EVEN MORE ORIGINS OF SAYINGS

EVEN MORE ORIGINS OF SAYINGS
In case yesterday's re-run wasn't enough

 

Those strange sayings, we use them all the time, but where do they come from?  Strange but true, here are the origins of common phrases we use every day:

 

Break a leg

Meaning: Wish an actor good luck. 

Origin: To bend or break one’s leg was an archaic phrase for taking a bow.  In the theater a successful performance means taking a curtain call bow, so “Break a leg” is to wish an actor a successful performance.

 

A stitch in time saves nine

Meaning: A little precaution saves time in the long run. 

Origin: To stitch a hem before it unravels will save many more stitches in the future.  This phrase makes very little sense to Germans.

 

He’s an Old Fogey  

Meaning: He’s a doddering idiot. 

Origin: The Fogey’s were a clan in County Limerick that succumbed to dementia.  When a person could not remember something he was dismissed as just an “Old Fogey.”

 

Get outta the fucking car

Meaning: Police jargon for “Sir, please exit your vehicle.” 

Origin: First used when Rodney King did not understand “Please,” “Exit,” or “Vehicle.”

 

There’s plenty of fish in the sea

Meaning: There are more women available after a man loses a girlfriend.

Origin: When a fisherman loses a catch he dismisses his loss with the assurance that there are plenty of fish in the sea.  The expression extended to losing a lady friend.  What they neglect to consider is many of the fish in the sea are butt ugly, some will bite your arm off, and some will take half of your 401K.

 

Two wrongs don’t make a right*

Meaning: Retaliation of a wrong doing will not make things better. 

Origin: In 1880, two Chinese inventors attempted to develop the incandescent bulb.  Chi Long and Chow Long failed and finally gave up on the dream.  Americans mis-interpreted a Japanese statement of this fact as a philosophical saying.  

 

Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear

Meaning: Don’t trust your passenger side car mirror.

Origin: Henry Ford, after a few beers, said to the guy on the next stool, “They liked my assembly line idea, now I’m going to fuck with them!”

 

Are you pulling my leg?

Meaning: I think you are trying to fool me. 

Origin: In medieval times, old men would ask children to pull on their leg and they would then fart.  When a story seemed to “smell funny” someone would call it’s veracity in question by asking “are you pulling my leg?”

 

I before E except after C or sounds like ay…

Meaning: A spelling rule. 

Origin: There used to be only three “ie” words in the English language, believe, receive, and neighbor.  This rule is currently useless.

GO USA!  I believe...I believe that we will win!

*This one is for you Frog.