Use an ordinary decent English dictionaryĮnglish Dictionary or Websters, etc), which will provide origins for most words and many related phrases (see the Some expressions with two key words are listed under each word.Ī commonly ignored reference source for many words and expressions origins - especially for common cliches that are not listed in slang and expressions dictionaries - is simply to Cliches and expressions are listed alphabetically according to their key word, for example, 'save your bacon' is listed under 'b' for bacon. These cliches, words and expressions origins and derivations illustrate the ever-changing complexity of language and communications, and are ideal free materials for word puzzles or quizzes, and team-building
Many cliches and expressions - and words - have fascinating and surprising origins, and many popular assumptionsĪbout meanings and derivations are mistaken. Cliches and expressions give us many wonderful figures of speech and words in the English language, as they evolve via use and mis-use alike.
