This month’s installment of famous phrase origins is all about loose change! Nowadays, you wouldn’t think very hard for this little money. Penny for your thoughts – Back in 1546, John Heywood published a book of proverbs, among them is this famous phrase used by a person seeing someone else… Read more »
It’s another installment of that highly educational and immensely entertaining (or is that verse vice-a?) feature where you learn just where that phrase or word came from. Sit back (you shouldn’t be so close to the screen anyway) and feel the knowledge just ooze into you… Before they were fashionable, they were functional. Trench Coat… Read more »
Out on a Limb It’s in the 40’s in South Florida this morning, prompting an appropriate grouping of phrases to edumicate you on… That’s not a pretty sight! Cold turkey – The expression originates from the goose bumps and pallor which accompany withdrawal from narcotics or tobacco. The struggling person’s… Read more »
Out on a limb We’ve gone to the dogs this week… Hey, I gotta get some rest if I’m gonna be around that long! In a dog’s age – The expression is actually adapted from two forms originally used back in the old West. The first expression, “in a crow’s age”, was… Read more »
Out on a Limb B-grade? Could this UFO be from the planet of the Bogey-men? Bogey – Bogey is a term that today is usually only heard in the air force or on a golf course. Up in the wild, blue yonder it is a reference to an unidentified… Read more »
Out on a limb The theme should make itself clear… Tote that bale! Above board – Early trading ships would hide illegal cargo below the ship’s deck. Legal cargo could be placed in plain view on deck, or “above boards” of the deck. Therefore, anything that was legal was called “above… Read more »
Out on a Limb A rainbow of sayings to learn about… I think we’re just too cute to hunt! In the pink – In traditional English fox hunting, hunters wore scarlet colored jackets called “pinks”. If you are wearing your pink, you are ready to go hunting. Thus, you were “feeling good and ready to… Read more »
Clothes make the man, the saying goes, and they also make a number of catchy phrases. “Dammit, Bones, I’m a Captain…not a seamstress!” Keep your shirt on – Commonly used to mean “calm down” or be patient, this phrase harkens back to the time before modern manufacturing techniques…. Read more »
Out on a Limb This month’s installment is strictly for the birds! “Yeah, yeah, I’m fat and slow…so why aren’t you out tracking lions, O mighty hunter?” Turkey shoot – Originally, a turkey shoot was a contest in which muzzle loaded guns were used to shoot turkeys. In regards to the turkey, we’re not… Read more »
Out on a Limb Time for some new discoveries of where your favorite phrase came from! When a diet plan goes horribly wrong! Skeletons in the closet – meaning something to hide, it comes from the fairy tale of Blue Beard and his famous closet. Why famous? Ask any of his mny wives. … Read more »
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