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Literature

Iconic Stories and Literary Legends

Image of a person sitting down gazing at his phone, ignoring the person next to him

Origin of Phrases

"Give the Cold Shoulder"

A Frozen Farewell

Origin of Phrases

"Busy as a Bee" The Buzz Behind Hard Work

The Buzz Behind Hard Work

Image of loaves of fresh loaves of baked bread

Origin of Phrases

"A Baker's Dozen"

A Tasty Twist on Numbers

Image of a man playing the bagpipes on a hillside of Scotland

Origin of Phrases

"The Whole Nine Yards" Going All the Way

Going All the Way

Colorful medieval illustration of men in a tavern, with mugs that have whistles.

Origin of Phrases

"Wet Your Whistle"

Quenching Your Thirst

Photo of a Man with a Beard with a Wild Look in His Eye Pulling an Axe out of a Tree Trunk

Origin of Phrases

"Fly Off the Handle"

When Tempers Take Flight

Image of candle burning

Origin of Phrases

"Burning a Candle at Both Ends"

When Exhaustion Meets Ambition

Photograph of a horse in a meadow with rolling hills in the background

Origin of Phrases

"Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth"

The Etiquette of Gratitude

Photograph of Old Sailing Vessel at Sunset

Origin of Phrases

"By and Large" Navigating at Sea

Navigating at Sea

Photograph of a jail cell

Origin of Phrases

"The Third Degree"

Turning Up the Heat

Photograph of a buff colored leather uniform coat

Origin of Phrases

"In the Buff" Stripped Down to Basics

Origin of Phrases

"Bee in Your Bonnet" When Ideas Won't Stop Buzzing

When Ideas Won't Stop Buzzing

Origin of Phrases

"Can't Hold a Candle To"

A Dim Comparison

Origin of Phrases

"Fly by the Seat of your Pants"

Navigating by Instinct

Origin of Phrases

"To be Caught Red-handed"

The Crimson Mark of Guilt

Origin of Phrases

"In the Limelight"

Stepping Into Fame

Origin of Phrases

"Beat Around the Bush" - Dodging the Point

Dodging the Point

Origin of Phrases

"It's Raining Cats and Dogs"

A Storm with Unusual Origins

Myths, Legends & Folklore

The First Story Ever Told

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Painting of William Shakespeare to illustrate common expressions from his plays, such as 'love is blind' and 'foregone conclusion

Origin of Phrases

Shakespeare's Legacy

Everyday Phrases from the Bard You've Probably Been Quoting!

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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Leather Bound Classic

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