Category: Phrases

Anyone that grew up in the late 1990s to the early 2000s has likely seen the well-known movie, The Sandlot. Whether you chose to watch it on your own, or a parent made you, we’ve all seen it. From that movie comes the iconic phrase “you’re killing me, smalls” that many people still quote to […]

Anyone who is a fan of anime culture has likely heard the phrase “yare yare daze” before. Even if you are not fluent in Japanese, it is easy to pick up what this means from context. If you are in a certain situation that you do not want to be in, or if someone you […]

If you are someone that spends a lot of time on TikTok, you likely have heard the audio “wow, you can really dance” at least once. As the phrase itself would imply, it is typically used over videos of people dancing. Whether they are actually good at dancing or not, this phrase is still often […]

Are you listening to K-pop? Do you know the supergroup 'BTS?' If so, you've probably heard their smash hit, 'Daechwita.' What does this Korean word mean, and how is it used in the song? Let's unpack the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The word 'Daechwita' (대취타) translates to 'Great Blowing and Hitting' and […]

Are you looking for a word to describe the underdog in a sports tournament with a chance of winning? You could say the team is the ‘dark horse.’ This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘dark horse’ refers to a team or person with no backstory or little information […]

Is someone flattering you with compliments? Chances are they’re trying to get you to do something for you. Insincere flattery is frustrating to handle, and you might find yourself telling the person to shut their mouth. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘insincere flattery’ means that someone is […]

Did you hear someone say ‘cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war’ as they were walking into the office? Are they upset with someone? Should you be worried about their behavior? This post unpacks everything you need to know about the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘cry havoc and […]

Did someone say that you don’t ‘cut the mustard’ and you’re not the right choice for the job? What do they mean? Why are they comparing you to mustard? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘cutting the mustard’ means to meet someone’s expectations of your performance. The phrase […]

Did you see a parent telling their kids 'children should be seen and not heard?' This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression 'children should be seen and not heard' means children should be respectful and behave around adults. It also means that children should only speak when an adult […]

Did someone ask you if you want to go for a drink at the ‘Cock and Bull’ after work? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘Cock and Bull’ is a way of describing a fanciful or outlandish story told by someone. The cock and bull refers to an English […]