why we say that

Why “Under the Gun” Has Nothing to Do with Guns (Anymore)
Why “Under the Gun” Has Nothing to Do with Guns (Anymore)
Why We Say “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie”
Why We Say “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie”
“Off the Cuff”: From Sleeves to Spontaneity
“Off the Cuff”: From Sleeves to Spontaneity
“Bite the Bullet”: Gruesome Origins of a Common Phrase
“Bite the Bullet”: Gruesome Origins of a Common Phrase
“Cost an Arm and a Leg”: Where Did That Phrase Come From?
“Cost an Arm and a Leg”: Where Did That Phrase Come From?
The Curious Origins of “Under the Weather”
The Curious Origins of “Under the Weather”
Why We Say “Back to Square One”—Was There Ever a Square?
Why We Say “Back to Square One”—Was There Ever a Square?
“Skeletons in the Closet”: Where the Creepy Phrase Comes From
“Skeletons in the Closet”: Where the Creepy Phrase Comes From
Why We Say “Off the Hook”—And What Hooks Have to Do With It
Why We Say “Off the Hook”—And What Hooks Have to Do With It
The Unexpected Story Behind “Butter Someone Up”
The Unexpected Story Behind “Butter Someone Up”
Where “Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place” Comes From
Where “Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place” Comes From
The Bizarre History Behind “Mad as a Hatter”
The Bizarre History Behind “Mad as a Hatter”
“Kick the Can Down the Road”—Where Did It Start?
“Kick the Can Down the Road”—Where Did It Start?
The Military Roots of “Above Board”
The Military Roots of “Above Board”
“Hold Your Horses”: A Phrase with Literal Horsepower
“Hold Your Horses”: A Phrase with Literal Horsepower
Why We Say “Barking Up the Wrong Tree”
Why We Say “Barking Up the Wrong Tree”
Why We Say “Saved by the Bell”—Hint: It’s Darker Than You Think
Why We Say “Saved by the Bell”—Hint: It’s Darker Than You Think
What’s the Deal with “Biting the Bullet”?
What’s the Deal with “Biting the Bullet”?
Who Came Up with “Barking Up the Wrong Tree”?
Who Came Up with “Barking Up the Wrong Tree”?
Why “Cold Turkey” Isn’t About Poultry
Why “Cold Turkey” Isn’t About Poultry
Where Did “Spill the Beans” Come From—And Was It Ever About Food?
Where Did “Spill the Beans” Come From—And Was It Ever About Food?
“Face the Music”: Theatrical Roots of a Harsh Reality
“Face the Music”: Theatrical Roots of a Harsh Reality
What “The Whole Nine Yards” Actually Means
What “The Whole Nine Yards” Actually Means
What Does “Rule of Thumb” Really Mean?
What Does “Rule of Thumb” Really Mean?
Why Do We Say “Break the Ice”? (And What Did Ice Ever Do to Us?)
Why Do We Say “Break the Ice”? (And What Did Ice Ever Do to Us?)
“Turn a Blind Eye”: Inspired by a Real Admiral
“Turn a Blind Eye”: Inspired by a Real Admiral
Why We Say “Hit the Sack”—And What Sacks Have to Do with Sleep
Why We Say “Hit the Sack”—And What Sacks Have to Do with Sleep
Why We Say “Throw in the Towel”—And What It Has to Do with Boxing
Why We Say “Throw in the Towel”—And What It Has to Do with Boxing
How “Three Sheets to the Wind” Became a Synonym for Drunk
How “Three Sheets to the Wind” Became a Synonym for Drunk
What Does “Saved by the Bell” Have to Do with Coffins?
What Does “Saved by the Bell” Have to Do with Coffins?
“A Red Herring” and Its Fishy Origins
“A Red Herring” and Its Fishy Origins
“Jumping on the Bandwagon” Used to Be Literal
“Jumping on the Bandwagon” Used to Be Literal
How “Pull Yourself Together” Got Tied to Old-Fashioned Clothing
How “Pull Yourself Together” Got Tied to Old-Fashioned Clothing
Why We Say “Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth”
Why We Say “Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth”
“Raining Cats and Dogs”: Where Did That Even Come From?
“Raining Cats and Dogs”: Where Did That Even Come From?
Why “Burning Bridges” Isn’t Just a Metaphor
Why “Burning Bridges” Isn’t Just a Metaphor
Why “Pulling Someone’s Leg” Used to Be Way More Sinister
Why “Pulling Someone’s Leg” Used to Be Way More Sinister
The Surprising Origins of “Let the Cat Out of the Bag”
The Surprising Origins of “Let the Cat Out of the Bag”
“Hands Down” Used to Mean Something Totally Literal
“Hands Down” Used to Mean Something Totally Literal
“The Elephant in the Room”: Who Put It There?
“The Elephant in the Room”: Who Put It There?
Why Do We Say “Sleep Tight”?
Why Do We Say “Sleep Tight”?
The Strange Journey of “Caught in a Pickle”
The Strange Journey of “Caught in a Pickle”
“White Elephant” Gifts Weren’t Always Fun
“White Elephant” Gifts Weren’t Always Fun
Where “High on the Hog” Came From
Where “High on the Hog” Came From
“Go Cold Turkey”: The Gross Origins Behind the Phrase
“Go Cold Turkey”: The Gross Origins Behind the Phrase
The Wild Story Behind “By and Large”
The Wild Story Behind “By and Large”
Where “Burning the Midnight Oil” Comes From
Where “Burning the Midnight Oil” Comes From
The History Behind “Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater”
The History Behind “Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater”
Why We Say “Caught Red-Handed” (Hint: It’s Literal)
Why We Say “Caught Red-Handed” (Hint: It’s Literal)
“Get the Upper Hand”—From Cards to Control
“Get the Upper Hand”—From Cards to Control
What “Cut to the Chase” Has to Do with Old Movies
What “Cut to the Chase” Has to Do with Old Movies
Why Do We Say “Kick the Bucket”? (And Was a Bucket Actually Involved?)
Why Do We Say “Kick the Bucket”? (And Was a Bucket Actually Involved?)
The Real Meaning Behind “Close But No Cigar”
The Real Meaning Behind “Close But No Cigar”
“To the Nines”: What Does It Even Mean?
“To the Nines”: What Does It Even Mean?
“The Ball Is in Your Court”: A Phrase with Sporty Roots
“The Ball Is in Your Court”: A Phrase with Sporty Roots