Idiom: A type of phrase or expression that has a meaning that can’t be deciphered by defining the individual words. The word idiom is derived from the ancient Greek word idioma, which means “peculiar phraseology.”
Here are some common idioms and their derivations.
Under the weather – To feel ill
This idiom is believed to be nautical in nature. When a sailor was feeling ill, he would go beneath the bow, which is the front part of the boat. This would hopefully protect him from adverse conditions. Thus, he was literally “under the bad weather” that could make him sicker.
Spill the beans – To reveal a secret
This idiom is most likely derived from an ancient Greek voting process involving beans. People would vote by placing one of two colored beans in a vase, white typically meaning yes, and black or brown meaning no. If someone happened to spill the beans, the secret results of the election would be revealed before intended.
Chewing the fat – Idle chatter
Another nautical idiom, this phrase refers to the days before refrigeration when ships carried food that wouldn’t spoil. One of these foods was salted pork skin, which consisted largely of fat. Sailors would eat it only if all other food was gone, and they often complained as they ate it. This idle chatter became known as “chewing the fat.”
Close but no cigar – You are close, but not quite there.
In the late 19th century, carnival games were targeted to adults, not kids. So instead of getting a giant teddy bear, winners might get a cigar. If they almost won but didn’t earn a prize, they’d be “close, but no cigar.” By the 1930s, the phrase extended beyond fairgrounds.
Once in a blue moon – Not occurring very often
The “blue moon” is a real astronomical phenomenon, referring to the second full moon in the same month. It’s a rare occurrence—usually occurring just once every 2.7 years.
Giving the cold shoulder – Ignoring someone or being unfriendly
Surprisingly, this doesn’t just refer to coldly turning your back on someone. This phrase likely originated from medieval etiquette. After a feast, hosts in England would subtly signal that the meal was over (and it was time for guests to leave) by serving a cold slice of pork, mutton, or beef shoulder.
Let the cat out of the bag – Reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake
In medieval markets, people used to sell piglets tied in bags for farmers to carry home. A shady dealer might swap the piglet in the sack with a less expensive animal, such as a cat. So when you let the cat out of the bag, you were exposing the con to everyone.
Red herring – A clue that is meant to mislead or distract someone.
During the 17th century, hunters would train their dogs to follow the correct scent. They would do this by placing pungent smoked fish in trees to distract the dogs, so they would become used to ignoring irrelevant scents.
Til the cows come home – For a very long time
Cows were often milked in their barns at night, making that task one of the last on a farmer’s to-do list. The expression has been around since at least the late 1500s and is likely to continue until … the cows come home.
Thank you to the following websites for the information:
I had no idea where most of these came from–thanks for the fun insights!
Thanks for the comment, and thank you for reading!
I never knew these origins. Thanks for the entertaining information.
You are very welcome. Glad you liked the post!
Re: <<>>
In Dan Brown’s novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (which may not be everyone’s cup of tea …), one of the characters, a Spanish bishop, head of Opus Dei, leads police captain Bezu Fache astray by suggesting that the protagonist, Robert Langdon, is responsible for a murder and in doing so lures the policeman away from his ‘scent’ (The murder was committed by the bishop’s protégé).
The name of the bishop is, not surprisingly, Aringarosa, which is Italian for….. well, yes … red herring.
Thanks for that information, Will! I read the book a long time ago, but of course remember nothing!