In this series I will write the origins of some of the most common expressions of phrases that we use in ours day to day life. The facts given here are extracts from a book by the same name that I got long time back from Reader's Digest. I wholeheartedly thank the author 'John Kahn' for this amazing book of trivia
BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
Britain's history as a sea faring nation has left its mark on their language. Dozens of common English idioms have their source in shipboard life during the age of sail: In the same boat, at the helm, to run a tight ship, on the rocks, to keep things on an even keel, and so on.
Slightly less obvious are the phrases on the wrong tack (referring to an upwind course), to know the ropes (referring to the rigging on a sailing ship), and to give someone a wide berth (or to give him some leeway or to stay clear of him).
Sometimes the link with sailing has become fairly obscure. To describe someone as broad in the beam, for example, is to refer in fact to the beam of a ship - that is, its point of greatest width.
Hard and Fast, generally applied these days to a rule, was originally said of a ship that was stuck fast through being stranded. And touch and go probably originally mean coming near to being stranded - to scrape the keel in shallow water.
The phrase by and large too is nautical in origin - to sail by and large in a sailing ship was to sail at a slight angle to the wind. Perhaps because this was 'by and large' a safe and effective way of sailing in the direction of an oncoming wind, the phrase came to be used in this more general sense.
To sail close to the wind, by contrast, was a more risky business - it was to steer as near head-on as possible to the oncoming wind. Hence the general sense of the expression today: to take risks, or to verge on the irregular or illegal. The risk was that a slight shift in the wind might suddenly press the sails back against the mast, causing the ship to lose its stability and be taken aback, or taking the wind from its sails - two more nautical expressions that have passed into general use.
If everything is going well, you might say that all is plain sailing - originally plane sailing;that is, navigating by means of a simple plane chart, based on the assumption that the earth is flat or a plane. if things go badly, on the other hand, you might be on your beam ends - the beams were the diagonal struts across a ship, used to buttress the keel; so when a ship was on her beam ends, she was tilted over her side and in danger of capsizing.
Rather less reliably, the two phrases the devil to pay and between the devil and the deep blue sea have been traced back to the days of sail. When anticipating trouble, people sometimes say There's going to be the devil to pay. A longer version of the idiom, rarely heard nowadays, is The devil to pay and no pitch hot, suggesting lack of preparation for some important task. The devil here is a seam between planks on the side of a ship. And to pay such a seam is to seal it or smear it with tar. (The words pay and pitch, in these senses, are in fact related, both going back to the Latin word for tar, pix). If the sailors had neglected to prepare for caulking, then there was the devil to pay and no pitch hot. And if the captain or first mate found out about this inefficiency, there would be the devil to pay.
Betweeen the devil and the deep blue sea suggests a simple choice between two equally unwelcome options. Perhaps there is a more specific seafaring reference - to 'walking the plank' on a pirate ship. Dictionaries list, as one meaning of devil, a sharp-toothed or spiked tool. A captive walking the plank would have had the deep blue sea before him, and a pirate behind, prodding him with a marlinspike or devil.
It is possible, however, that the devil once again refers to the seam in the side of a wooden sailing ship. To caulk that seam, a sailor might be lowered by a rope from the deck - a precarious and dangerous position to be in, with little room for manoeuvre, suspended between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
THE UNCOMMON ORIGINS OF SOME COMMON EXPRESSIONS - Beat about the Bush
In this series I will write the origins of some of the most common expressions of phrases that we use in ours day to day life. The facts given here are extracts from a book by the same name that I got long time back from Reader's Digest. I wholeheartedly thank the author 'John Kahn' for this amazing book of trivia
BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH
The roundabout approach to an awkward problem is considered by foreigners to be a British speciality. What to many Britons is simply good manners is often interpreted by others as evasiveness.
Beating about the bush was originally, in the 15th century, a way of finding game birds at night. Hunters or poachers would tap a stick on the ground or rustle the leaves with it to try to flush out the game. This was just a preliminary to the actual capture or killing of a bird, and the phrase came into to general use in the sense of a roundabout approach as opposed to a direct and forthright approach to real business in hand.
BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH
The roundabout approach to an awkward problem is considered by foreigners to be a British speciality. What to many Britons is simply good manners is often interpreted by others as evasiveness.
Beating about the bush was originally, in the 15th century, a way of finding game birds at night. Hunters or poachers would tap a stick on the ground or rustle the leaves with it to try to flush out the game. This was just a preliminary to the actual capture or killing of a bird, and the phrase came into to general use in the sense of a roundabout approach as opposed to a direct and forthright approach to real business in hand.
THE UNCOMMON ORIGINS OF SOME COMMON EXPRESSIONS - Baker's Dozen
In this series I will write the origins of some of the most common expressions of phrases that we use in ours day to day life. The facts given here are extracts from a book by the same name that I got long time back from Reader's Digest. I wholeheartedly thank the author 'John Kahn' for this amazing book of trivia
BAKER'S DOZEN
'Consumer protection' is nothing new. Even in the late 16th century, when the phrase baker's dozen is first recorded, tradesmen were subject to heavy penalty for cheating customers - short changing them, selling them shoddy goods or short weight, and so on. To be on the safe side, bakers would add an extra roll or loaf when filling an order for 'a dozen'. Even if they happened to bake underweight rolls, the extra one would ensure that the customer received what he paid for. So as a rule, a customer who ordered a dozen rolls would get thirteen - a baker's dozen.
There is a different theory, equally plausible. Bread and rolls were sold not just by the baker, but by pedlars and stallkeepers too. In buying their supplies from baker, they might expect a discount for their bulk. Whether they got one or not, the baker would make it worth their while by supplying thirteen batches for the price of twelve. The origin baker's dozen, then, according to this derivation, was thirteen batches or trays, rather than thirteen loaves or rolls.
BAKER'S DOZEN
'Consumer protection' is nothing new. Even in the late 16th century, when the phrase baker's dozen is first recorded, tradesmen were subject to heavy penalty for cheating customers - short changing them, selling them shoddy goods or short weight, and so on. To be on the safe side, bakers would add an extra roll or loaf when filling an order for 'a dozen'. Even if they happened to bake underweight rolls, the extra one would ensure that the customer received what he paid for. So as a rule, a customer who ordered a dozen rolls would get thirteen - a baker's dozen.
There is a different theory, equally plausible. Bread and rolls were sold not just by the baker, but by pedlars and stallkeepers too. In buying their supplies from baker, they might expect a discount for their bulk. Whether they got one or not, the baker would make it worth their while by supplying thirteen batches for the price of twelve. The origin baker's dozen, then, according to this derivation, was thirteen batches or trays, rather than thirteen loaves or rolls.
THE UNCOMMON ORIGINS OF SOME COMMON EXPRESSIONS - Back to Square One
In this series I will write the origins of some of the most common expressions of phrases that we use in ours day to day life. The facts given here are extracts from a book by the same name that I got long time back from Reader's Digest. I wholeheartedly thank the author 'John Kahn' for this amazing book of trivia
BACK TO SQUARE ONE
In the early days of BBC radio, sports commentators adopted an experimental system for soccer broadcasts. The field was divided into eight theoretical squares - and listeners were shown these diagram in newspapers or in the Radio Times. The commentator would indicate the position of the ball and players by the square that they happened to be in at any one time : 'Hodgkin dribbles the ball diagonally across from square 4 to square 5...' and so on.
The system lasted at least until the Second World War, but was eventually found too cumbersome, and abandoned. But the expression survived. It must have been frequently heard in comments such as 'The full-back taps the ball safely back to square one, where Simpson the goalkeeper picks it up', and so became a widespread catchphrase. The idea of 'back to beginning' seems so clearly suggested by the words back to square one that the phrase quickly acquired this sense.
There is an alternative theory about the origin of back to square one - that it derives from board games such as Snakes and Ladders : one unlucky roll of the dice, or one miscalculation, and your counter might be sent all the way back to square one, from which starting point you will have to speed it on its way across teh board all over again.
BACK TO SQUARE ONE
In the early days of BBC radio, sports commentators adopted an experimental system for soccer broadcasts. The field was divided into eight theoretical squares - and listeners were shown these diagram in newspapers or in the Radio Times. The commentator would indicate the position of the ball and players by the square that they happened to be in at any one time : 'Hodgkin dribbles the ball diagonally across from square 4 to square 5...' and so on.
The system lasted at least until the Second World War, but was eventually found too cumbersome, and abandoned. But the expression survived. It must have been frequently heard in comments such as 'The full-back taps the ball safely back to square one, where Simpson the goalkeeper picks it up', and so became a widespread catchphrase. The idea of 'back to beginning' seems so clearly suggested by the words back to square one that the phrase quickly acquired this sense.
There is an alternative theory about the origin of back to square one - that it derives from board games such as Snakes and Ladders : one unlucky roll of the dice, or one miscalculation, and your counter might be sent all the way back to square one, from which starting point you will have to speed it on its way across teh board all over again.
THE UNCOMMON ORIGINS OF SOME COMMON EXPRESSIONS - At sixes and sevens
In this series I will write the origins of some of the most common expressions of phrases that we use in ours day to day life. The facts given here are extracts from a book by the same name that I got long time back from Reader's Digest. I wholeheartedly thank the author 'John Kahn' for this amazing book of trivia
AT SIXES AND SEVENS
This phrase probably derives from dice-games, and seems to have developed from a 14th century idiom set on cinque and sice. So originally the numbers were not six and seven but five and six, and the expression was used in connection with the elements of chance and luck in human life, rather than disorder or disagreement.
There is a far more colorful theory of the origin of the phrase, though its historical accuracy is questionable. Two of the old Livery Companies (originally the craft guilds) of the City of London had a longstanding quarrel over their order of precedence. The Skinners and the Merchant Taylors, both founded in 1327, ranked sixth and seventh in priority among the guilds, but which was sixth and which was seventh? In ceremonial processions, the two groups were at sixes and sevens over the right to claim sixth position, and the ensuing fights no doubt had the whole parade at sixes and sevens. In 1484, a settlement was eventually enforced by the Lord Mayor to entertain each other annually to dinner, and the companies were to take turns year by year at sixth position in processions.
AT SIXES AND SEVENS
This phrase probably derives from dice-games, and seems to have developed from a 14th century idiom set on cinque and sice. So originally the numbers were not six and seven but five and six, and the expression was used in connection with the elements of chance and luck in human life, rather than disorder or disagreement.
There is a far more colorful theory of the origin of the phrase, though its historical accuracy is questionable. Two of the old Livery Companies (originally the craft guilds) of the City of London had a longstanding quarrel over their order of precedence. The Skinners and the Merchant Taylors, both founded in 1327, ranked sixth and seventh in priority among the guilds, but which was sixth and which was seventh? In ceremonial processions, the two groups were at sixes and sevens over the right to claim sixth position, and the ensuing fights no doubt had the whole parade at sixes and sevens. In 1484, a settlement was eventually enforced by the Lord Mayor to entertain each other annually to dinner, and the companies were to take turns year by year at sixth position in processions.
THE UNCOMMON ORIGINS OF SOME COMMON EXPRESSIONS - As sure as Eggs is Eggs!
In this series I will write the origins of some of the most common expressions of phrases that we use in ours day to day life. The facts given here are extracts from a book by the same name that I got long time back from Reader's Digest. I wholeheartedly thank the author 'John Kahn' for this amazing book of trivia
AS SURE AS EGGS IS EGGS
How did this peculiar way of saying 'without a doubt' originate? In all probability, eggs is here a deliberately comic distortion of x.
In algebra, a basic equation is that x always equals x. If anything is accepted as true by all mathematicians and logicians, it is just that - that x = x. So if you want to give a guarantee of the accuracy of a prediction, for instance, you might emphasize that it is as sure as x is x - or as eggs is eggs.
AS SURE AS EGGS IS EGGS
How did this peculiar way of saying 'without a doubt' originate? In all probability, eggs is here a deliberately comic distortion of x.
In algebra, a basic equation is that x always equals x. If anything is accepted as true by all mathematicians and logicians, it is just that - that x = x. So if you want to give a guarantee of the accuracy of a prediction, for instance, you might emphasize that it is as sure as x is x - or as eggs is eggs.
THE UNCOMMON ORIGINS OF SOME COMMON EXPRESSIONS - All my Eye and Betty Martin!
In this series I will write the origins of some of the most common expressions of phrases that we use in ours day to day life. The facts given here are extracts from a book by the same name that I got long time back from Reader's Digest. I wholeheartedly thank the author 'John Kahn' for this amazing book of trivia
ALL MY EYE AND BETTY MARTIN
A rather old-fashioned way of expressing disbelief is to exclaim My Eye! A fuller and still more old fashioned expression is all my eye and Betty Martin. One theory is that this dismissive phrase originated in a garbled or mocking version of the Latin prayer to Saint Martin that begins with the words Ah mihi, beate Martini: 'Oh, to me, blessed Martin.' Perhaps Protestants in the old days scornfully distorted the line when referring to anything they considered to be superstitious nonsense or hocus-pocus.
The term hocus-pocus, incidentally, probably developed in much the same way, going back to a Protestant mimicry of the Roman Catholic Mass - the latin words of consecration begin Hoc est Corpus: 'This is the body'.
ALL MY EYE AND BETTY MARTIN
A rather old-fashioned way of expressing disbelief is to exclaim My Eye! A fuller and still more old fashioned expression is all my eye and Betty Martin. One theory is that this dismissive phrase originated in a garbled or mocking version of the Latin prayer to Saint Martin that begins with the words Ah mihi, beate Martini: 'Oh, to me, blessed Martin.' Perhaps Protestants in the old days scornfully distorted the line when referring to anything they considered to be superstitious nonsense or hocus-pocus.
The term hocus-pocus, incidentally, probably developed in much the same way, going back to a Protestant mimicry of the Roman Catholic Mass - the latin words of consecration begin Hoc est Corpus: 'This is the body'.
THE UNCOMMON ORIGINS OF SOME COMMON EXPRESSIONS - Acid Test
In this series I will write the origins of some of the most common expressions of phrases that we use in ours day to day life. The facts given here are extracts from a book by the same name that I got long time back from Reader's Digest. I wholeheartedly thank the author 'John Kahn' for this amazing book of trivia
ACID TEST
Any crucial or decisive test - whether of a soldier's courage or a motor car's suspension - is today referred to as an acid test.This phrase dates back to the early years of the 20th century. But what was the original acid test?
It was not, as might be supposed, a test of an acid's strength, or a test for the presence of an acid. It was a test by an acid - the test for trhe presence or amount of gold in a given metal object such as a ring or a spoon. The acid in question was nitric acid, which dissolves the base metals in an alloy but cannot dissolve gold. The test is still used by jewelers when making valuations or checking for forgeries.
ACID TEST
Any crucial or decisive test - whether of a soldier's courage or a motor car's suspension - is today referred to as an acid test.This phrase dates back to the early years of the 20th century. But what was the original acid test?
It was not, as might be supposed, a test of an acid's strength, or a test for the presence of an acid. It was a test by an acid - the test for trhe presence or amount of gold in a given metal object such as a ring or a spoon. The acid in question was nitric acid, which dissolves the base metals in an alloy but cannot dissolve gold. The test is still used by jewelers when making valuations or checking for forgeries.
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