English is full of so many sayings that we use them without really thinking about them. The words have meaning to us but, if you analyse the words themselves, they often don't make sense. Why do we say that things go "haywire" or that a situation is "touch and go"? Almost all of these expressions have a basis in past custom or use - "haywire" to the US and "touch and go" to ships and the sea. After I set up this site I have had many compliments and queries. Click on the Responses link on the left to view some.
Books are available on the subject, and an excellent Discussion Forum exists at
Sheffield Hallam University
Michael Quinion's World Wide Words site explains the origin of words.
A comprehensive list of sites about the English language can be found on Richard Lederer's site. A further comprehensive list can be found at 'Max Quordlepleen's' site.
I have collected about 500 such sayings, and found the origin of most. I produced an unpublished book about them. I called it 'The Bedtime Browser', and this is the on-line version, with updates. I have deliberately given a brief outline of what these expressions mean in usage; this allows non-native English speakers to gain ideas about the circumstances in which the phrases are used.
A printable version of this text can be downloaded from
Booklets
