Mystery
This idiom originates from a military term, warriors who had frozen feet were not able to rush into battle.
To get cold feet
In the late 19th century people would use this piece of clothing to stuff the horns of their gramophones or record players to lower the sound, since these machines had no volume controllers.
Put a sock in it!
What is a proto-language? What does proto mean?
Proto means original. Proto-language is the earlier language that other languages evolve and originate in.
Written in the 14th century, a book called “The Travels of Sir John Mandeville” recounts a knight’s adventures through Asia. In the book it says that crocodiles shed tears while eating a man they captured. Even though it is factually inaccurate, the phrase ‘crocodile tears’ found its way into Shakespeare’s work and became an idiom in the 16th century, symbolizing what
Insincere grief
This phrase comes from commercial boating in cold climates where ships would be stuck or delayed by frozen water so special ships would come that would clear paths for these vessels to be able to get them moving.
What is to break the ice?
People used to count time in terms of cycles of the moon. Newly-wed couples also used to drink sweet beverages with a special ingredient during this period which acted as an aphrodisiac to promote fertility to have a child.
Honeymoon
This phrase comes from horse racing where if a jockey was far ahead enough in the race he could take his hands off of the horse reigns and allow them to rest on the horse. It become synonymous with winning something very decidedly or by a large margin.
Hands down
What is the proto-language of French, Italian and Spanish?
Latin
This phrase was used in Medieval England to refer to giving a guest a cold piece of meat at dinner to signal that it was time to leave.
Giving the cold shoulder.
This phrase originated from the British Royal Navy where a whip called the cat o' nine tails (9 strung whip) would be used as severe punishment and would often leave the person being whipped speechless in pain.
Cat got your tongue
This term refers to the illuminated outline from the sun behind a dark cloud. It was used to mean that behind a dark cloud lay something bright and positive.
"Every cloud has a silver lining"
These animals were considered to be sacred creatures in Thailand, yet they were also very hard to take care of. It is believed that Siamese kinds (now Thailand) would gift this animal as a subtle form of punishment, since taking care of this animal would drive the recipient into financial ruin.
White elephant
How do social factors influence how someone is "expected" to speak?
They establish the societal norms.
What does the term big wig mean? Where does it come from?
18th century England
During World War II, pilots would have a 9 yard chain of ammunition. When a fighter pilot used all of their ammunition on one target, they would give ‘The whole 9 yards.” How do we use the phrase now?
To use all of the resources we have on something or complete something completely thoroughly.
It is an old tradition for godparents to gift this utensil to a christened child. However, not everyone was able to afford this type of luxury gift so those who did receive this gift were considered to be wealthy, sometimes even spoiled.
silver spoon
This term originated from an old law stating that if someone butchered an animal that didn’t belong to him, he would only be punished if he was caught with blood on his hands. If one was caught with the meat but his hands were clean, he would not be punished.
What is to get caught red handed?
Titles that honor a person's status, examples Reverend, Dr. Professor, etc..
Where does the phrase hit the hay mean?
People in history would actually sleep on hay back in the day as it was one of the softest things around.
This idiom referred to warriors who shared the blood they shed in battles together. These ‘blood brothers’ were said to have stronger bonds than biological brothers.
Blood is thicker than water. "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb."
This phrase comes from Greek mythology, where Thetis dipped her son in the Styx, a river that was believed to be a source of incredible power and invulnerability. However, Thethis was holding her son by his heel, meaning it was the only part of his body that was not touched by water, making his heel vulnerable. Eventually, her son was killed by the shot of an arrow in his heel.
Achilles heel
In the late 19th century carnival games were targeted to adults and not children, so the winners would get an adult prize instead of stuffed animals. If the person was close to winning but did not succeed they’d say it was:
‘close but no cigar’
The face Louvre Palace in France was believed to have a network of listening tubes so that it would be possible to hear everything that was said in different rooms. People say that this is how the Queen Catherine de’Medici discovered political secrets and plots.
The walls have ears
The playwright John Dennis who, back in the 18th Century, made a machine that could nicely mimic a powerful sound made in nature for his play. Sadly, his play wasn’t a success, but somebody had taken note of his clever invention. When, later on in another theatre, Dennis found somebody had copied his machine and was using it without credit.
What is to steal someone's thunder!
This term comes from naval warfare. To confuse their enemies, warships would use multiple flags. However warfare rules dictated that the ships must show its actual flag before firing and hence, the ships would then display their real allegiance and colors.
What is to show your true colors?