“Bell the cat” comes from a fable about mice and a cat. It means taking on a risky task that everyone agrees should be done.

Some remarks sound kind at first, but carry an insult underneath. Learn how backhanded compliments work and why they offend.

“Chalk and cheese” describes two things that are completely different. Here is the meaning, likely origin, and how to use it well.

Coyote entered English through Spanish, but its deeper source is Nahuatl, the language associated with the Aztecs and still spoken in Mexico.