Curiosity killed the cat, did it? Let’s start with the fact of what an idiom is, just in case you haven’t studied the definition since 10th grade and don’t want to go on a wild goose chase. Idioms are short phrases that we universally know the meaning, but not because of the literal words. This becomes obvious when you talk with someone learning your language and you go the whole nine yards. The idiom has the meaning it does, but the reason could be decades or centuries old and not relevant today, other than the idiom itself. So, let’s take a stroll down idiom lane, shall we? Anyone can give you a history lesson, your blogger is going to use as many idioms as possible in the explanation of idioms. Every dog has his day, can you spot them all?
Pardon my French.
Let’s not beat around the bush, we tend to use this idiom when we curse or say something rather unsavory. The origin is from the early 1800s when Brits would “beg pardon” for using French words in conversation (not bad words, just French words). This was mostly due to Napoleon, speak of the devil, and the blessing in disguise was the fact that most Brits don’t speak French. By the mid-1800s the phrase had evolved to specifically reference swear words and actions speak louder than words.
With Flying Colors
Dating back to the Age of Exploration, this is a flag reference and right as rain. When explorers returned to Europe after having conquered the high seas, the captain would order the crew to fly their country’s flag as a sign of success. While the explorers didn’t want to bite off more than they can chew, they didn’t cry over spilt milk. Initially, the idiom simply meant they had avoided disaster, but has evolved to symbolize great success. 🏴
Posh
Not to rain on someone’s parade, but the term “posh” is actually an acronym – Port Out Starboard Home. After saving for a rainy day, the wealthy Brits sailing to India would book rooms such that they were on the port side outbound and starboard side for the ride home because those rooms would not endure the midday sun and heat. They may take a rain check if they can’t get the posh room, because we all know the early bird gets the worm.
Wear your heart on your sleeve
While ignorance is bliss, think A Knight’s Tale with Heath Ledger (William) and Shannon Sossamon (Jocelyn). Back in the Middle Ages it was customary for jousting knights to wear an insignia on their arm for whom they sought victory. So, William could wear Jocelyn’s insignia so all could know his true love / heart. It ain’t over till the fat lady sings, but it takes one to know one.
The best thing since sliced bread
While fit as a fiddle, Otto Frederick Rohwedder is the inventor of a bread loaf slicing machine. 🥖 The advertisement focused on it being “the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped.” After that, customers would get a second wind and began comparing all later inventions to Otto’s. It’s always darkest before the dawn, so let’s jump on the bandwagon and compare away.
I know which way the wind is blowing, and that ship has sailed, so I’ll finish with a silly one:
Buttering Up
When we butter someone up, we lavish them with praise to get what we want; waste not, want not. I always thought it had to do more with greasing / buttering to get something through a tight area. But no, the origin is literal butter, or actual buttering. As part of a Hindu tradition seeking favor of the gods, they would throw balls of clarified butter (called ghee) at the statutes of the deities. The hope was the buttered-up gods would give them favor. You can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs and thankfully we no longer throw butter, but should we?
You heard it straight from the horse’s mouth, and now it takes two to tango…
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