The Fascinating History of 11 Common English Idioms
Many of us use numerous common English idioms without even thinking much about the history behind them. This article talks some of these idioms' fascinating (and sometimes dark) origins.
What are Idioms?
Before we understand idioms, let us understand what a phrase is. A phrase is a collection of words that stands together to give a coherent meaning to a sentence. A phrase is often used with verbs and nouns and provides a literal meaning to a situation. Some examples can be,
· Besides the bed.
· Along the road.
· After the funeral.
And so on.
An idiom, on the other hand, is a special type of phrase that signifies something completely different from the literal meaning of the words. More often, the meaning of an idiom is based on past human experiences, events, or even the tradition in a particular region. People use idioms as colloquial metaphors to make everyday conversations more emphatic and expressive. Some examples can be,
A Blessing in Disguise
Beating a Dead Horse
Bite the Bullet
And so on.
Many of us use numerous common English idioms without even thinking much about the history behind them. Most of these idioms happened in history with dark events rooted in slavery to bloodshed. Here are some common idioms and the fascinating stories behind them.
1. Raining Cats and Dogs
2. Let the cat out of the bag
3. Eat humble pie
4. Spill the beans
5. Bury the hatchet
6. Give the cold shoulder
7. Let one’s hair down
8. The writing is on the Wall
9. Cost and arm and a leg
10. God Bless You
11. Mad as a hatter
1. Raining Cats and Dogs
Meaning
A heavy downpour.
History Behind It
The words were first mentioned in the poem" A Description of a City Shower" by poet Jonathan Swift.
Drown’d Puppies, stinking Sprats, all drench’d in Mud,
Dead Cats and Turnips-Tops come tumbling down the Flood.
As per the poem, during heavy rains in Dublin, cats and dogs get frightened and lie on the streets, unable to bear the onslaught of the rains. A large number of cats and dogs crowding the streets gave the impression that they were hurled down from the skies in huge numbers. Hence “raining cats and dogs” became synonymous with heavy rains.
2. Let the Cat Out of the Bag
Meaning
Reveal a secret.
History Behind It
In Medieval Europe, the markets were rife with robbers and con artists wanting to make a quick buck. One such way of scamming people was done while purchasing pigs.
Once the pig was purchased, the buyer would be distracted somehow, and a cat would substitute the bag containing the pig. The buyer would only realize that he had been conned when he opened the bag and "lets the cat out of the bag.”
3. Eat Humble Pie
Meaning
Apologize or admit your mistake.
History Behind It
In Medieval Europe, hunting was a favorite pastime of the lords of the castles, who would go on extended hunting sprees with their entourage. Post the hunt, the finest cuts of meat would be eaten by the lord, and the entrails of the animals would be given to the people of lower stature, who would mash them and bake them into a pie and eat them. Hence the term "eat humble pie." came into existence.
4. Spill the Beans
Meaning
To reveal a secret.
History Behind It
This idiom originates from the voting process in Ancient Greece that used beans. People would vote by placing colored beans in a vase with white for yes and black for no. Sometimes unscrupulous officials would try to open the vase and spill the beans to know the secret results of the election beforehand. Hence this idiom became associated with revealing secret information.
5. Bury the Hatchet
Meaning
To make peace.
History Behind It
This idiom originated in America in the 1600s when the colonists constantly fought with the native Indians for supremacy. Finally, after years of fighting, a peace agreement was signed in which all weapons like hatchets, knives, and guns were buried by both parties, thus making all weapons inaccessible. Therefore, establishing peace became synonymous with “burying the hatchet.”
6. Give the Cold Shoulder
Meaning
To ignore someone.
History Behind It
In medieval England, it was customary for hosts to serve hot and choicest cuts of meat to welcome guests. However, an inferior cut of meat, such as a shoulder of mutton, would be served cold to unwelcome guests signaling their displeasure at their arrival. Thus, ignoring or disrespecting someone became synonymous with “giving a cold shoulder.”
7. Let One’s Hair Down
Meaning
To relax or feel free.
History Behind It
In the 17th century Europe, women were expected to be fastidiously dressed with elegant hair-dos pinned up into a high bun. Only during bathing and washing of hair was the hair let loose down the shoulder. Unpinned or loose hair was considered indecent in public. Hence the women only used to “let their hair down” and feel free in the privacy of their homes.
8. The Writing Is on the Wall
Meaning
A disaster waiting to happen.
History Behind It
This idiom originates from the Bible in the book OF Daniel. In the book, God punishes King Belshazzar, who indulges in immoral activities, by writing "Mene mene tekel upharsin” on the palace wall. The words meant, "God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.” That very night, King Belshazzar was slain and lost his kingdom to his rival.
9. Cost and Arm and a Leg
Meaning
Expensive or beyond means.
History Behind It
In 18th-century Europe, the cost of painting your portrait was exorbitantly high. The price depended on the number of limbs to be painted. The cheapest option was only the head being painted, and the cost increased exponentially as arms and legs were added to the painting. A top-end portrait would be a full-length portrait from head to toe.
10. God Bless You
Meaning
Be healthy and safe.
History Behind It
In the 6th century, the “Justinian Plague” spread throughout Europe, killing more than 30 million people. One of the initial symptoms of plague was coughing and sneezing.
Thus, the pope at that time, Pope Gregory I, issued an order that any person found sneezing would be blessed by using the phrase “Deus te adjuvet” or “God help you. "Later in the 11th century, Pope Gregory VII changed the phrase to “God help you” or “bless you” in short.
11. Mad as a Hatter
Meaning
Refers to someone who is crazy or eccentric.
History Behind It
In 18th-century France, people working in the hat-making industry were subjected to mercury poisoning due to prolonged exposure. The symptoms of mercury poisoning included uncontrollable trembling hands and legs, loss of memory, and dementia.
This condition was also known as “mad hatter’s disease” as the people eventually lost control of their senses in the advanced stages leading to death.
Sources
· Learn The History Behind These 66 Commonly Used Phrases
· The Incredible Origins of Everyday Phrases
· Little-Known Origins of Popular Phrases
· 36 Unexpected Origins of Everyday British Phrases
· 25 Truly Shocking Origins of Common Phrases
· The Curious Origins of 16 Common Phrases