Idioms

Raining cats and dogs in other languages: ropes, halberds, old women with sticks. Each equivalent sourced, plus where the references disagree.

Idioms that changed meaning, each with its old and new sense dated from named references, plus the fake ‘original versions’ to ignore.

Formal idioms for professional writing, sorted into safe, risky and never for business email, with plain swaps for the phrases readers misread.

Idioms that don’t translate trip up even fluent speakers. See what the research shows learners do with them, and how to write so everyone follows.

Idioms that mean the opposite of their words, from fat chance to break a leg, sorted by why the flip happens, with sources and one myth to skip.

Idioms that sound rude but are friendly, from break a leg to knock yourself out, with the register and region for each so you can use them safely.

Fly in the ointment origin traced from Ecclesiastes to a 1707 treatise, plus the flintlock behind flash in the pan and whether either phrase is dying.

Outdated idioms checked against Google Books data and a UK poll: which old phrases are fading, which are still fine, and which to avoid, in one table.

Indian English idioms explained with sources: what do the needful, prepone and timepass mean, where they came from, and when to use them at work.

Australian idioms sorted into everyday, still heard and tourist-list only, with meanings and dates from the Australian National Dictionary.