BITTER END
Anchor cable was wrapped around posts called bitts. The last piece of cable was called the bitter end. If you let out the cable to the bitter end there was nothing else you could do, you had reached the end of your resources.
THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND
In Matthew 15:14 Jesus criticised the Pharisees, the religious authorities of his day, 'they be blind leaders of the blind'.
ON YOUR BEAM ENDS
On a ship the beams are horizontal timbers that stretch across the ship and support the decks. If you are on your beam-ends your ship is leaning at a dangerous angle. In other words you are in a precarious situation.
BEE LINE
In the past people believed that bees flew in a straight line to their hive. So if you made a bee line for something you went straight for it.
TO BOOT
If you get something to boot it means you get it extra. However it has nothing to do with boots you wear on your feet. It is a corruption of the old word bot, which means profit or advantage.
COCK A HOOP
This phrase comes from a primitive tap called a spile and shive. A shive was a wooden tube at the bottom of a barrel and a spile was a wooden bung. You removed the shive to let liquid flow out and replaced it to stop the flow. The spile was sometimes called a cock. If people were extremely happy and wanted to celebrate they took out the cock and put it on the hoop on the top of the barrel to let the drink flow out freely. So it was cock a hoop. So cock a hoop came to mean ecstatic.
Showing posts with label Why do we say that?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Why do we say that?. Show all posts
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Monday, 5 April 2010
Why Do We Say That
TOUCH AND GO
This probably comes from ships sailing in shallow waters where they might touch the seabed then go. If so, they were in a dangerous and uncertain situation.
TURN THE OTHER CHEEK
Jesus told his followers not to retaliate against violence. In Luke 6:29 he told them that if somebody strikes you on one cheek turn the other cheek to him as well.
LICK INTO SHAPE
In the Middle Ages people thought that bear cubs were born shapeless and their mother literally licked them into shape.
PAY ON THE NAIL
In the Middle Ages 'nails' were flat-topped columns in markets. When a buyer and a seller agreed a deal money was placed on the nail for all to see.
PASTURES NEW
In 1637 John Milton wrote a poem called Lycidas, which includes the words 'Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new'.
This probably comes from ships sailing in shallow waters where they might touch the seabed then go. If so, they were in a dangerous and uncertain situation.
TURN THE OTHER CHEEK
Jesus told his followers not to retaliate against violence. In Luke 6:29 he told them that if somebody strikes you on one cheek turn the other cheek to him as well.
LICK INTO SHAPE
In the Middle Ages people thought that bear cubs were born shapeless and their mother literally licked them into shape.
PAY ON THE NAIL
In the Middle Ages 'nails' were flat-topped columns in markets. When a buyer and a seller agreed a deal money was placed on the nail for all to see.
PASTURES NEW
In 1637 John Milton wrote a poem called Lycidas, which includes the words 'Tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new'.
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Why Do We Say That?
BITES THE DUST
This phrase comes from the translation of the epic Greek poem the Iliad about the war between the Greeks and the Trojans. It was poetic way of describing the death of a warrior.
BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN YOUR MOUTH
Once when a child was christened it was traditional for the godparents to give a silver spoon as a gift (if they could afford it). However a child born in a rich family did not have to wait. He or she had it all from the start. They were 'born with a silver spoon in their mouth'.
A LONG SHOT
A long shot is an option with only a small chance of success. In the past guns were only accurate at short range. So a 'long shot' (fired over a long distance) only had a small chance of hitting its target.
MAD AS A HATTER
Some people say the phrase comes from the fact that in the 18th and 19th centuries hat makers used mercury nitrate in their work. Exposure to this chemical does indeed send you mad. However according to some people the origin of this phrase is much older. Hatter is a corruption of the Saxon word 'atter', which meant adder or viper. Furthermore 'mad' originally meant poisonous. So if you were mad as an atter you were as 'poisonous' (bad tempered or aggressive) as an atter (adder). It goes to show that often it is impossible to be certain where old sayings come from.
This phrase comes from the translation of the epic Greek poem the Iliad about the war between the Greeks and the Trojans. It was poetic way of describing the death of a warrior.
BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN YOUR MOUTH
Once when a child was christened it was traditional for the godparents to give a silver spoon as a gift (if they could afford it). However a child born in a rich family did not have to wait. He or she had it all from the start. They were 'born with a silver spoon in their mouth'.
A LONG SHOT
A long shot is an option with only a small chance of success. In the past guns were only accurate at short range. So a 'long shot' (fired over a long distance) only had a small chance of hitting its target.
MAD AS A HATTER
Some people say the phrase comes from the fact that in the 18th and 19th centuries hat makers used mercury nitrate in their work. Exposure to this chemical does indeed send you mad. However according to some people the origin of this phrase is much older. Hatter is a corruption of the Saxon word 'atter', which meant adder or viper. Furthermore 'mad' originally meant poisonous. So if you were mad as an atter you were as 'poisonous' (bad tempered or aggressive) as an atter (adder). It goes to show that often it is impossible to be certain where old sayings come from.
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Why Do We Say That?
WILLY NILLY
This phrase is believed to be derived from the old words will-ye. nill-ye (or will-he, nill-he) meaning whether you want to or not (or whether he wants to or not).
TONGUE IN CHEEK
In the 18th century sticking your tongue in your cheek was a sign of contempt. It is not clear how speaking with your tongue in your cheek took on this modest meaning.
THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET
In the Middle Ages a gauntlet was the glove in a suit of armour. Throwing down your gauntlet was a way of challenging someone to a duel.
FEET OF CLAY
If a person we admire has a fatal weakness we say they have feet of clay. This phrase comes from the Bible. King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of a statue. It had a head of gold, arms and chest of silver, belly and thighs of bronze and its legs were of iron. However its feet were made of a mixture of iron and clay. A rock hit the statue's feet and the whole statue was broken. The prophet Daniel interpreted the dream to be about a series of empires, all of which would eventually be destroyed. (Daniel 2:27-44)
This phrase is believed to be derived from the old words will-ye. nill-ye (or will-he, nill-he) meaning whether you want to or not (or whether he wants to or not).
TONGUE IN CHEEK
In the 18th century sticking your tongue in your cheek was a sign of contempt. It is not clear how speaking with your tongue in your cheek took on this modest meaning.
THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET
In the Middle Ages a gauntlet was the glove in a suit of armour. Throwing down your gauntlet was a way of challenging someone to a duel.
FEET OF CLAY
If a person we admire has a fatal weakness we say they have feet of clay. This phrase comes from the Bible. King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of a statue. It had a head of gold, arms and chest of silver, belly and thighs of bronze and its legs were of iron. However its feet were made of a mixture of iron and clay. A rock hit the statue's feet and the whole statue was broken. The prophet Daniel interpreted the dream to be about a series of empires, all of which would eventually be destroyed. (Daniel 2:27-44)
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Why Do We Say That?
HIDING YOUR LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL
A bushel was a container for measuring grain. In Matthew 15:15 Jesus said "Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick."
MOOT POINT
This comes from the Saxon word moot or mote, which meant a meeting to discuss things. A moot point was one that needed to be discussed or debated.
LILY LIVERED
Means cowardly. People once believed that your passions came from your liver. If you were lily livered your liver was white (because it did not contain any blood). So you were a coward.
LICK INTO SHAPE
In the Middle Ages people thought that bear cubs were born shapeless and their mother literally licked them into shape.
A bushel was a container for measuring grain. In Matthew 15:15 Jesus said "Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick."
MOOT POINT
This comes from the Saxon word moot or mote, which meant a meeting to discuss things. A moot point was one that needed to be discussed or debated.
LILY LIVERED
Means cowardly. People once believed that your passions came from your liver. If you were lily livered your liver was white (because it did not contain any blood). So you were a coward.
LICK INTO SHAPE
In the Middle Ages people thought that bear cubs were born shapeless and their mother literally licked them into shape.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Why Do We Say That?
BEYOND THE PALE
Originally a pale was an area under the authority of a certain official. In the 14th and 15th centuries the English king ruled Dublin and the surrounding area known as the pale. Anyone 'beyond the pale' was seen as savage and dangerous.
CHOCK-A-BLOCK
When pulleys or blocks on sailing ships were pulled so tightly together that they could not be moved any closer together they were said to be chock-a-block.
MAUDLIN
This is a corruption of Magdalene. Mary Magdalene was a prostitute who became a follower of Jesus. In paintings she was often shown weeping tears of repentance. So she became associated with sentimentality.
TOUCH WOOD
In Celtic times people believed that benevolent spirits livid in trees. When in trouble people knocked on the tree and asked the spirits for help.
FREELANCE
In the Middle Ages freelances were soldiers who fought for anyone who would hire them. They were literally free lances.
Originally a pale was an area under the authority of a certain official. In the 14th and 15th centuries the English king ruled Dublin and the surrounding area known as the pale. Anyone 'beyond the pale' was seen as savage and dangerous.
CHOCK-A-BLOCK
When pulleys or blocks on sailing ships were pulled so tightly together that they could not be moved any closer together they were said to be chock-a-block.
MAUDLIN
This is a corruption of Magdalene. Mary Magdalene was a prostitute who became a follower of Jesus. In paintings she was often shown weeping tears of repentance. So she became associated with sentimentality.
TOUCH WOOD
In Celtic times people believed that benevolent spirits livid in trees. When in trouble people knocked on the tree and asked the spirits for help.
FREELANCE
In the Middle Ages freelances were soldiers who fought for anyone who would hire them. They were literally free lances.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Why Do We Say That?
TURNED THE CORNER
Ships that had sailed past the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn were said to have 'turned the corner'.
UP THE POLE
The pole was a mast of a ship. Climbing it was dangerous and, not surprisingly, you has to be a bit crazy to go up there willingly. So if you were a bit mad you were said to be up the pole.
SPINSTER
A Spinster is an unmarried woman. Originally a spinster was simply a woman who made her living by spinning wool on a spinning wheel. However it was so common for single women to support themselves that way that by the 18th century 'spinster' was a synonym for a middle-aged unmarried woman.
PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL
This old saying comes from the Bible, from Proverbs 16:18 'Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall'.
PEEPING TOM
According to legend a man named Leofric taxed the people of Coventry heavily. His wife, Lady Godiva, begged him not to. Leofric said he would end the tax if she would ride through the streets of Coventry naked. So she did. Peeping Tom is a much later addition to the story. Everybody in Coventry was supposed to stay in doors with his or her shutters closed. However Peeping Tom had a sneaky look at Godiva and was struck blind.
CUT AND RUN
In an emergency rather than haul up an anchor the sailors would cut the anchor cable then run with wind.
Ships that had sailed past the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn were said to have 'turned the corner'.
UP THE POLE
The pole was a mast of a ship. Climbing it was dangerous and, not surprisingly, you has to be a bit crazy to go up there willingly. So if you were a bit mad you were said to be up the pole.
SPINSTER
A Spinster is an unmarried woman. Originally a spinster was simply a woman who made her living by spinning wool on a spinning wheel. However it was so common for single women to support themselves that way that by the 18th century 'spinster' was a synonym for a middle-aged unmarried woman.
PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL
This old saying comes from the Bible, from Proverbs 16:18 'Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall'.
PEEPING TOM
According to legend a man named Leofric taxed the people of Coventry heavily. His wife, Lady Godiva, begged him not to. Leofric said he would end the tax if she would ride through the streets of Coventry naked. So she did. Peeping Tom is a much later addition to the story. Everybody in Coventry was supposed to stay in doors with his or her shutters closed. However Peeping Tom had a sneaky look at Godiva and was struck blind.
CUT AND RUN
In an emergency rather than haul up an anchor the sailors would cut the anchor cable then run with wind.
Monday, 11 January 2010
Why Do We Say That?
NAIL YOUR COLOURS TO THE MAST
In battle a ship surrendered by lowering it's flag. If you nailed your colours to the mast you had no intention of surrendering.
PANDEMONIUM
This comes from John Milton's poem Paradise Lost. In Hell the chief city id Pandemonium. In Greek Pandemonium means 'all the devils'.
EARMARKED
This comes from the days when livestock had their ears marked so their owner could be easily identified.
SCAPEGOAT
In the Old Testament (Leviticus 16:7-10) two goats were selected. One was sacrificed. The other was spared but the High Priest laid his hands on it and confessed the sins of his people. The goat was driven into the wilderness. He was a symbolic 'scapegoat' for the peoples sins.
In battle a ship surrendered by lowering it's flag. If you nailed your colours to the mast you had no intention of surrendering.
PANDEMONIUM
This comes from John Milton's poem Paradise Lost. In Hell the chief city id Pandemonium. In Greek Pandemonium means 'all the devils'.
EARMARKED
This comes from the days when livestock had their ears marked so their owner could be easily identified.
SCAPEGOAT
In the Old Testament (Leviticus 16:7-10) two goats were selected. One was sacrificed. The other was spared but the High Priest laid his hands on it and confessed the sins of his people. The goat was driven into the wilderness. He was a symbolic 'scapegoat' for the peoples sins.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Why Do We Say That?
WHITE ELEPHANT
In Siam (modern day Thailand) white or pale elephants were very valuable. The king sometimes gave a white elephant to a person he disliked. It might seem a wonderful gift but it was actually a punishment because it cost too much to keep.
WASH MY HANDS OF
The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, refused to be involved in the death of an innocent person (Jesus). So he washed his hands in front of the crowd, symbolically disassociating himself from the execution.
WARTS AND ALL
When Oliver Cromwell 1599-1658 had his portrait painted he ordered the artist not to flatter him. He insisted on being painted 'warts and all'.
FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
You can tell a horse's age by examining his teeth. A horse dealer may lie to you but you can always find out the truth 'from the horses mouth'.
In Siam (modern day Thailand) white or pale elephants were very valuable. The king sometimes gave a white elephant to a person he disliked. It might seem a wonderful gift but it was actually a punishment because it cost too much to keep.
WASH MY HANDS OF
The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, refused to be involved in the death of an innocent person (Jesus). So he washed his hands in front of the crowd, symbolically disassociating himself from the execution.
WARTS AND ALL
When Oliver Cromwell 1599-1658 had his portrait painted he ordered the artist not to flatter him. He insisted on being painted 'warts and all'.
FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
You can tell a horse's age by examining his teeth. A horse dealer may lie to you but you can always find out the truth 'from the horses mouth'.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Why Do We Say That?
LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER
This is from Isaiah 53:7 'He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter'. Later this verse was applied to Jesus.
TO SEE A MAN ABOUT A DOG
This phrase first appeared in 1866 in a play by Dion Boucicault (1820-1890) called the Flying Scud in which a character makes the excuse that he is going 'to see a man about a dog' to get away.
TAWDRY
This is a corruption of St Audrey because cheap jewellery was sold at St Audrey's fair in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY
This old saying is from Ecclesiastes 8:15 'a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and be merry'.
FAST AND LOOSE
Traditionally if you wanted archers to halt and not shoot arrows you shouted 'Fast!'. Archers also 'loosed' arrows. So if you played fast and loose you said one thing and did another.
FLASH IN THE PAN
Muskets had a priming pan, which was filled with gunpowder. When flint hit steel it ignited the powder in the pan, which in turn ignited the main charge of gunpowder and fired the musket ball. However sometimes the powder in the pan failed to light the main charge in that case you ha a flash in the pan.
This is from Isaiah 53:7 'He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter'. Later this verse was applied to Jesus.
TO SEE A MAN ABOUT A DOG
This phrase first appeared in 1866 in a play by Dion Boucicault (1820-1890) called the Flying Scud in which a character makes the excuse that he is going 'to see a man about a dog' to get away.
TAWDRY
This is a corruption of St Audrey because cheap jewellery was sold at St Audrey's fair in Ely, Cambridgeshire.
EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY
This old saying is from Ecclesiastes 8:15 'a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and be merry'.
FAST AND LOOSE
Traditionally if you wanted archers to halt and not shoot arrows you shouted 'Fast!'. Archers also 'loosed' arrows. So if you played fast and loose you said one thing and did another.
FLASH IN THE PAN
Muskets had a priming pan, which was filled with gunpowder. When flint hit steel it ignited the powder in the pan, which in turn ignited the main charge of gunpowder and fired the musket ball. However sometimes the powder in the pan failed to light the main charge in that case you ha a flash in the pan.
Friday, 4 December 2009
Why Do We Say That?
WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF
In the ancient world grain was hurled into the air using a tool called a winnowing fork. Wind separated the edible part of the grain (wheat) from the lighter, inedible part (chaff). In Matthew 3:12 John the Baptist warned that on judgement day Jesus would separate the wheat from the chaff (good people from evil).
WEASEL WORDS
This phrase is said to come from an old belief that weasels could suck out the inside of an egg leaving its shell in tact.
WENT WEST
Once criminals were hanged in Tyburn - west of London. So if you went west you went to be hanged.
TRUE BLUE
This phrase was originally true as Coventry blue as the dyers in Coventry used a blue dye that lasted and did not wash out easily. However the phrase became shortened.
In the ancient world grain was hurled into the air using a tool called a winnowing fork. Wind separated the edible part of the grain (wheat) from the lighter, inedible part (chaff). In Matthew 3:12 John the Baptist warned that on judgement day Jesus would separate the wheat from the chaff (good people from evil).
WEASEL WORDS
This phrase is said to come from an old belief that weasels could suck out the inside of an egg leaving its shell in tact.
WENT WEST
Once criminals were hanged in Tyburn - west of London. So if you went west you went to be hanged.
TRUE BLUE
This phrase was originally true as Coventry blue as the dyers in Coventry used a blue dye that lasted and did not wash out easily. However the phrase became shortened.
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Why Do We Say That?
BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH
When hunting birds some people would beat about the bush to drive them out into the open. Other people would catch the birds. 'I won't beat about the bush' came to mean 'I will go straight to the point without any delay'.
BAKERS DOZEN
A bakers dozen means thirteen. It is said to have come from the days when bakers were severely
SHORT SHRIFT
A shrift was a confession made to a priest. Criminals were allowed to make a short shrift before they were executed. So if you gave somebody short shrift you gave them a few minutes to confess their sins before carry out the execution.
TAKE SOMEBODY UNDER YOUR WING
In Luke 12:34 Jesus laments that he wished to gather the people of Jerusalem as a hen gathers her chicks under new wings but Jerusalem was not willing.
When hunting birds some people would beat about the bush to drive them out into the open. Other people would catch the birds. 'I won't beat about the bush' came to mean 'I will go straight to the point without any delay'.
BAKERS DOZEN
A bakers dozen means thirteen. It is said to have come from the days when bakers were severely
SHORT SHRIFT
A shrift was a confession made to a priest. Criminals were allowed to make a short shrift before they were executed. So if you gave somebody short shrift you gave them a few minutes to confess their sins before carry out the execution.
TAKE SOMEBODY UNDER YOUR WING
In Luke 12:34 Jesus laments that he wished to gather the people of Jerusalem as a hen gathers her chicks under new wings but Jerusalem was not willing.
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Why Do We Say That?
APPLE OF MY EYE
This is another phrase that comes from the Bible. In Psalm 17:8 the writer asks God "keep me as the apple of your eye.
GOLLY GOSH
In the past it wasn't polite to use the exclamation 'God'. Instead people said Golly! or Gosh! Sometimes they said Heck! instead of Hell.
WIDE BERTH
A berth is the place where a ship is tied up or anchored. When the anchor was lowered a ship would tend to move about on the anchor cable, so it was important to give it a wide berth to avoid collisions, Today, to give someone a wide berth is to steer clear of them.
WHIPPING BOY
Prince Edward, later Edward VI, had a boy who was whipped in his place every time was naughty.
This is another phrase that comes from the Bible. In Psalm 17:8 the writer asks God "keep me as the apple of your eye.
GOLLY GOSH
In the past it wasn't polite to use the exclamation 'God'. Instead people said Golly! or Gosh! Sometimes they said Heck! instead of Hell.
WIDE BERTH
A berth is the place where a ship is tied up or anchored. When the anchor was lowered a ship would tend to move about on the anchor cable, so it was important to give it a wide berth to avoid collisions, Today, to give someone a wide berth is to steer clear of them.
WHIPPING BOY
Prince Edward, later Edward VI, had a boy who was whipped in his place every time was naughty.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Why Do We Say That?
AM I MY BROTHERS KEEPER?
Like many old sayings in the English language this one came from the Bible. In Genesis Cain murdered his brother Abel. God asked Cain 'Where is your brother?' Cain answered 'I don't know. Am I my brothers keeper?'
TURN OVER A NEW LEAF
This means to make a fresh start. It means to turn over a page of a book.
HAVE NO TRUCK WITH
Truck originally meant barter and is derived from a French word 'troquer'. Originally if you had no truck with somebody you refused to trade with him or her. It came to mean you refused to have anything to do with them.
TOUCH WOOD
In Celtic time's people believed that benevolent spirits lived in trees. When in trouble people knocked on the tree and asked the spirits for help.
Like many old sayings in the English language this one came from the Bible. In Genesis Cain murdered his brother Abel. God asked Cain 'Where is your brother?' Cain answered 'I don't know. Am I my brothers keeper?'
TURN OVER A NEW LEAF
This means to make a fresh start. It means to turn over a page of a book.
HAVE NO TRUCK WITH
Truck originally meant barter and is derived from a French word 'troquer'. Originally if you had no truck with somebody you refused to trade with him or her. It came to mean you refused to have anything to do with them.
TOUCH WOOD
In Celtic time's people believed that benevolent spirits lived in trees. When in trouble people knocked on the tree and asked the spirits for help.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Why Do We Say That?
ACHILLES HEEL
In Greek mythology Thetis dipped her son in the mythical river Styx. Anyone who was immersed in the river became invulnerable. However, Thetis held Achilles by his heel. Since her hand covered this part of his body the water did not touch it and so it remained vulnerable. Achilles was eventually killed when an arrow hit his heel.
RULE OF THUMB
This comes from the days when brewers estimated the temperature of a brew by dipping their thumb in it.
RED HERRING
Poachers and other unsavoury characters would drag a herring across the ground where they had just walked to throw dogs off their scent. (Herrings were made red by the process of curing).
SHAMBLES
Originally a shamble was a bench. Butchers used to set up benches to sell meat from. In time the street where meat was sold often became known as the Shambles. (This street name survives in many towns today). However, because butchers used to throw offal into the street shambles came to mean a mess or something very untidy or disorganised.
SET YOUR TEETH ON EDGE
This is from Jeremiah 31:30 'Every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge'.
In Greek mythology Thetis dipped her son in the mythical river Styx. Anyone who was immersed in the river became invulnerable. However, Thetis held Achilles by his heel. Since her hand covered this part of his body the water did not touch it and so it remained vulnerable. Achilles was eventually killed when an arrow hit his heel.
RULE OF THUMB
This comes from the days when brewers estimated the temperature of a brew by dipping their thumb in it.
RED HERRING
Poachers and other unsavoury characters would drag a herring across the ground where they had just walked to throw dogs off their scent. (Herrings were made red by the process of curing).
SHAMBLES
Originally a shamble was a bench. Butchers used to set up benches to sell meat from. In time the street where meat was sold often became known as the Shambles. (This street name survives in many towns today). However, because butchers used to throw offal into the street shambles came to mean a mess or something very untidy or disorganised.
SET YOUR TEETH ON EDGE
This is from Jeremiah 31:30 'Every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge'.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Why Do We Say That?
WHAT THE DICKENS
This old saying does not come from the writer Charles Dickens (1812-1870). It is much older than him! It has been around since at least the 16th century, Originally 'Dickens' was another name for the Devil.
COPPER
The old word cop meant grab or capture so in the 19th century policemen were called coppers because they grabbed or caught criminals.
KICK THE BUCKET
When slaughtering a pig you tied its back legs to a wooden beam (in French buquet). As the animal died it kicked the buquet.
A LEOPARD CANNOT CHANGE HIS SPOTS
This is another old saying from the Bible. This one comes from Jeremiah 13:23 "Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard his spots?"
This old saying does not come from the writer Charles Dickens (1812-1870). It is much older than him! It has been around since at least the 16th century, Originally 'Dickens' was another name for the Devil.
COPPER
The old word cop meant grab or capture so in the 19th century policemen were called coppers because they grabbed or caught criminals.
KICK THE BUCKET
When slaughtering a pig you tied its back legs to a wooden beam (in French buquet). As the animal died it kicked the buquet.
A LEOPARD CANNOT CHANGE HIS SPOTS
This is another old saying from the Bible. This one comes from Jeremiah 13:23 "Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard his spots?"
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Why Do We Say That?
FLY IN THE OINTMENT
This old saying comes from the Bible. In Ecclesiastes 10:1 the writer says that dead flies give perfume a bad smell (in old versions of the Bible the word for perfume is translated 'ointment').
HAT TRICK
This comes from cricket. Once a bowler who took three wickets in successive deliveries was given a new hat by his club.
HOBSONS CHOICE
This means to have no choice at all. In the 16th century and the early 17th century if you went on a journey you could hire a horse to take you from one town to another and travel using a relay of horses. (That was better than wearing out your own horse on a long journey over very poor roads). In the early 1600s Thomas Hobson was a man in Cambridge who hired out horses. However he would not let customers choose which horse they wanted to ride. Instead they had to ride whichever horse was nearest the stable entrance. So if you hired a horse from him you were given 'Hobson's choice'.
PIN MONEY
In Tudor times and before when a merchant or tradesman made a bargain it was the custom for him to give some money for the other man's wife or daughter 'for pins'. (Tudor women needed lots of pins to hold their clothes together).
RED LETTER DAYS
In the Middle Ages saints days were marked in red in calendars. People did not work on some saint's days or holy days. Our word holiday is derived from holy day.
This old saying comes from the Bible. In Ecclesiastes 10:1 the writer says that dead flies give perfume a bad smell (in old versions of the Bible the word for perfume is translated 'ointment').
HAT TRICK
This comes from cricket. Once a bowler who took three wickets in successive deliveries was given a new hat by his club.
HOBSONS CHOICE
This means to have no choice at all. In the 16th century and the early 17th century if you went on a journey you could hire a horse to take you from one town to another and travel using a relay of horses. (That was better than wearing out your own horse on a long journey over very poor roads). In the early 1600s Thomas Hobson was a man in Cambridge who hired out horses. However he would not let customers choose which horse they wanted to ride. Instead they had to ride whichever horse was nearest the stable entrance. So if you hired a horse from him you were given 'Hobson's choice'.
PIN MONEY
In Tudor times and before when a merchant or tradesman made a bargain it was the custom for him to give some money for the other man's wife or daughter 'for pins'. (Tudor women needed lots of pins to hold their clothes together).
RED LETTER DAYS
In the Middle Ages saints days were marked in red in calendars. People did not work on some saint's days or holy days. Our word holiday is derived from holy day.
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Why Do We Say That
GET THE SACK
This comes from the days when workmen carried their tools in sacks. If your employer gave you the sack it was time to collect your tools and go.
HUMBLE PIE
The expression to eat humble pie was once to eat umble pie. The umbles were the intestines or less appetising parts of an animal and servants and other lower class people ate them. So if a deer was killed the rich ate venison and those of low status ate umble pie. In time it became corrupted to eat humble pie and came to mean to debase yourself or act with humility.
WIN HANDS DOWN
This old saying comes from horse racing. If a jockey was a long way ahead of his competitors and sure to win the race he could relax and put his hands down by his sides.
WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE
In the Middle Ages knights who fought in tournaments wore a token of their lady on their sleeves. Today if you make your feelings obvious to everybody you wear your heart on your sleeve.
This comes from the days when workmen carried their tools in sacks. If your employer gave you the sack it was time to collect your tools and go.
HUMBLE PIE
The expression to eat humble pie was once to eat umble pie. The umbles were the intestines or less appetising parts of an animal and servants and other lower class people ate them. So if a deer was killed the rich ate venison and those of low status ate umble pie. In time it became corrupted to eat humble pie and came to mean to debase yourself or act with humility.
WIN HANDS DOWN
This old saying comes from horse racing. If a jockey was a long way ahead of his competitors and sure to win the race he could relax and put his hands down by his sides.
WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE
In the Middle Ages knights who fought in tournaments wore a token of their lady on their sleeves. Today if you make your feelings obvious to everybody you wear your heart on your sleeve.
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