Old sayings

Jane · Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:07 am Post subject:

THE HAIR OF THE DOG

In the 16th century it was thought that the best cure for a bite from a mad dog was a remedy made from the dog's own hair. Eventually it came to stand for a small alcoholic drink taken to cure a hangover.

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Jane · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject:

SPICK AND SPAN

The phrase comes from the linking of words, both meaning new, from 2 languages. In Old Norse, ‘spannyr’ meant new, while spick is from the Dutch ‘spik-splinternieuw’, which means literally splinter-new. The original phrase ‘spick-and-span new’ was later shortened

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Jane · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:27 pm Post subject:

MUMS THE WORD

The phrase has nothing to do with the shortened term for mother but, instead, refers to the sound that is made when someone tries to talk when the lips are pursed firmly shut. In Shakespeare’s Henry VI, the speaker commands: “Seal up your lips and give no words but Mum.”

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Jane · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:27 pm Post subject:

SAVED BY THE BELL

Although commonly believed to refer to the bell in a boxing match, a more dubious explanation has its origins in Medieval times when there was a risk of burying people when they were still alive. To prevent this, it is said, a string was tied to the arm of the corpe and attached to a bell above ground.

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Jane · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:58 am Post subject:

POT LUCK

In the 16th century, it was traditional for every house to have a pot of food on the stove but visitors were never sure what was cooking. Whether they dined on a choice cut of meat or something less appetising was a matter of chance.

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Jane · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:59 am Post subject:

SPITTING IMAGE

In the 17th century, the bizarre belief existed that an identical twin could actually be spat from the mouth of a living person.

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Jane · Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:59 am Post subject:

HEAD OVER HEELS

The original form of the phrase typically used to describe strong feelings. It comes from an old children’s custom of performing somersaults to show great joy.

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Jane · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:43 am Post subject:

JUST THE TICKET

One of many explanations for this phrase, meaning exactly what is needed, or just right, claims that it is a corruption of the French, ‘C’est l’etiquette’, referring to the appropriate manners.

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Jane · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:43 am Post subject:

BREAKING THE ICE

Before a ship could pass through frozen water, the difficult task of cutting a passage through the ice had to be completed. The phrase was borrowed from seafaring language to mean making the first move in a challenging social situation.

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Jane · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:43 am Post subject:

GET THE SACK

Derives from the French phrase, ‘Donner le sac’ (give the bag) and linked to the practice of workmen carrying their own tools in a bag, which they took away when they were dismissed or finished a job.

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Dotty · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:15 pm Post subject: Good ones ...

I particularly liked the French ones...just the ticket and the sack...I can actually see and hear how they came about.

Dotty Smilie_PDT

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Jane · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject:

BACK TO SQUARE ONE

Until the 1930’s, football pitches were divided into notional squares to help radio listeners understand commentaries. A simpler explanation is that the phrase refers to the first square on a board game, such as snakes and ladders.

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Jane · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject:

CURRY FAVOUR

In the 17th century a favel was a horse and curry was part of the grooming process. The term curry favel – later favour – became a byword for cunning or duplicity when it was used in a French novel about a scheming stallion which used flattery to gain an advantage.

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Jane · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject:

ON CLOUD NINE

In US meteorological terminology, cloud types are given numbers. Cloud nine refers to cumulonimbus, the largest, most elaborate clouds which reach highest into the atmosphere and have come to be associated with soaring spirits or elation.

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Jane · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject:

MAY AS WELL GO THE WHOLE HOG

Butchers in 19th century Virginia sold a whole hog more cheaply than individual cuts, so it was a much better proposition to buy the whole animal.

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