The origins of the most commonly used phrases

Cat got your tongue?

DETROIT – There are hundreds of phrases that we use on an everyday basis. Where do they come from and what do they mean? Here are some of the most common sayings, along with their origins.

Bite the Bullet:

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Definition: Accepting something unpleasant.

Origin: A surgeon would make patients bite down on a bullet if there was no time to administer anesthesia.

Cat got your tongue?

Definition: When a person is at a loss for words.

Origin: There are two: Firstly, the practice of cutting out the tongue of a liar and feeding them to the cats. Secondly, it could come from a whip used by the English Navy. The whip causes so much pain that the victim is left speechless.

Caught red-handed:

Definition: To be caught in the act.

Origin: If someone butchered an animal that didn't belong to him, he had to be caught with the animal's blood on his hands to be convicted, per a law.

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater:

Definition: Keep valuable things when getting rid of non-valuable things.

Origin: In the 1500's, most people bathed once a year. Babies always bathed last, in the thick, cloudy water, so mothers had to make sure not to throw them out with the bathwater when they emptied the tub.

Elephant in the room:

Definition: Failing to address an issue, or ignoring an obvious problem.

Origin: The exact origin is unclear, but one could assume it's referring to how large an elephant is. It wasn't used until the mid 20th century.

Go cold turkey:

Definition: To quit something abruptly.

Origin: People believed that when drug addicts suffer from withdrawal, their skin becomes translucent, like the skin of a plucked turkey.

Go the whole 9 yards:

Definition: To try your absolute best.

Origin: World War II fighter pilots received a 9-yard chain of ammunition. So, when they used all of it, they gave the target "the whole 9 yards."

More than you can shake a stick at:

Definition: Having more of something than you need.

Origin: Farmers controlled their flocks by shaking their staff. When they had more sheep than they could control, they would say you had "more than you can shake a stick at."

Rule of thumb:

Definition: A universal benchmark.

Origin: 17th century English judge ruled it was permissible for a husband to beat his wife with a stick, given it was no wider than his thumb.

Rub the wrong way:

Definition: To bother someone.

Origin: In colonial times, servants would wet-rub and dry-rub the oak-board floors. Going against the grain would cause streaks, therefore irritating the homeowner.

Saved by the bell:

Definition: Recused from an unwanted situation.

Origin: Being buried alive used to be a common occurrence. People who feared this would have a bell connected to a coffin. At night, guards listened for bells.

Spill the beans:

Definition: To reveal a well-kept secret.

Origin: In Ancient Greece, beans were used to vote. Sometimes a clumsy voter would accidentally knock over the jar, revealing all of the beans.

Beating a dead horse:

Definition: To bring up an issue that has already been resolved.

Origin: May have originated in horse racing, where horses are sometimes beaten by their riders to get them to move faster. But if the horse was dead, there wouldn't be a point to beating them.

Close but no cigar:

Definition: Coming close, but falling short at the end.

Origin: Carnivals have many games, some based on accuracy, some based on strength. In the 20th century, cigars were among the prizes to be won.

Barking up the wrong tree:

Definition: To make the wrong assumption about something or someone.

Origin: Rooted in dogs and hunting. Dogs are often used to track animals. If a dog made a mistake, and chased an animal up the wrong tree, it would be said that it was "barking up the wrong tree."

What am I, chopped liver?

Definition: A question used by a person who feels they are being short-changed.

Origin: The origin is unknown, but some say it's because sometimes liver is not viewed on the same level as other foods.

Not the sharpest tool in the shed:

Definition: Someone who isn't sharp, but rather senseless or ignorant.

Origin: Exact origin is unknown, but first appeared in writing in 1994.

Short end of the stick:

Definition: Getting the bad end of a deal.

Origin: Possible theories include a reference to carrying loads mounted on rods. Leverage works against the bearer holding the short end, so they must carry more of the load. Another refers to a staff, or straight pole used as a weapon in the 1500s. When you got the "wrong end of the staff," you just got a beating.


About the Author:

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.