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Have you ever thought about some of the common expressions, slang, and cliches we use on a daily basis and ask yourself where these unusual idioms originated from? Well, have. So, I decided to finally "go the whole 9 yards" to find out and I am "pleased as punch" that I did. 1. Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater List25 During the 1500s, most people bathed once a year. Even when they did bathe, the entire family used the same tubful of water. The man of the house bathed first, followed by other males, then females, and finally the babies. You can imagine how thick and cloudy the water became by that time, so the infants’ mothers had to take care not to throw them out with the bathwater when they 2. Hold A Candle To This phrase originates from when apprentices were expected to hold the candle up, so their more experienced colleagues could see what they were doing. The phrase first appeared in print in Sir Edward Dering's The fower cardinal-vertues of a Carmelite fryar, in 1641. History Revealed 3. Sick As A Dog Even though dogs appear to physically (and mentally) deal with sickness way better than humans this idiom refers to someone who’s very sick. The origin of the phrase comes from the early 1700s when it was common to call someone who was undesirable and ill-looking “a dirty dog.” helpingidahodogs.org. 4. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush This medieval proverb comes from the sport of falconry, where the 'bird in the hand' (the preying Falcon) was worth more than 'two in the bush' - the prey. Cappuccino - blogger 5. Off The Record This American phrase was first attributed to President Franklin Roosevelt in 1932, who was recorded in The Daily Times-News saying "he was going to talk 'off the record', that it was mighty nice to be able to talk 'off the record' for a change and that he hoped to be able to talk 'off the record' often in the future." Pat Emerine Productions 6. No Brainer We use this idiom to describe a very easy decision we make for anything that requires minimal brain activity to accomplish. This phrase has been widely used only for the past five or six decades and one of the earliest sources we have for it comes from an issue of the Lethbridge Herald of 1968, in which the following was stated about an ice hockey coach: “He’d break in on a goalie and the netminder would make one of those saves that our manager-coach, Sid Abel, calls ‘a no-brainer.’ ” List25 7. A sight for sore eyes Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver's Travels, first used this phrase in A complete collection of genteel and ingenious conversation, 1738, with the line "The Sight of you is good for sore Eyes." Storypick20 8. A Stone's Throw This term for 'a short distance' is a variation of 'a stone's cast', first used in early editions of the Bible, but it fell out of use. Writer John Arbuthnot revived it in The History of John Bull, in 1712. MTL Magazine 9. Absence makes the heart grow fonder This sweet saying came from the Roman poet Sextus Propertius' Elegies:"Always toward absent lovers love's tide stronger flows." In 1832, the modern variant of the phrase was coined by a 'Miss Strickland' in The Pocket Magazine of Classic and Polite Literature. 10. To Hit The Nail On The Head We often hear this idiom during intense conversations and especially when someone gets right to the precise point or says something that is verified as correct. However, no one can be sure about its exact origin but what we know for a fact is that this phrase is really old. It appears for the first time in recorded history in 1438 in The Book of Margery Kempe, even though many scholars believe that the idiom in Kempe’s book isn’t entirely clear and probably has a different meaning from its modern use. 11. The Best Of Both Worlds The phrase “the best of both worlds” refers to an item or situation that offers the benefits of two disparate or competing items or situations, often without presenting the undesirable aspects of either. To make a long story short, it means that you can enjoy two different opportunities at the same time. Even though the exact origins of the term are unconfirmed, the phrase has been a part of English since at least the late 1800s. It is believed to have derived from the saying “the best of all possible worlds,” which was used in Voltaire’s novella Candide, published in 1759, but the modern definition of the idiom usually compares only two situations as opposed to the broader comparison implied by Voltaire. Sainde.org 12. Break A Leg This really weird-sounding idiom is mainly used when you want to wish someone good luck and it was first used by stage actors who were known for being very superstitious. Although there are many different theories about the origin of “break a leg” and no one can be one hundred percent sure, the most accepted theory today suggests that “break a leg” was heard for the first time in British theater circles back in the 1920s. Know Your Meme 13. An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away Was this catchy rhyme a proverb from Pembrokeshire, or Devon? The earliest recording of the phrase in 1866, states "Eat an apple on going to bed, And you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread" is from the former. But in 1913, Elizabeth Wright recorded this phrase from the latter: "Ait a happleavoregwain to bed, An' you'll make the doctor beg his bread; or as the more popular version runs: An apple a day Keeps the doctor away. 14. Cool as a cucumber Despite sounding like a modern-day phrase, Cool as a cucumber actually first appeared in John Gay's Poems, New Song on New Similies, in 1732: "I ... cool as a cucumber could see The rest of womankind." 15. Busy As A Bee Chaucer coined the term in the Squire's Tale, from his Canterbury Tales, around 1386-1400. 16. Bring Home The Bacon This phrase is often attributed to the story of Dunmow Flitch. In 1104, a couple in Great Dunmow, Essex, impressed the Prior of Little Dunmow with their love and devotion so much, that he awarded them a flitch of bacon. 17. Basket Case Originally, this term was used by the US military after WWI, referring to soldiers who had lost arms and legs and had to be carried by others. Decider 18. Beat Around The Bush Beat around the bush evolved from "beat about the bush", a term used in bird hunting to rouse the prey out of the bushes, and into nets. Grouse hunters still use beaters today. www.observerbd.com 19. Two Peas In A Pod Referring to the fact that two peas in a pod are identical,this phrase dates from the 16th century, and appeared in John Lyly's Euphues and his England, in 1580: "Wherin I am not unlike unto the unskillful Painter, who having drawen the Twinnes of Hippocrates, (who wer as lyke as one pease is to an other)." 20. A Man After My Own Heart This saying comes from the Bible (King James Version): Samuel 13:14: "But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee." The Bottom Line, Ministries 21. Frog In The Throat The earliest use of this name for a sore throat was actually supposed to be a ‘cure’. In The Stevens Point Journal, November 1894, the Taylor Bros advertised a medicine called 'Frog in the Throat' that will “cure hoarseness” for only 10 cents a box. What a bargain… Pinterest 22. Fools Rush In This is a shortened line from English poet Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism, 1709: "For Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread". The ‘fools’ in question are literary critics – although fool did not have such negative connotations in the 18th century. 23. Fly Off The Handle Coined by American writer Thomas C Haliburton in 1843 (he also invented “won’t take no for answer” and “ginger up”), this phrase was inspired by the way an axe-head will fly off its handle if loose. 24. Fly By The Seat Of Your Pants This aviation term emerged in 1938 in US newspapers, to describe pilot Douglas Corrigan’s (slightly perilous) flight from the USA to Ireland. Inglés Málaga 25. Gee Whiz! First used in the late 19th century, Gee Whiz is actually shorthand (or a “minced oath” in linguistic terms) for Jesus. 123RF.com 26. Go Down Like A Lead Balloon The US version of this phrase “Go over like a lead balloon”, first appeared in a Mom-N-Pop cartoon in several newspapers in 1924. It then fell out of use until after WWII – and was said to inspire a certain heavy metal band to name themselves Led Zeppelin. Flickr 27. Gadzooks! This word brings comic strip superheroes to mind, but like Gee Whizz, it’s another minced oath – meaning “God’s words”, and first used in various 17th century plays. freetextclipart.blogspot.com 28. Goody Two Shoes Good two shoes come from a Christian retelling of Cinderella, a nursery tale named The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes, published in 1765. The poor orphan of the title only has one shoe – but is given two shoes by a rich man as a reward for her virtue. 29. Saved By The Bill Contrary to popular belief, this phrase didn’t originate from the popular 90s sitcom. 'Saved by the Bell' is boxing slang from the late 19th century. A boxer who is in danger of losing a bout can be 'saved' from defeat by the bell that marks the end of a round. Logan Lindy's Portfolio - WordPress.com 30. Dead Ringer This word was used in US horse-racing at the end of the 19th century. A 'ringer' is a horse substituted for another of similar appearance in order to defraud the bookies. Jess Robinson 31. In Spades The expression 'in spades', used to described a large amount, is a 20th century US word used in Bridge and card games, referring to Spades as one of the highest ranking suits Wiktionary 32. I'll Be There With Bells On The first record of this phrase in print is in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and the Damned, 1922: "All-ll-ll righty. I'll be there with bells!" 33. In Stitches Another Shakespeare coinage, although not used again until the 20th century. In the Twelfth Night, 1602, Maria says: "If you desire the spleen, and will laugh yourself into stitches, follow me." yolynnvaldez.blogspot.com 34. In The Limelight Limelight is an intense white light widely used in 19th-century theaters to illuminate the stage. Clearly, actors who were the center of attention on stage is said to be in the limelight. The River Walk 35. In The Buff A buff-coat was a light browny/yellow leather tunic worn by English soldiers up until the 17th century. The original meaning of 'in the buff' was simply to be wearing such a coat. Later on, 'in the buff' was used to mean naked, due to the colour of the skin, which is similar to the buff coat. English Idioms Daily Blog 36. Keeping Up With The Joneses This American term emerged in 1913, when Arthur (Pop) Momand started a Keep Up With The Joneses comic strip in the New York Globe. The strip was so popular in, that in 1915 a cartoon film of the same name was released. 37. Feeling Under The Weather Roamin' Doodles - WordPress.com To be “under the weather” is to be ill or to feel unwell. Originally it meant to feel seasick or to be adversely affected by bad weather and as you’ve probably guessed by now this idiom has a maritime source. In the old days, when a sailor was unwell he was sent down below deck to recover, away from the weather, something that is verified in Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions by Bill Beavis and Richard G. McCloskey. 38. Raining Cats And Dogs If you ever happen to be around older people for some reason and it’s raining heavily then there’s a very good a chance you’ll hear this idiom. You will probably wonder why the sky would ever rain cats and dogs of all things but if you were into Norse mythology then you would know that cats were the symbol of heavy rain, while dogs were directly connected with Odin, the ruler of Asgard and storm god, and therefore represented howling wind. I think you get the point by now, right? 39. Woke Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed It happens to all of us once in a while, especially when we know at bedtime that we have to get up and pay all the bills, including the dreaded rent, the next morning. It’s not exactly the way any of us want to start our day. But you’re probably wondering how we ended up with this idiom. Well, in ancient Rome, getting out of bed on the left side was considered a bad sign and plain bad luck and if you made that mistake your day was destined to be a very bad one. And #40 is NEXT 40. Skeleton In Your Closet In nineteenth-century England, the periodical The Eclectic Review used this idiom in reference to a family who desperately tried to keep a son’s illness secret by hiding him in the closet quite often, especially when guests visited. This is how this idiom got its start, and today we use it to refer to when someone tries to hide a big secret out of embarrassment and shame. 41. The Apple Of My Eye This Old English phrase was first attributed to King Aelfred (the Great) of Wessex, AD 885, in Gregory's Pastoral Care, but also appears in Shakespeare'sA Midsummer Night’s Dream. 42. No Spring Chicken New England chicken farmers generally sold chickens in the spring, so the chickens born in the springtime yielded better earnings than the chickens that survived the winter. Sometimes, farmers tried to sell old birds for the price of a new spring chicken. Clever buyers complained that the fowl was “no spring chicken,” and the term came to represent anyone past their prime. 43. Let Your Hair Down Pinterest Parisian nobles risked condemnation from their peers if they appeared in public without an elaborate hairdo. Some of the more intricate styles required hours of work, so of course, it was a relaxing ritual for these aristocrats to come home at the end of a long day and let their hair down. Phew! Now that that's settled, I can finally "let my hair down"! Sources: The List: 25 Startling Origins Of Popular Idioms & Stylist: Everyday sayings explained Sources: Stylist & list25 Tell us what we missed in the comment section below! 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