Why Do We Say That?

A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME
This old saying comes from the Bible. In Ecclesiastes 10:20 the writer warns us not to curse the King or the rich even in private or a 'bird of the air' may report what you say.

NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO SWING A CAT
This comes from the use of a kind of whip called a cat o' nine tails.

ON TENTERHOOKS
After it was woven wool was pounded in a mixture of clay and water to clean and thicken it. This was called fulling. Afterwards the wool was stretched on a frame called a tenter to dry. IT was hung on tenterhooks. So if you were very tense, like stretched clot cloth, you were on tenterhooks.

NAMBY PAMBY
This was originally a nickname for the poet Ambrose Philips (1674-1749) who was known for writing sentimental verse.