There are many expressions or idioms that have become common parts of everyday language. When you really stop to think about them, where did they actually come from? Some of the meanings behind these expressions are rooted in history and pop culture, others have more bizarre origins. Here’s a look at some common sayings and where they actually come from.
1. Give The Cold Shoulder
Today, we know that giving someone the cold shoulder is to give them an icy reception and ignore them. In the 1800s, it had a completely different meaning. A sign of good hospitality then was to serve guests hot prime cuts of meat. According to Grammarist, if you served a guest a “cold shoulder,” you presented them with a cold and tough piece of meat. This was reserved for unwanted guests. If you were given a cold shoulder, you knew that you had overstayed your welcome and it was time to go. The first record of this phrase was attributed to writer Sir Walter Scott.
2. Crocodile Tears
We use the expression crocodile tears when someone has an insincere display of emotion. The phrase originates from ancient Egypt. Egyptians who lived close to the Nile River were very afraid of crocodile attacks. There was a widespread belief that crocodiles shed tears when eating their prey. Of course, this isn’t exactly true. Crocodiles don’t display emotion when eating. They do have tear ducts and shed tears to lubricate their eyes though. Some scientists say that it may seem like crocodiles are crying when they eat because of the way they hiss and huff might push on their sinuses stimulating the tear glands.
3. Bite The Bullet
When you “bite the bullet,” you get something that you’re dreading over with. This phrase originated from British colonial times during the war. Soldiers would be instructed to bite down on bullets during surgery or amputations before there was anesthesia or pain medication available. The first appearance of the saying appeared in the 1891 novel, The Light That Failed, by Rudyard Kipling.
4. Let The Cat Out of The Bag
Letting the “cat out of the bag” means revealing a secret. Well, in medieval England letting the cat out of the bag was literal. There was rampant fraud at livestock markets where pigs were usually purchased in bags. Dishonest merchants would swap the piglets out for cats when the buyer wasn’t looking. Most buyers didn’t realize they had been scammed until they let the cat out of the bag.
5. Sink Or Swim
To “sink or swim” may mean to fail or succeed, but in the past, it had a more bizarre application. In medieval England, it was used to determine if a person was innocent or guilty. It can be traced back to the 12th century and was also used during the English witch trials. The accused person was thrown into a body of water, and if they sunk they were innocent. If they floated, they were guilty.
Our Fascinating English Language
Where our words and phrases come from is fascinating. Some of these meanings behind popular idioms were interesting to find out. Were there any that surprised you? What are some of your favorite sayings? Do you know their origins?