Why Do We Say That?

HONEYMOON
This is derived from the honey month. It was an old tradition that newly weds drank mead (which is made from honey) for a month after the wedding.

PEPPERCORN RENT
In the Middle Ages and Tudor times rents were sometimes paid in peppercorns because pepper was so expensive. Peppercorns wee actually used as a form of currency. They were given as bribes or as part of a brides dowry.

A PIG IN A POKE
This is something bought without checking it first. A poke was a bag. If you bought a pig in a poke it might turn out the 'pig' was actually a puppy or a cat.

THE POWERS THAT BE
This comes from Romans 13:1 when Paul says 'the powers that be are ordained of God'.

SCOT FREE
This has nothing to do with Scotland. Scot is an old word for payment so if you went scot free you went without paying.