15 Everyday Expressions That Have Fascinating Historical Roots
Everyday phrases often seem like they’ve been around forever, slipping easily into our conversations without much thought. But many of these expressions have origins that are surprisingly rich in history, full of cultural quirks, and often completely unexpected.
From ancient battles to royal customs, here are 15 everyday phrases that carry fascinating backstories you probably never knew.
Bite the Bullet
This phrase is commonly used to mean enduring something painful or unpleasant. Its origins date back to the 19th century when soldiers, particularly during the British Empire's colonial wars, were given bullets to bite down on during surgeries to avoid screaming in pain, since anesthesia was not widely used at the time.
Break the Ice
To “break the ice” is a way of describing the act of initiating conversation or easing tension in a group. This phrase originally referred to the practice of ships breaking ice in the water to clear a path, which was seen as a necessary task to open up trade routes.
Over time, it came to symbolize the breaking down of social barriers.
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Let the Cat Out of the Bag
This phrase refers to revealing a secret or letting something slip. It originated in the medieval market, where farmers would sell pigs in bags.
Some would cheat buyers by replacing the pig with a less valuable cat. If the cat was let out of the bag, the scam was exposed.
Under the Weather
When you're feeling “under the weather,” you're typically not feeling well. The phrase comes from maritime traditions where sailors who were feeling sick would be sent below deck to avoid the harsh weather conditions, keeping them “under” the weather.
Cost an Arm and a Leg
This phrase is used to indicate something that is very expensive. The origin of this phrase dates back to the 18th century, where portraits of important figures were painted with limbs deliberately omitted to reduce costs.
A full portrait, with arms and legs, would cost more due to the added detail, hence the saying.
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A Leopard Can’t Change Its Spots
This expression is used to convey that people can't change their inherent nature. It comes from the Bible, specifically the book of Jeremiah, where it’s written that a leopard cannot change its spots.
The phrase suggests that no matter how much someone tries to change, their true character remains the same.
Spill the Beans
“Spill the beans” refers to revealing a secret or giving away information. The phrase comes from ancient Greece, where voting was done with beans.
If someone accidentally spilled the container of beans, the results of the vote would be prematurely revealed.
The Whole Nine Yards
This phrase means going all the way or giving your full effort. Its origin is uncertain, but one popular theory suggests it came from World War II, where fighter pilots had machine guns with belts of ammunition that measured 27 feet, or “nine yards.” A pilot giving “the whole nine yards” would use all of their ammo in a fight.
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Mad as a Hatter
This phrase is used to describe someone acting crazy or irrational. It originates from the 19th century, when hatters (people who made hats) used mercury in the process of curing felt, which caused them to develop symptoms of mercury poisoning, including erratic behavior.
Jack of All Trades
This phrase refers to someone who is skilled at many things but perhaps not an expert at one. The full saying was once “Jack of all trades, master of none,” and it referred to a person who had knowledge in many areas but didn’t specialize in one.
The phrase has since been shortened, and many people now see it as a compliment to versatility.
Cry Over Spilled Milk
To “cry over spilled milk” means to be upset about something that can’t be undone or fixed. The expression dates back to the 17th century, when spilled milk was seen as a wasteful loss.
It teaches the lesson not to waste time lamenting things that are beyond repair.
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Red Herring
A “red herring” is something that misleads or distracts from the real issue. This term originates from the 18th century, when smoked red herring fish were used to divert hounds from their scent during a hunt, thus misleading the dogs into chasing the wrong trail.
Kick the Bucket
This expression means to die, and its origin is often thought to come from a method of slaughtering animals. In older times, when a person or animal was hung for execution, they would stand on a bucket, which would be kicked away, causing them to hang.
Over time, “kick the bucket” became a euphemism for death.
Raining Cats and Dogs
This phrase is used to describe a very heavy rainstorm. It originated in 17th-century England when cats and dogs were often seen as symbols of chaos.
The phrase may have also come from a time when heavy rainstorms would wash dead animals through the streets, making it seem as though it had “rained cats and dogs.”
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Put a Sock in It
To tell someone to “put a sock in it” means to ask them to stop talking or be quiet. This phrase comes from the early days of phonographs.
To reduce the volume of the sound coming from the speaker, people would stuff a sock or rag into the horn. It eventually became a colloquial way of telling someone to be silent.
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