • Hammers of Hell - SR 30/January/04
  • Biological changes over time - ESC 30/January/04
  • Toward the within - jean 30/January/04
    • Toward the within - Bruce Kahl 30/January/04
  • Name of prose/poem/author - Martha George 30/January/04
    • Name of prose/poem/author - Gary 30/January/04
  • Searching for song title - ESC 29/January/04
  • Cheese Bus - Brian from Shawnee 29/January/04
  • Red Sea experience - ESC 29/January/04
  • Apples and oranges... - Niki 29/January/04
  • I need the words to this act please help - Missy 29/January/04
    • Slowly I Turn - R. Berg 29/January/04
  • "Tide me over" - john 28/January/04
    • "Tide me over" - Bruce Kahl 28/January/04
  • Ears were burning - Lotg 28/January/04
  • To peter - Marcel 28/January/04
    • To peter - maddog 29/January/04
  • 'take a gander' - WordCrafter 28/January/04
  • Jump off the deep end - Sax 28/January/04
  • Site gone walkabout - Gary 28/January/04
    • Site gone walkabout - ESC 28/January/04
      • Site gone walkabout - Ward Fredericks 28/January/04
  • Are these new terms? - ESC 28/January/04
  • I kid you not - ESC 28/January/04
  • Idiom - HCD 27/January/04
    • Idiom - ESC 27/January/04
      • Idiom - Bookworm 28/January/04
  • OED up-dates some citations - James Briggs 27/January/04
    • Citations - Lewis from the Old World 30/January/04
  • ????????? - sam 27/January/04
    • Fine words and a studied mien. - Smokey Stover 27/January/04
  • Hanging swamp - Lotg 26/January/04
  • Phrases - C. Knabel 26/January/04
    • Poetic foot; degrees of separation - ESC 26/January/04
  • Pithy on a rock bun - Debby Crossley 26/January/04
  • Meaning of phrase - Anita 26/January/04
  • Another reading article (questions are inserted in brackets) - sphinx 26/January/04
  • Qs - sphinx 26/January/04
  • Schneid? - ESC 26/January/04
  • To spring - Shkval 25/January/04
    • To spring - ESC 26/January/04
  • ...crushing round house... - Mario 25/January/04
  • Haywire - Dave Jacobs 25/January/04
  • First usage of 2 phrases - James B. Andrews 24/January/04
  • Hidden inuendo - Marty Puetz 24/January/04
    • Hidden inuendo - pdianek 25/January/04
  • "So Many Women -- So Little Time!" - SkyGuy 24/January/04
  • When least expected - Jeanne Dowell 24/January/04
  • Not in the least - Jeanne Dowell 24/January/04
  • Wanker - Lotg 24/January/04
  • "Mi duck" - pdianek 24/January/04
  • Hand over fist - Catz 23/January/04
  • Two shakes of a lamb's tail - NealW 23/January/04
  • Origin of phrase - Jared 23/January/04
  • Leave No Child Behind - ESC 22/January/04
  • &mdash - Fred 22/January/04
  • Codswollop - Steve Downing 22/January/04
  • East wind blows no good! - SR 21/January/04
  • Phrase - steve 21/January/04
  • "She could charm pictures off the wall" - Shkval 21/January/04
  • Buckle Down - Sax 21/January/04
  • Phrases - Leaf 20/January/04
  • Origin of "passing the baton" - steven 20/January/04
  • Y.B. - Sax 20/January/04
    • Y.B? - Word Camel 21/January/04
      • Y.B? - Bob 21/January/04
  • A fetcher - ESC 20/January/04
  • Sackcloth and ashes - mary 20/January/04
  • Hotter than Dutch love. - Randy Ostrow 19/January/04
  • History is written by the victors. - R. Ostrow 19/January/04
  • Taylor made - ESC 19/January/04
    • Oh dear!!! - Lotg 19/January/04
      • NY Times: effect vs affect - Bruce Kahl 19/January/04
  • Put to shame - James Fox 19/January/04
  • Urgent meaning of (off/on) trade sales - khalid alsaif 19/January/04
  • Up Sticks - James Briggs 19/January/04
  • Swings and round abouts - James Fox 19/January/04
    • Swings and round abouts - Shae 19/January/04
      • Swings and round abouts - Fred 19/January/04
  • The meaning of "po-faced"? - pdianek 19/January/04
  • Proverbs/sayings - nicky 18/January/04
  • Help me! - Amy Jones 18/January/04
    • Help me! - ESC 18/January/04
  • Origin of the phrase "Killing me softly" - QueenieBelle 18/January/04
  • Meaning of 'She lost it at the Waldorf' - Devon 18/January/04
  • Fred Karno's Circus - Chris 18/January/04
  • Puns involving substitution of meaning - David 18/January/04
  • I need your help!!! - Jean Spetebroodt 17/January/04
    • I need your help!!! - Henry 17/January/04
      • I need your help!!! - Jean Spetebroodt 18/January/04
  • Help needed in translating Old Possum's book... - jud-shva 17/January/04
  • He was born on third and thinks he hit a triple. - phil jones 17/January/04
  • Origin of God's Own Country - Ronaldo 16/January/04
  • Phrase History/meaning inquiry - George Partridge 16/January/04
    • Lickety-split - ESC 16/January/04
  • "Props to____" - Kiwi 16/January/04
    • "Props to____" - ESC 16/January/04
      • "Props to____" - Kiwi 17/January/04
  • Keep up with the Jonses - Sax 16/January/04
  • Band of brothers, p2. - Shkval 16/January/04
  • Origination and exzact meaning - HEATHER 16/January/04
  • Hold a candle - Alexander Clement 16/January/04
    • Hold a candle - ESC 16/January/04
  • City mouse, country mouse - Dave Xnet 16/January/04
  • The power of the [word removed in order to comply with Google's Publisher Policy] - ESC 15/January/04
  • Eddas - Ruthi 15/January/04
    • Eddas - Joanne 15/January/04
  • Fat chances? - Joanne 15/January/04
  • The stopping of becoming is Nirvana! - Sam 15/January/04
    • The stopping of becoming is Nirvana! - Joanne 15/January/04
  • Piss in your pocket??? - Claire Kelly 15/January/04
  • 'sitting on pins and needles' - Ward Fredericks 15/January/04
  • "See you on the ice!" - Paul Yarwood 14/January/04
  • To ooze for - Les Capirossi 14/January/04
    • To ooze for - ESC 15/January/04
      • To ooze for - Les Capirossi 15/January/04
  • Love and kisses - Ana Toto 14/January/04
  • Love and kisses - Ana Toto 14/January/04
  • 'Bog Standard' - Cliff 14/January/04
  • Phrase in local paper - nowino 14/January/04
    • Beat a doctor - ESC 14/January/04
  • Web site - TV Acres - ESC 14/January/04
  • Some curious uses of "the" - sphinx 14/January/04
  • Help! - Looking for word that describes "Bucket Brigade" in general terms - Doug Little 14/January/04
  • Starting with? - Joanne 14/January/04
    • Starting tomorrow - ESC 14/January/04
      • Starting tomorrow - Joanna 15/January/04
  • Still on Rain Music - sphinx 14/January/04
  • For the time being - Lotg 14/January/04
  • Crying over spilled milk - Kim 14/January/04
    • Crying over spilled milk - ESC 14/January/04
  • Wall-to-wall - dedan kimathi 14/January/04
  • Question - Kelly Morrissey 14/January/04
    • Question - Lotg 14/January/04
  • Painless dentists - Jean-Luc 13/January/04
  • Up to my a** in alligators - WordCrafter 13/January/04
  • Deciphering sayings from initial letters - Keith Macgregor 13/January/04
  • Band of brothers - Shkval 13/January/04
  • Top vanilla - bnjtokyo 13/January/04
  • Thanks and Context: - Miri Barak 13/January/04
  • Pulling **** - Muhammad Imran 13/January/04
    • Pulling **** - Bob 13/January/04
  • Give me the works - neelanchal express 13/January/04
  • Bite your toung - sax 13/January/04
  • A good traveler leaves no track - Sam 13/January/04
  • Times of stress - Devi Jankowicz 12/January/04
    • Times of stress - Bruce Kahl 13/January/04
  • Take boards - Chris henao 12/January/04
  • Bones - viviana 12/January/04
  • Little Miss Goodie Two Shoes - Elizabeth 12/January/04
  • Why do we say this? - Alisha 12/January/04
  • "Life in the Fast Lane" - Phil 12/January/04
  • Some obscure abbreviations - Miri Barak 12/January/04
  • Help! - sphinx 12/January/04
  • Dante's Inferno - Smokey Stover 12/January/04
    • Dante's Inferno - nha 26/January/04
    • Flaming heck! - Lewis 12/January/04
  • When you and your friend can't meet - katrinka 12/January/04
    • That's playing "telephone tag" - Word Camel 12/January/04
  • Weapons free - Laputan Xis 12/January/04
    • Weapons free - ESC 13/January/04
  • Purple - TomZé 12/January/04
    • Purple - R. Berg 12/January/04
  • A nervous titter - WordCrafter 11/January/04
  • Zone out - Orville Cavalcante 11/January/04
  • My bad. - monica 11/January/04
  • 'cutting the red tape' - Ward Fredericks 11/January/04
  • Unwired - alisbani 11/January/04
  • "Pair of underwear" - Brenda 11/January/04
  • For jubilation - monica 11/January/04
    • MISTAKE: Stand by for jubilation - monica 11/January/04
      • MISTAKE: Stand by for jubilation - Smokey Stover 11/January/04
  • Scramble - alex 10/January/04
    • Scramble - James Briggs 11/January/04
  • Well-summered - hakmoun 10/January/04
  • Teddy Roosevelt - Noga 10/January/04
    • Teddy Roosevelt - Henry 10/January/04
  • Smokey Stover please... - sphinx 10/January/04
  • A stitch - Lotg 10/January/04
  • Saving face - Rachel 10/January/04
  • "Neck of the Woods" - fish 10/January/04
  • Muskrat up your butt - victor 10/January/04
    • Muskrat up your butt - R. Berg 10/January/04
      • Muskrat up your butt - Smokey Stover 10/January/04
  • Cut some slack - alisbani 10/January/04
  • MO - sharon 09/January/04
    • Modus Operandi - Bruce Kahl 09/January/04
  • Indian Giver - Soren 09/January/04
    • Indian Giver - pdianek 10/January/04
  • Sometimes a cigar... - ESC 09/January/04
  • Cross the green - Noga 09/January/04
  • Car pool - Noga 09/January/04
  • "Well, that's rich, isn't it?" - MB 08/January/04
  • ' 2 buck Chuck' - Ward Fredericks 08/January/04
  • Believe you me! - CAH 08/January/04
  • Another joke - a guy with no sense of humor 08/January/04
  • What is MT in biblical context - Miri Barak 08/January/04
  • Sticky wicket - Lotg 08/January/04
  • "Good times" - cakes 08/January/04
  • Holy Mackerel--Where does it come from??? - barb 07/January/04
    • Holy Mackerel - ESC 07/January/04
  • Roll Call - Kirk 07/January/04
  • Cocktail Table/Coffee Table - Brian from Shawnee 07/January/04
  • X luvs y 4 EVA. L.O.N.D.O.N. I.D.S.T. - Sarra 07/January/04
    • (plus a request) - Sarra 07/January/04
      • Self defense products - candy 10/January/04
  • New phrase in our "open language" - Fred 07/January/04
  • Sliced Bread - Jonathan Kahan 07/January/04
    • Sliced Bread - ESC 07/January/04
      • Sliced Bread - Henry 07/January/04
  • Quiz Question - CannockBlue 07/January/04
  • "Does that ring a bell?" - Oros 07/January/04
  • 'artful dodger' - Ward Fredericks 06/January/04
  • An 1886 Grammar aid - James Briggs 06/January/04
  • Double Deed - itzhar 06/January/04
    • Words not deeds - Henry 06/January/04
  • Inculcate the blowfish mentality - DAvid 06/January/04
  • Smart as paint - Amanda 05/January/04
    • Smart as paint - Henry 05/January/04
  • [word removed in order to comply with Google's Publisher Policy] in the woodpile - ESC 05/January/04
  • "Up in Annie's room, behind the clock" - John Carter 05/January/04
  • Guardian of the guardian(s) of the gold - Russ Merredew 05/January/04
  • Again on rain music - sphinx 05/January/04
  • Clutching at straws - Amelia 05/January/04
  • Saying - SS 04/January/04
  • You are what you eat - Paul Salimans 04/January/04
    • Food for thought - Word Camel 04/January/04
      • Food for thought - Paul Salimans 28/January/04
  • Get on the floor. - digit_comm 04/January/04
  • One kindness is the price for another - llkkss 04/January/04
  • Get back in your box! - jason 04/January/04
  • Kiss of Death - Jim Heath 04/January/04
    • Kiss of Death - Judas kiss - ESC 04/January/04
  • Expression: XYZ - nahum 03/January/04
  • "No more mister nice guy." - vincent martin 03/January/04
  • Mum's careless hands - sphinx 03/January/04
  • Grammar experts: "Should" as conjunction? - Rob F 02/January/04
  • Idiom - HCD 02/January/04
    • Idiom - Fred 02/January/04
  • See ROME (not Naples) and die - Ann 01/January/04
  • Gutted, gutted, gutted - pdianek 01/January/04
  • Cold enogh to freeze the balls on a brass monkey - john 01/January/04
  • More good luck stuff for New Year's - ESC 01/January/04
    • First footing - Shae 01/January/04
  • Lucky foods on New Year's Day - ESC 01/January/04
  • Gee whillikers - Pittsburgh Pat 01/January/04
  • "Born without tears" - Moores 01/January/04
    • "Born without tears" - Ging 02/January/04
    • "Born without tears" - ESC 01/January/04
  • "Therein lies the rub" - Mr. Bob 01/January/04
  • As popular as a Pork Pie in a Synagogue - Barney 31/December/03
  • "No good deed goes unpunished" - Buster 31/December/03
  • Rain Music - sphinx 31/December/03
  • "Like a Duck on a Junebug" - Ward Fredericks 31/December/03
  • Wasband - ESC 31/December/03
    • Wasband - masakim 31/December/03
      • Wasband - ESC 03/January/04
  • White on rice, again - Casey 30/December/03
  • Window dressing - Buster 30/December/03
    • Window dressing - Fred 30/December/03
      • Window dressing - masakim 30/December/03
  • Not worth a tinker's dam - Bill Oetinger 30/December/03
  • The Kokomo hum - ESC 29/December/03
  • Dude-ulosity - eXistenZ 29/December/03
    • Dude-ulosity - Brian from Shawnee 29/December/03
  • To coin a phrase - ralph amden 29/December/03
  • Tennis, anyone? - Peter Weiss 29/December/03
  • Pop goes the weasel - Quitnus Farrell 29/December/03
    • Pop goes the weasel - Henry 29/December/03
  • Query - Judy Adamson 28/December/03
  • 'like kissing your sister' - Ward 28/December/03
  • "A Face like 50 miles of bad road" - WordCrafter 28/December/03
    • - WordCrafter 28/December/03
  • Life would be a Dingadairy - Jeffrey 27/December/03
  • Please help! - Deanne 27/December/03
  • A reading comprehension - sphinx 27/December/03
  • Lord love a duck - Di 27/December/03
  • Caesars Wife and the driven snow - Ward Fredericks 26/December/03
  • "On a roll" and "the worm hath turned"...can anyone help with these two? - Jan 26/December/03
    • The worm hath turned - ESC 26/December/03
  • Top Ten Word Lists - ESC 26/December/03
    • Top Ten Word Lists - Cheever 31/December/03
  • Phrases - rick 26/December/03
    • Phrases - masakim 26/December/03
  • Animal and Bird idioms - Caroline Praed 25/December/03
  • Emglish - farhan 25/December/03
    • English - ESC 25/December/03
  • Help! - sphinx 25/December/03
  • When things go pear-shaped - ded 24/December/03
  • A missing proverb - Stuart Taylor 24/December/03
    • Shocking - Bob 24/December/03
      • Shocking and equally amazed - Barney 25/December/03
  • 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Word Camel 24/December/03
  • High Horse - Frank 24/December/03
    • High Horse - Barney 25/December/03
      • High Horse - Henry 26/December/03
  • Ham on Po-Boy dressed - Cheryl 24/December/03
  • Parkway - §kipper 23/December/03
  • "You must have put your toe (or foot) in it - Steven King 23/December/03
    • "you must have put your toe (or foot) in it - ESC 24/December/03
  • TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS - Sheila 23/December/03
  • Origin of Saying - Sheila 23/December/03
  • The First Noel lyric question... - Word Camel 23/December/03
  • Once more on corporate-speak - Word Camel 23/December/03
  • Seller of sea monkeys is dead - ESC 22/December/03
  • "That old chestnut" - Jamie 22/December/03
  • Phrase origin - Nigel Hughes 22/December/03
    • Phrase origin - James Briggs 22/December/03
  • Bought the covenant - Nev 22/December/03
  • Dividing brownies - Fred 21/December/03
  • All the way round Will's mother's - Richard Telfer 21/December/03
  • The cut from "His Girl friday" - Shkval 21/December/03
  • Lick into shape ... error? - Chris Wilson 21/December/03
  • Flash in th pan - Ryan Gibb 20/December/03
  • Toc-h? - Brian from Shawnee 20/December/03
    • Toc-h? - masakim 20/December/03
    • Toc-h? - Henry 20/December/03
      • Toc-h? - James Briggs 21/December/03
  • Pound sand, go pound sand - Susan 20/December/03
  • Life is cheap - C Cramer 20/December/03
  • "In and out like a paper kite" - JohnC 19/December/03
  • "Comfort Food" - Chef Boy R Dee 19/December/03
  • Fill the blank - Nitin Bhatt 19/December/03
  • Cold weather and feeling parki ! - col 19/December/03
  • Sixes and Sevens - B Lawley 19/December/03
  • Foaming at the mouth - Sax 19/December/03
  • Smitten - arcain 19/December/03
    • Smitten - ESC 19/December/03
  • Lickity Split - Russ 18/December/03
  • Christmas words and phrases - ESC 18/December/03
  • Called out on the carpet. - RM 18/December/03
  • The origins of the OED - James Briggs 18/December/03
    • The Professor and the Madman - masakim 18/December/03
    • The origins of the OED - ESC 18/December/03
      • The origins of the OED - Word Camel 18/December/03
  • Dim as a Toc-h Lamp - Graham Roach 18/December/03
  • Season's Greetings - ESC 17/December/03
  • Thinking outside of the bo - Phyllis Eisenstadt 17/December/03
  • Jacobs join - sue astin 17/December/03
    • Jacobs join - Bookworm 17/December/03
  • Grand Guignol attack ads - Fred 17/December/03
  • Tragedy-of-the-commons? - ESC 17/December/03
  • "Best practices," "moving forward" - david kipen 16/December/03
  • "Watch what you're eating" - Ward 16/December/03