HISTORY BEHIND COMMONLY USED PHRASES

What makes idioms different from other common phrases, is that usually, you cannot understand the given expression by its literal meaning. Didn’t think learning a new language could be fun? Buckle up because we’re about to dive deep into the history of la

Cat Got Your Tongue

Meaning: Said to someone who remains silent when they are expected to speak. Origin: There are two stories on how this saying came into being. The first one says that it could have come from a whip called “Cat-o’-nine-tails” that was used by the English Navy for flogging and often left the victims speechless. The second one may be from ancient Egypt, where liars’ tongues were cut out as punishment and fed to the cats.

The Walls Have Ears

Meaning: Be careful what you say as people may be eavesdropping. Origin: 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.

Bury The Hatchet

Meaning: End a quarrel or conflict and become friendly. Origin: During negotiations between Puritans and Native Americans men would bury all of their weapons, making them inaccessible.

Cold Feet

Meaning: Loss of nerve or confidence.

Origin: This idiom originates from a military term, warriors who had frozen feet were not able to rush into battle.

Big Wig

Meaning: An important person, especially in a particular sphere. Origin: Back in the 18th century, the most important political figures would wear the biggest wigs, hence today influential people are called big wigs.

Caught Red-Handed/ Blood In His Hands

Meaning: Used to indicate that a person has been discovered in or just after the act of doing something wrong or illegal. Origin: There was 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.

Raining Cats and Dogs

Meaning: Rain very hard. Origin: This idiom has two stories that try to explain its origin. The first explanation says that the origin of this phrase comes from Norse mythology, where cats would symbolise heavy rains and dogs were associated with the God of storms, Odin. The second version says that in 16th century England, houses had thatched roofs which were one of the few places where animals were able to get warm. Sometimes, when it would start to rain heavily, roofs would get slippery and cats and dogs would fall off, making it look like it’s raining cats and dogs!

Blood Is Thicker Than Water

Meaning: Family relationships and loyalties are the strongest and most important ones. Origin: Even though many might think this saying means that we should put family ahead of friends, it actually meant the complete opposite. The full phrase actually was “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb,” and it referred to warriors who shared the blood they shed in battles together. These ‘blood brothers’ were said to have stronger bonds than biological brothers.

Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

Meaning: Find fault with something that has been received as a gift or favour. Origin: While buying a horse, people would determine the horse’s age and condition based on its teeth, and then decide whether they want to buy it or not. This is the reason why people use this idiom to say it is rude to look for flaws in a thing that was given to you as a gift.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Meaning: Be pursuing a mistaken or misguided line of thought or course of action. Origin: This phrase refers to hunting dogs who chase their prey up a tree. Once the prey climbed the tree, the dogs bark at them and sometimes the dogs would continue barking even if the prey was no longer there.