Idiom Insider The origins, properly sourced
idiominsider.com How we source & date Folk etymologies corrected Established 2026
Index

Idioms

First recorded 1600s
turn a blind eye
To turn a blind eye is to deliberately ignore something you know to be wrong, pretending not to notice it.
Partly True1698
Biblical
a wolf in sheep’s clothing
A wolf in sheep's clothing is a dangerous person who hides hostile intent behind a harmless, trustworthy or friendly outward appearance.
Attested1382
Biblical
the apple of my eye
The apple of one's eye is a person or thing cherished above all others, treasured and protected as something uniquely precious.
Attested885
First recorded 1600s
bury the hatchet
To bury the hatchet is to make peace with an adversary, settling a quarrel and agreeing to set aside past hostilities for good.
Attested1680
First recorded 1700s
let the cat out of the bag
To let the cat out of the bag is to disclose a secret, often carelessly or prematurely, revealing something that was meant to be hidden.
Unproven1760
First recorded 1800s
paint the town red
To go out and celebrate boisterously, enjoying an energetic night of drinking, entertainment and revelry around a town's bars and venues.
Folk Etymology1883
Theatrical
cut to the chase
To get to the point at once, leaving out unnecessary preamble and coming directly to the most important or interesting part.
Attested1929
Sporting
the ball is in your court
It is now your turn to act or decide, and responsibility for the next move has passed to you rather than anyone else.
Unproven
First recorded 1900s
back to square one
To return to the very beginning of a task or process after an effort has failed, so that all previous progress is lost.
Folk Etymology1952
First recorded 1900s
piece of cake
A task or achievement that is very easy to do, requiring little effort, skill, or difficulty on the part of the person concerned.
Attested1936