Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
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Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
There's quite a few common sayings in the English language that everyone has heard of, but not many seem to know why we say it. I've been reading about a few.
"Break a leg."
Having the "Upper hand"
"Close, but no cigar."
"Sleep tight"
"Brand spanking new." - is that better than new?
"With a grain of salt."
"Tied the knot."
"Jump on the bandwagon."
Any others?
"Break a leg."
Having the "Upper hand"
"Close, but no cigar."
"Sleep tight"
"Brand spanking new." - is that better than new?
"With a grain of salt."
"Tied the knot."
"Jump on the bandwagon."
Any others?
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
I'll go to our house.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
‘Beyond the pale’- refers to the old English territory in Ireland, the Pale
‘By hook or by crook’- there’s a theory it was first said by Cromwell in relation to Hook Head in Wexford and Crook in Waterford
‘Apple of my eye’- never got this one! Any ideas?
I always thought ‘break a leg’ was down to superstitions about saying nice things like ‘good luck’ and jinxing a performance?
English, a weird and wonderful language...
‘By hook or by crook’- there’s a theory it was first said by Cromwell in relation to Hook Head in Wexford and Crook in Waterford
‘Apple of my eye’- never got this one! Any ideas?
I always thought ‘break a leg’ was down to superstitions about saying nice things like ‘good luck’ and jinxing a performance?
English, a weird and wonderful language...
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
The one that always winds me up is “New & improved”
If it’s new there’s nothing for it to be improved on
It can only be New or improved
If it’s new there’s nothing for it to be improved on
It can only be New or improved
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Cor Blimey ... a derivative of " God, blind me "...
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
kick the bucket
Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Salt Of The Earth
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Brexit
(Or should that be things we voted for without actually understanding it? )
(Or should that be things we voted for without actually understanding it? )
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
A "near miss". Surely it should be a "near hit".
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
When I see this am I only one that thinks "so you've been shafting us with inferior product all this time, eh?"wilks_bfc wrote:The one that always winds me up is “New & improved”
If it’s new there’s nothing for it to be improved on
It can only be New or improved
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
"You'll be laughing on the other side of your face" - How?
"Donkeys years" - how long is a donkey's year exactly?
"Selling like hot cakes" - Are hot cakes really that popular and if so why don't more people sell them?
"I don't know if I'm coming or going" -Time to quit drinking then.
"Can't do right for doing wrong" - Stop doing wrong then
"Donkeys years" - how long is a donkey's year exactly?
"Selling like hot cakes" - Are hot cakes really that popular and if so why don't more people sell them?
"I don't know if I'm coming or going" -Time to quit drinking then.
"Can't do right for doing wrong" - Stop doing wrong then
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Flammable, inflammable. Meaning the same!
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Why does someone always mention the B WORD on every topicTheFamilyCat wrote:Brexit
(Or should that be things we voted for without actually understanding it? )
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
'Sleep tight' from memory has something to do with 'mattresses' being supported on ropes.FactualFrank wrote:There's quite a few common sayings in the English language that everyone has heard of, but not many seem to know why we say it. I've been reading about a few.
"Break a leg."
Having the "Upper hand"
"Close, but no cigar."
"Sleep tight"
"Brand spanking new." - is that better than new?
"With a grain of salt."
"Tied the knot."
"Jump on the bandwagon."
Any others?
In order to sleep well you could alter the tension of the ropes. Most people preffered them tight so you had to tighten the ropes.....hence sleep tight.
Here's one to think of;
"I'll go to foot of our stairs".
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Well I'll go t' foot o' stairs...
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Plenty that derive from military terms
Flash in the pan
Going off half cocked
Shooting your bolt
All the above about muskets
Flash in the pan
Going off half cocked
Shooting your bolt
All the above about muskets
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
It's a storm in a tea cup....much ado about nowt..your a sandwich short of a picnic..
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Rule of thumb referred to the thickness of a stick that you could beat the wife with.
Handball ! There's a few referees who don't understand that one.
Handball ! There's a few referees who don't understand that one.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
It's raining cats and dogs??? It's a pea souper..(fog)
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Its one of them
Or
At the end of the day, its one of them
Or
At the end of the day, its one of them
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Well it is what it is isn't it?..... Well yeah, but what you on about.
It's out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Doing all the hard yards ( don't know where it comes from )
Stepping up to the plate. Again not sure if origin, but kind of get the message.
It's out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Doing all the hard yards ( don't know where it comes from )
Stepping up to the plate. Again not sure if origin, but kind of get the message.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
A lot comes from Naval/maritime sayings such as...
3 square meals a day
Money for old rope
3 sheets to the wind
Swinging the lead
And many more
3 square meals a day
Money for old rope
3 sheets to the wind
Swinging the lead
And many more
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Bloody millions from the forces:Bigvince wrote:Plenty that derive from military terms
Flash in the pan
Going off half cocked
Shooting your bolt
All the above about muskets
Brass Monkey - The wrack were primed cannon balls were kept, when the brass parts retracted in extreme cold it would cause all the cannon balls to roll off...."freeze the balls of a brass monkey"
Lock, stock and barrel - the parts of a flintlock.
Flash in the pan - the pan being the little plate where you placed the flint/match to the gun powder
forlorn hope - Early English Light troops were often sent open order way in advance of the main force - they had no chance of winning if they spotted by the enemy.
room to swing a cat - often thought to be cat o nine tails, but is now thought it refers to a coiled up rope. Definitely a naval term though.
With his salt - Roman's often paid each other with salt, though despite the myth it was never given as pay to soldiers.
Just the ones that spring to mind.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
"Faster than Ronaldo"
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Cross the Rubicon - is common for no going back, pretty much what it meant from day one - Julius Caesar's crossing the Rubicon signaled the start Roman Civil War.
Side Burns - A joke made about General Burnside's outrageous moss-chops in the American CW "don't know about Burnside... he's more like Side-burn with those
Sent to Coventry - There was a huge PoW camp in Coventry, for Loyalist prisoners captured by the Parliamentarians.
Side Burns - A joke made about General Burnside's outrageous moss-chops in the American CW "don't know about Burnside... he's more like Side-burn with those
Sent to Coventry - There was a huge PoW camp in Coventry, for Loyalist prisoners captured by the Parliamentarians.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
"Blood is thicker than water"
We take it to mean that family is more important than friendships, etc. But that's the opposite of what the full saying means, which says that the relationships we choose are more valuable than the relationships we're born into.
"The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb".
We take it to mean that family is more important than friendships, etc. But that's the opposite of what the full saying means, which says that the relationships we choose are more valuable than the relationships we're born into.
"The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb".
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Damp squib = squib is a small explosive, if damp just fizzles out
Swinging the lead = easy job on sailing ship checking depth of water with rope and lead weight
Swinging the lead = easy job on sailing ship checking depth of water with rope and lead weight
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
"Tie the knot" refers to the ancient custom of symbolically tying a couples hands together by the priest whilst stating, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matthew 19:6) during a marriage service.
"Living o'er t'brush" refers to the custom, common amongst Navvies and working class people who couldn't a church wedding, during the 18th and 19th centuries where a couple intending to live as man and wife would gather some witnesses and step over a broom together. They should then have notified the local registrar of their new status but most did not because that cost a half-sovereign in the mid 1700s.
"Jump on the bandwagon" refers to the parade that a circus would give before a performance. The band would ride on a wagon and, if they were good or popular, then citizens wcould climb aboard to be transported to the Big Top. Politicians seized on this idea after the franchise had been given to all men over the age of 25 as a means to get people to their meetings or the voting booth (the idea was that you would vote for the guy who transported you there and is still, except they use cars nowadays, used by the political parties in marginal seats.)
"Living o'er t'brush" refers to the custom, common amongst Navvies and working class people who couldn't a church wedding, during the 18th and 19th centuries where a couple intending to live as man and wife would gather some witnesses and step over a broom together. They should then have notified the local registrar of their new status but most did not because that cost a half-sovereign in the mid 1700s.
"Jump on the bandwagon" refers to the parade that a circus would give before a performance. The band would ride on a wagon and, if they were good or popular, then citizens wcould climb aboard to be transported to the Big Top. Politicians seized on this idea after the franchise had been given to all men over the age of 25 as a means to get people to their meetings or the voting booth (the idea was that you would vote for the guy who transported you there and is still, except they use cars nowadays, used by the political parties in marginal seats.)
Last edited by bfcmik on Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Swinging the lead' wasn't an easy job on board ship, it was cheating on the job. The sailor was supposed to lower a rope with a lead weight on it into the water to check the depth. Instead of letting the weight sink to the bottom, he would dangle the weighted rope over the side of the ship and swing it so he didn't have to lift it back from the bottom of the sea . Hence, swinging the lead.
Sleep tight. As stated above, early beds had mattresses or pal liaises supported by straps or ropes, which would work loose during the night, hence sleep tight.
Donkeys years. This is a corruption of donkeys ears, ie as long as donkeys ears.
Sleep tight. As stated above, early beds had mattresses or pal liaises supported by straps or ropes, which would work loose during the night, hence sleep tight.
Donkeys years. This is a corruption of donkeys ears, ie as long as donkeys ears.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Apple of my eye. This goes back to biblical writings, the Apple being the pupil of the eye. Hence, the first thing seen through eye.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Two expressions I only ever heard Grandma Beamish use were, 'I'll put salt on your/their tail', and 'Foot, Horse, and Guns'.
The first was an admonition if she was going to scold or punish you/someone. Ironically, she was inveterately kind and never raised her voice, let alone her hand to any child.
The second would be used like others would use 'lock, stock, and barrel', or 'the whole nine yards'.
I have a different explanation for 'beyond the pale' to Wexford's above. The pale mentioned refers to stakes or pales(from where we derive the word impale) used to make fences and palisades. Anything that was unacceptable or forbidden was outside the bounds of said fences and was said to be 'beyond the pale'.
The first was an admonition if she was going to scold or punish you/someone. Ironically, she was inveterately kind and never raised her voice, let alone her hand to any child.
The second would be used like others would use 'lock, stock, and barrel', or 'the whole nine yards'.
I have a different explanation for 'beyond the pale' to Wexford's above. The pale mentioned refers to stakes or pales(from where we derive the word impale) used to make fences and palisades. Anything that was unacceptable or forbidden was outside the bounds of said fences and was said to be 'beyond the pale'.
Last edited by Lord Beamish on Wed Jan 17, 2018 8:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
I love you.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Not certain but I think 'beyond the pale' comes from the Irish connection of land beyond British control in Ireland, but the Pale itself is based on Beamish's explanation of anything beyond the pale or fence.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Interesting thread. I started to list down expressions I have heard so that I ponder over there meaning and origin. Two "spring to mind"
Cut to the chase.
Crying over spilt milk.
- and , may be
dog tired.
Cut to the chase.
Crying over spilt milk.
- and , may be
dog tired.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Cut to the chase. This comes from early silent movies, where if the plot was dragging, they would simply cut to the chase scene to liven it up. Crying over spilt milk is self evident.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Never cried over spilling milk .... beer maybe, whiskey for sure if its a large one.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
In the yuppified days of the 1980's some of the young Royal Artillery Officers tried calling our Air Defence weapons Hitiles instead of Missiles.Grimsdale wrote:A "near miss". Surely it should be a "near hit".
Thankfully, it didn't last long!
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Interesting, I just Googled it and the answer I got was that no one’s sure! Thinking about it your explanation seems to make much more sense, though I suppose we can never be sure with the madness that is language and etymology...Lord Beamish wrote: I have a different explanation for 'beyond the pale' to Wexford's above. The pale mentioned refers to stakes or pales (from where we derive the word impale) used to make fences and palisades. Anything that was unacceptable or forbidden was outside the bounds of said fences and was said to be 'beyond the pale'.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Back to back. As in 'back to back wins'. It means one after the other but I don't understand why.
Come on, get off! As in a bus that had one too many passengers on board and the conductor said to the last one 'come on, get off'.
Come on, get off! As in a bus that had one too many passengers on board and the conductor said to the last one 'come on, get off'.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
We're doing well here. There's also the Peter Kay one about Larry.
I'm as happy as Larry.
I'm as happy as Larry.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
As Happy as a Clam doesn't make too much sense until you realise that it is a truncated form of the phrase 'as happy as a clam at high tide'. Clams exposed by low tide can easily be picked by land and air predators, whereas they are safe when the tide is in.
Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
The one I don't understand is when - in anecdotes about what people did - they often become gates.
"He were a gate..... and then she were a gate"
I think they mean - "he was saying.... and then she was saying"
"He were a gate..... and then she were a gate"
I think they mean - "he was saying.... and then she was saying"
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
He's entitled to go down.....
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
This thread is USELESS without etymology
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
I may write a few articles and post them up.Falcon wrote:This thread is USELESS without etymology
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Usually said about an 'upgrade', which is then acceptable. As in a 'new model that is better than the previous one'.wilks_bfc wrote:The one that always winds me up is “New & improved”
If it’s new there’s nothing for it to be improved on
It can only be New or improved
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Cross the Rubicon refers to the Greek myth that when you die you cross the river Rubicon into the underworld, a place of no return. Thus meaning 'no going back'.elwaclaret wrote:Cross the Rubicon - is common for no going back, pretty much what it meant from day one - Julius Caesar's crossing the Rubicon signaled the start Roman Civil War.
Side Burns - A joke made about General Burnside's outrageous moss-chops in the American CW "don't know about Burnside... he's more like Side-burn with those
Sent to Coventry - There was a huge PoW camp in Coventry, for Loyalist prisoners captured by the Parliamentarians.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
You won't be surprised to find out "Break a leg" is nothing to do with breaking your leg.
I've worked with several major theatre companies for over 25 years and here is the correct reason...
It is simply a way of wishing an actor a good performance and one that will the audience will appreciate, hence you will be required to bend your leg your bow when accepting their applause.
I've worked with several major theatre companies for over 25 years and here is the correct reason...
It is simply a way of wishing an actor a good performance and one that will the audience will appreciate, hence you will be required to bend your leg your bow when accepting their applause.
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Re: Things we hear or say without actually understanding it
Err on the side of caution
He got great purchase on the shot
Too well hit
play it by ear.
He got great purchase on the shot
Too well hit
play it by ear.