The complexity of language and history are shown by the dark and unexpected roots of many of the expressions we use on a daily basis. Here, we will reveal the frequently ominous origins of some of the most widely used proverbs and phrases. Keep scrolling to find out the most bizarre.
1. Achilles Heel
This expression originates from Greek mythology, as Thetis submerged her son Achilles in the Styx, a river thought to possess extraordinary strength and impregnability. Her son was being held by his heel, though, which made it susceptible because it was the only area of his body that was not wet. Ultimately, an arrow pierced Achilles’ heel, killing him.
2. My Ears Are Burning
The phrase originated with the ancient Romans, who thought that burning sensations in different organs meant different things. Actually, it was thought that if your right ear was burning, you were being complimented, and if your left ear was burning, it was an indication of malevolent intent.
3. Let The Cat Out Of The Bag
Pigs used to be brought to the market in bags by farmers who sold them. A cat would be used in place of the pig by dishonest people, and their deception would be exposed if the cat were to escape.
4. Blue Blood
The idea that certain people have blue blood dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was thought that people with light skin, that is, those whose ancestors had not married those with darker skin, were noble or aristocratic. The primary justification for this is that veins are more noticeable and typically appear rather blue when your skin is really pale.
5. Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
The English poet John Milton’s 1634 work Comus: A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle is the exact source of this phrase. He described a brilliant spot beneath a dark cloud, and shortly after, “Milton’s clouds” became a mainstay of English literature. Eventually, the adage “every cloud has a silver lining” emerged in the 1800s, when Victorian England’s upper classes were full of hope and optimism.
6. The Whole 9 Yards
Pilots would carry a 9-yard chain of ammo during World War II. Fighter pilots would give “the whole 9 yards” when they fired all of their ammunition on a single target.
7. Sleep Tight
This term is thought to have originated during Shakespeare’s time, when beds were fastened with ropes. In those days, a well-sprung bed was created by sleeping with the ropes pulled taut.
8. Piece Of Cake
This saying comes from American poet Ogden Nash who, in 1930, was quoted saying, “Life’s a piece of cake,” and it means something easily achieved.
9. Spill The Beans
This proverb dates back to Ancient Greece, when beans were used for voting. People would place a black bean in the jar for a candidate they disapprove of and a white bean in the jar for a candidate they support. Occasionally, though, incompetent individuals would spill the jars, exposing confidential data.
10. Pull Out All The Stops
“Stops” are knobs found on organ consoles. “Pulling out all the stops” would allow the organist to get the most volume out of the instrument because without them, they could play at a much greater volume.
11. Run Amok
The phrase is derived from the Malaysian word amoq, which refers to the strange ways in which tribesmen would act irrationally and assault others when under the influence of opium.
12. Resting On Laurels
The terms “laureates” and “resting on laurels” come from the fact that in ancient Greece, laurel branches were awarded to athletes who had won significant contests and, later, to generals who had won significant conflicts. The term was used negatively in the 19th century to characterize those who are unduly content with their accomplishments.
13. Eat Humble Pie
Following a hunt in the Middle Ages, there would be a massive feast. Lower-ranking individuals would consume a pie including guts and innards, commonly referred to as “umbles,” while the lord of the manor would be given the best cut of meat. Because it represented their inferior rank, those who would consume the “umble pie” were viewed as embarrassed.
14. Hands Down
This phrase originated in the horse racing industry. As the jockey, you are so far ahead of the pursuing pack that you can relax and win the race without using your hands.
15. Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing
The biblical caution that you shouldn’t always trust someone who seems nice and amiable on the surface dates back hundreds of years. Matthew 7:15 of the English-language King James Version of the Bible, published in 1611, states: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but have ravening wolves inside.”
16. Pulling Someone’s Leg
This expression relates to thieves in medieval times, who apparently pulled on the legs of their victims to trip them and swiftly make off with their booty.
17. Let Your Hair Down
Wearing intricate hairstyles in public was a significant rule among Parisian nobility, and some of the looks took many hours to achieve. It is obvious that letting your hair down after a long day has come to be seen as a calming ritual.
18. To Sell Someone Down The River
The Southern states of America are where this idiom originated in the 19th century. Slaves would be shipped down the Mississippi River and sold at the market as part of internal exchanges during this time because it was already forbidden to import slaves. Because of this, “selling someone down the river” means betraying them and using them for your personal gain.
19. Paint The Town Red
The origin of this idiom is thought to be from1837. A well-known mischievous character known as the “Marquis of Waterford” had a wild night out with his pals, breaking windows, knocking over flower pots, and removing knockers from doors. They painted the doors of multiple houses crimson as one of their more egregious acts of vandalism.
20. Beat About The Bush
In reality, beating about the bush is a hunting technique used to force birds and other creatures into the open. Others would then capture the animals after this was finished.
21. Break The Ice
In the past, smaller ships known as “icebreakers” would arrive to break the ice and provide a route to shore because commercial ships would frequently become stuck in frozen rivers during the winter. The word was first used in the 17th century to denote “to reduce tension in a social situation.”
22. More Than You Can Shake A Stick At
This idiom was born when farmers, who waved sticks to herd sheep, would have more sheep than they could control.
23. Minding Your Ps And Qs
There are several hypotheses regarding the origin of this word, but our favorite relates to the custom of writing up a “tab” of drinks for payment at a later time. The Q stands for quarts, and the P for pints. To avoid offending anyone, especially a customer who has had a few beers, you would be wise to calculate the amount. Again, aside from the proper lettering, there isn’t much evidence to support this argument, but we still enjoy it.
24. Go Bananas
The phrase “go bananas” has no clear origin, but it might be related to the phrase “go ape,” which gained popularity in the 1950s when monkeys were being launched on rockets and were a common topic in TV shows and movies. The expression’s rise to popularity might have been sparked by the association between monkeys, bananas, and insane behavior.
25. Pleased As Punch
A 17th-century puppet show called “Punch and Judy” included a character named Punch who enjoyed killing people. The adage “pleased as Punch” originated from his subsequent feelings of satisfaction.
26. Called On The Carpet
The explanation of this phrase dates back to the time when a servant was summoned from their bare-floored quarters to receive an ear-bashing from the boss in carpeted grandeur. A thick cloth that could be used anywhere, usually on a table, was referred to as a “carpet.” Thus, “on the carpet” denoted that a topic was being discussed or was on the table.
27. Show A Leg
Sailors would attempt to smuggle a lady into their hammock just before the ships were ready to depart port. Officers would urge anyone on a hammock to “show a leg” before departing. The woman was advised to leave the ship immediately if a leg showed up without hair.
28. Don’t Throw The Baby Out With The Bathwater
Most people only took a bath once a year in the 16th century. Even then, the whole family would take a bath in the same water. Household men often had the first bath, followed by other men, women, and infants. The water would be so murky and filthy at the end of this annual ritual that mothers would have to take care not to discard their babies with the water.
29. No Spring Chicken
Young chickens born in the spring would sell more than those that survived the winter because farmers in New England would sell their chickens in the spring. The phrase “no spring chicken” was coined to characterize someone who was past their prime because some farmers would attempt to sell their older birds for the same price as spring chickens.
30. Once In A Blue Moon
Given that a “blue moon” is an astronomical occurrence that occurs once every 2.7 years, this one should be rather straightforward. According to NASA, the moon may appear blue when it is impacted by volcanic eruptions or forest fires because of the oils in the smoke, even though it actually appears more gray than blue.
