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Cat out of the bag on idioms
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Where did expressions like in the doghouse or bite the dust come from? What about pass the buck and wing it? You can find the answers in The Etymologicon, a new guide on the origins of many common English words and expressions. The guide's compiler, Mark Forsyth, has let the cat out of the bag on hundreds of idioms and phrases. Find out more about their fascinating journey into our everyday speech at New guide explains idioms, in a nutshell.
