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Started By
Message
re: Common Sayings That Most People Have No Idea About the Origin
Posted on 10/25/15 at 4:41 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
Posted on 10/25/15 at 4:41 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
Now you're just pulling my leg.
0
Posted on 10/25/15 at 4:41 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
basket case
Posted on 10/25/15 at 5:23 pm to texashorn
In the barrel. Meaning to have a hard task to do.
"A popular passtime for Northerners during the late 19th Centuary.
A barrel would be placed in a public place with a selection of holes in it at different heights. The contents of the barrel would normally be a petty criminal who would have to spend a period of time "in the barrel".
Local men would visit the barrel and insert their manhoods into the holes of the barrel until the petty criminal had performed an oral sex act on them."
"A popular passtime for Northerners during the late 19th Centuary.
A barrel would be placed in a public place with a selection of holes in it at different heights. The contents of the barrel would normally be a petty criminal who would have to spend a period of time "in the barrel".
Local men would visit the barrel and insert their manhoods into the holes of the barrel until the petty criminal had performed an oral sex act on them."
Posted on 10/25/15 at 5:44 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
My favorite is "let the cat out of the bag." In the middle ages, there were roaming salesmen offering people a sack of unseen chicken/quail/whatever meat for cheap. People would buy the meat on the salesman's word and get home to find it was just a sack of dead cats.
Enough people bought sacks of unseen cat meat 500+ years ago that we are still talking about it today.
Enough people bought sacks of unseen cat meat 500+ years ago that we are still talking about it today.
Posted on 10/25/15 at 5:45 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
quote:
Mind your P's & Q's
Mind your pints & quarts. Bartenders would keep a watch on the alcohol consumption of the patrons; keeping an eye on the pints and quarts that were consumed. As a reminder to the patrons, the bartender would recommend they "mind their Ps and Qs". This may also have been a reminder to bartenders not to confuse the two units, written as "p" and "q" on the tally slate.
Posted on 10/25/15 at 6:06 pm to BigDropper
This thread has been surprisingly educational and interesting
Posted on 10/25/15 at 6:07 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
quote:
dindu nuffin
young blackies getting kilt
Posted on 10/25/15 at 6:14 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
It's raining cats and dogs.
Posted on 10/25/15 at 6:18 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
There is a show called "America's Secret Slang" on the history channel that goes into things like this, it's pretty damn fascinating.
Posted on 10/25/15 at 6:19 pm to Navytiger74
quote:
Let the Cat out of the Bag
Actual origin was Middle Ages markets pre-Royal Navy. If you bought a suckling pig at a village market it was stuffed into sack to transport. The saying was a warning to open the sack to insure that a wily farmer hadn't replaced the pig with an alley cat.
Posted on 10/25/15 at 6:44 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
As confused as a termite in a yoyo
Posted on 10/26/15 at 4:27 pm to WestSideTiger
quote:
It's raining cats and dogs.
In rural locations with thatched roofs the cats and dogs would sleep in the thatching. When it rained hard enough the cat and dogs would come down out of the roof. Therefore raining cats and dogs.
Posted on 10/26/15 at 4:27 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
Rule of thumb
Posted on 10/26/15 at 4:56 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
"Fair to middling" which is often mispronounced as "fair to midland", roughly means slightly above average:
'Middling' was and is a term used by farmers to describe the quality of farm produce, especially sheep. There were several loosely defined grades of produce: 'good', 'fair, 'middling', 'ordinary' and 'poor'.
Maybe this is common knowledge amongst the farming communities, but it was recently explained to me by an old ag lender at a bank.
'Middling' was and is a term used by farmers to describe the quality of farm produce, especially sheep. There were several loosely defined grades of produce: 'good', 'fair, 'middling', 'ordinary' and 'poor'.
Maybe this is common knowledge amongst the farming communities, but it was recently explained to me by an old ag lender at a bank.
Posted on 10/26/15 at 6:34 pm to Tigris
Surprised that nautical link didn't include "Son of a gun"...
A term that denotes a person for which there is general disdain. Derived from the British Royal Navy in a time where members of the crew would have pregnant wives or whores on board while in port - Usually finding space for alone time between the cannons on lower decks. Any child of questionable parentage born while on the ship was listed a "son of a gun".
A term that denotes a person for which there is general disdain. Derived from the British Royal Navy in a time where members of the crew would have pregnant wives or whores on board while in port - Usually finding space for alone time between the cannons on lower decks. Any child of questionable parentage born while on the ship was listed a "son of a gun".
Posted on 10/26/15 at 6:36 pm to DivotBreath
"Jumping the shark". Refers to a tv show doing something ridiculous and unrealistic because the ratings are dropping.
Origin is from Fonzie on "Happy Days" water skiing over a ramp over an underwater cage holding a great white shark...it was the beginning of the end of a great show.
Origin is from Fonzie on "Happy Days" water skiing over a ramp over an underwater cage holding a great white shark...it was the beginning of the end of a great show.
Posted on 10/26/15 at 9:09 pm to yurintroubl
I was told that it had to do woth shotgun weddings. Knock a girl up, dad shows up with the shotgun and makes you marry his daughter, your a son of a gun.
Idk, both work I guess.
Idk, both work I guess.
Posted on 10/26/15 at 9:12 pm to PurpleandGold Motown
Shooting monkeys in a barrel.
Posted on 10/26/15 at 9:59 pm to Festus
25
Bite the Bullet
Meaning: Accepting something difficult or unpleasant
History: There was no time to administer anesthesia before emergency surgery during battle. The surgeon made patients bite down on a bullet in an attempt to distract them from the pain.
24
Blood is Thicker than Water
Meaning: Family comes before everything else
History: In ancient Middle Eastern culture, blood rituals between men symbolized bonds that were far greater than those of family. The saying also has to do with “blood brothers,” because warriors who symbolically shared the blood they shed in battle together were said to have stronger bonds than biological brothers.
23
Break the Ice
Meaning: To commence a project or initiate a friendship
History: Before the days of trains or cars, port cities that thrived on trade suffered during the winter because frozen rivers prevented commercial ships from entering the city. Small ships known as “icebreakers” would rescue the icebound ships by breaking the ice and creating a path for them to follow. Before any type of business arrangement today, it is now customary “break the ice” before beginning a project.
22
Butter Someone Up
Meaning: To flatter someone
History: An ancient Indian custom involved throwing balls of clarified butter at statues of the gods to seek favor.
20
Caught Red-Handed
20
Meaning: To be caught doing something wrong
History: This saying originated because of a law. If someone butchered an animal that didn’t belong to him, he had to be caught with the animal’s blood on his hands to be convicted. Being caught with freshly cut meat did not make the person guilty.
19
Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater
19
Meaning: Hang on to valuable things when getting rid of unnecessary things
Hisory: 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 emptied the tub.
18
Eat Humble Pie
18
Meaning: Making an apology and suffering humiliation along with it
History: During the Middle Ages, the lord of a manor would hold a feast after hunting. He would receive the finest cut of meat at the feast, but those of a lower standing were served a pie filled with the entrails and innards, known as “umbles.” Therefore, receiving “umble pie” was considered humiliating because it informed others in attendance of the guest’s lower status.
17
Give the Cold Shoulder
17
Meaning: A rude way of telling someone he isn’t welcome
History: Although giving someone the cold shoulder today is considered rude, it was actually regarded as a polite gesture in medieval England. After a feast, the host would let his guests know it was time to leave by giving them a cold piece of meat from the shoulder of beef, mutton, or pork.
16
Go Cold Turkey
Meaning: To quit something abruptly
History: People believed that during withdrawal, the skin of drug addicts became translucent, hard to the touch, and covered with goose bumps – like the skin of a plucked turkey.
Bite the Bullet
Meaning: Accepting something difficult or unpleasant
History: There was no time to administer anesthesia before emergency surgery during battle. The surgeon made patients bite down on a bullet in an attempt to distract them from the pain.
24
Blood is Thicker than Water
Meaning: Family comes before everything else
History: In ancient Middle Eastern culture, blood rituals between men symbolized bonds that were far greater than those of family. The saying also has to do with “blood brothers,” because warriors who symbolically shared the blood they shed in battle together were said to have stronger bonds than biological brothers.
23
Break the Ice
Meaning: To commence a project or initiate a friendship
History: Before the days of trains or cars, port cities that thrived on trade suffered during the winter because frozen rivers prevented commercial ships from entering the city. Small ships known as “icebreakers” would rescue the icebound ships by breaking the ice and creating a path for them to follow. Before any type of business arrangement today, it is now customary “break the ice” before beginning a project.
22
Butter Someone Up
Meaning: To flatter someone
History: An ancient Indian custom involved throwing balls of clarified butter at statues of the gods to seek favor.
20
Caught Red-Handed
20
Meaning: To be caught doing something wrong
History: This saying originated because of a law. If someone butchered an animal that didn’t belong to him, he had to be caught with the animal’s blood on his hands to be convicted. Being caught with freshly cut meat did not make the person guilty.
19
Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater
19
Meaning: Hang on to valuable things when getting rid of unnecessary things
Hisory: 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 emptied the tub.
18
Eat Humble Pie
18
Meaning: Making an apology and suffering humiliation along with it
History: During the Middle Ages, the lord of a manor would hold a feast after hunting. He would receive the finest cut of meat at the feast, but those of a lower standing were served a pie filled with the entrails and innards, known as “umbles.” Therefore, receiving “umble pie” was considered humiliating because it informed others in attendance of the guest’s lower status.
17
Give the Cold Shoulder
17
Meaning: A rude way of telling someone he isn’t welcome
History: Although giving someone the cold shoulder today is considered rude, it was actually regarded as a polite gesture in medieval England. After a feast, the host would let his guests know it was time to leave by giving them a cold piece of meat from the shoulder of beef, mutton, or pork.
16
Go Cold Turkey
Meaning: To quit something abruptly
History: People believed that during withdrawal, the skin of drug addicts became translucent, hard to the touch, and covered with goose bumps – like the skin of a plucked turkey.
Posted on 10/26/15 at 10:02 pm to TutHillTiger
15
Go the Whole 9 Yards
15
Meaning: To try one’s best
History: World War II Fighter pilots received a 9-yard chain of ammunition. Therefore, when a pilot used all of his ammunition on one target, he gave it “the whole 9 yards.”
14
Jaywalker
Meaning: One who crosses the street in a reckless or illegal manner
History: Jay birds that traveled outside of the forest into urban areas often became confused and unaware of the potential dangers in the city – like traffic. Amused by their erratic behavior, people began using the term “Jaywalker” to describe someone who crossed the street irresponsibly.
13
Kick the Bucket
Meaning: To die
History: When a cow was killed at a slaughterhouse, a bucket was placed under it while it was positioned on a pulley. Sometimes the animal’s legs would kick during the adjustment of the rope and it would literally kick the bucket before being killed.
12
Let Your Hair Down
Meaning: To relax or be at ease
History: 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.
11
More Than You Can Shake a Stick At
Meaning: Having more of something than you need
History: Farmers controlled their sheep by shaking their staffs to indicate where the animals should go. When farmers had more sheep than they could control, it was said they had “more than you can shake a stick at.”
Go the Whole 9 Yards
15
Meaning: To try one’s best
History: World War II Fighter pilots received a 9-yard chain of ammunition. Therefore, when a pilot used all of his ammunition on one target, he gave it “the whole 9 yards.”
14
Jaywalker
Meaning: One who crosses the street in a reckless or illegal manner
History: Jay birds that traveled outside of the forest into urban areas often became confused and unaware of the potential dangers in the city – like traffic. Amused by their erratic behavior, people began using the term “Jaywalker” to describe someone who crossed the street irresponsibly.
13
Kick the Bucket
Meaning: To die
History: When a cow was killed at a slaughterhouse, a bucket was placed under it while it was positioned on a pulley. Sometimes the animal’s legs would kick during the adjustment of the rope and it would literally kick the bucket before being killed.
12
Let Your Hair Down
Meaning: To relax or be at ease
History: 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.
11
More Than You Can Shake a Stick At
Meaning: Having more of something than you need
History: Farmers controlled their sheep by shaking their staffs to indicate where the animals should go. When farmers had more sheep than they could control, it was said they had “more than you can shake a stick at.”
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