a list of words that are only ever used in one phrase and one phrase only

Was about to say that wreak is only ever applied to havoc but I guess you can also wreak vengeance.

One phrase and p much one context: knoll

https://d1hu4133i4rt3z.cloudfront.net/attachments/759/759876-6d0674b58f8a47feec05b7b03a636135.jpg

Elizabeth Fraser named the album after a peak in southern Utah called Bluebell Knoll.[1][2]

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0051/1380/6921/products/Cocteau_Twins_-_Blue_Bell_Knoll.jpg?v=1547210060

Ah beaten too it

Pretty sure there is some knollery in Kingdom of Loathing too

are there any extenuating things besides circumstances?

Good one.

Did you know?
Extenuating is almost always used today before "circumstances".

Extenuating buttholes

Extol? as in "extol the virtues of"

Does anyone ever do anything with "umbrage" besides taking it?

One Biden adviser reacted with umbrage at a private meeting with reporters this month to the suggestion that Republicans were likely to win back control of Congress.

Huh! Okay then.

Is the noun 'fancier' used in any other phrase but 'pigeon fancier'?

there's a thing called a "dog fancier's license" (or permit)

I suspect this may be US-specific (i.e., the word is used more broadly elsewhere), but bow about "britches" as in what you get too big for?

idk Dr Dre had "Britches Ain't Shit"

caboodle

idk Dr Dre had "Britches Ain't Shit"

my parents used to use britches as a simple synonym for pants/trousers ie get on your britches

beck

^

Soz but

beck1
/bɛk/
nounNORTHERN ENGLISH
a stream

linguists call these fossil words, related and fun is the cranberry morpheme

Britches always makes me think of Washington, DC clothing retailer Britches Great Outdoors, which started out as a store that sold slacks.

I suspect this may be US-specific (i.e., the word is used more broadly elsewhere), but bow about "britches" as in what you get too big for?

I think "britches" is American? It's breeches in England and breeks in Scotland.

... breeks is much more commonly used than breeches.

breeches is often the spelling in English, especially older prose, but i still think it's pronounced "britches"

Yes, could be.

Maybe not by Genesis P-Orridge though.

https://boingboing.net/2009/04/17/genesis-p-orridges-c.html/amp

Lol I mean he could be making a play on the word without strictly thinking it's pronounced that way, but on the other hand it's one of those words that you're likely to have seen written down and never heard spoken aloud, I guess anybody who reads books much has a few of those

Peace, man: Britches (the store) has had an interesting resurgence.

https://warthog.vip/

It was a staple of my preppy-ass youth. People in my personal orbit treasure memories of it. I haven't been back (because I don't dress that way anymore) but it is there if you want it.

Dion Dublin, for the BBC today:

Brighton have played some really good stuff they never panic and always buy their time.

The dude bides

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/bide-a-wee

(Scottish for wait a while)

https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/720a095c-3ae2-41a9-8bfe-490b671980d5/IMG_5287.jpg

yeah, 'wait' as in 'stay'. i think 1 in 3 Scottish b&bs are called bide-a-wee

Could one bide on a bidet?

Yes, there are parts of Scotland where the question, "Where do you bide?" will be asked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QTu8ks9X9M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbXSXvt2tb0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t-zC0e1Tgc

So yeah mostly the one set phrase.

Joe Bidin'

hither and yon
arms akimbo

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9_XAqUIQAANNSL.jpg

https://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/yon

He, I almost linked the entry for “bide” earlier.

Heh

I have an app for students, Scots ABC. It has a random word generator, from which I just learned the word “oorie.”