why we say that

How “Three Sheets to the Wind” Became a Synonym for Drunk
How “Three Sheets to the Wind” Became a Synonym for Drunk
Why “Under the Gun” Has Nothing to Do with Guns (Anymore)
Why “Under the Gun” Has Nothing to Do with Guns (Anymore)
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 “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
Why Do We Say “Read the Riot Act”?
Why Do We Say “Read the Riot Act”?
“Face the Music”: Theatrical Roots of a Harsh Reality
“Face the Music”: Theatrical Roots of a Harsh Reality
The Strange Journey of “Caught in a Pickle”
The Strange Journey of “Caught in a Pickle”
Where “High on the Hog” Came From
Where “High on the Hog” Came From
Why “Pulling Someone’s Leg” Used to Be Way More Sinister
Why “Pulling Someone’s Leg” Used to Be Way More Sinister
What “Cut to the Chase” Has to Do with Old Movies
What “Cut to the Chase” Has to Do with Old Movies
What Does “Saved by the Bell” Have to Do with Coffins?
What Does “Saved by the Bell” Have to Do with Coffins?
The Bizarre History Behind “Mad as a Hatter”
The Bizarre History Behind “Mad as a Hatter”
Why Do We Say “Once in a Blue Moon”?
Why Do We Say “Once in a Blue Moon”?
“Hands Down” Used to Mean Something Totally Literal
“Hands Down” Used to Mean Something Totally Literal
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?)
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?
“Bite the Bullet”: Gruesome Origins of a Common Phrase
“Bite the Bullet”: Gruesome Origins of a Common Phrase
The Curious Origins of “Under the Weather”
The Curious Origins of “Under the Weather”
Why We Say “Barking Up the Wrong Tree”
Why We Say “Barking Up the Wrong Tree”
Why Do We Say “On the Same Wavelength”?
Why Do We Say “On the Same Wavelength”?
Why Do We Say “Beat Around the Bush”?
Why Do We Say “Beat Around the Bush”?
How “Pull Yourself Together” Got Tied to Old-Fashioned Clothing
How “Pull Yourself Together” Got Tied to Old-Fashioned Clothing
“To the Nines”: What Does It Even Mean?
“To the Nines”: What Does It Even Mean?
What “The Whole Nine Yards” Actually Means
What “The Whole Nine Yards” Actually Means
Where “Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place” Comes From
Where “Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place” Comes From
Why Do We Say “Straight from the Horse’s Mouth”?
Why Do We Say “Straight from the Horse’s Mouth”?
The Wild Story Behind “By and Large”
The Wild Story Behind “By and Large”
Why We Say “Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth”
Why We Say “Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth”
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 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?)
Why “Burning Bridges” Isn’t Just a Metaphor
Why “Burning Bridges” Isn’t Just a Metaphor
Why Do We Call It a “Deadline”—And Was It Originally Deadly?
Why Do We Call It a “Deadline”—And Was It Originally Deadly?
Why Do We Say “Sleep Tight”?
Why Do We Say “Sleep Tight”?
“Cost an Arm and a Leg”: Where Did That Phrase Come From?
“Cost an Arm and a Leg”: Where Did That Phrase Come From?
Why We Say “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie”
Why We Say “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie”
“The Ball Is in Your Court”: A Phrase with Sporty Roots
“The Ball Is in Your Court”: A Phrase with Sporty Roots
What Does “Rule of Thumb” Really Mean?
What Does “Rule of Thumb” Really Mean?
“Turn a Blind Eye”: Inspired by a Real Admiral
“Turn a Blind Eye”: Inspired by a Real Admiral
Why We Say “Caught Red-Handed” (Hint: It’s Literal)
Why We Say “Caught Red-Handed” (Hint: It’s Literal)
Why Do We Say “Take It with a Grain of Salt”?
Why Do We Say “Take It with a Grain of Salt”?
Who Came Up with “Barking Up the Wrong Tree”?
Who Came Up with “Barking Up the Wrong Tree”?
Why Do We Say “Turn the Tables”?
Why Do We Say “Turn the Tables”?
Why Do We Say “The Writing on the Wall”?
Why Do We Say “The Writing on the Wall”?
The Surprising Origins of “Let the Cat Out of the Bag”
The Surprising Origins of “Let the Cat Out of the Bag”
Why Do We Say “By the Skin of Your Teeth”?
Why Do We Say “By the Skin of Your Teeth”?
“Jumping on the Bandwagon” Used to Be Literal
“Jumping on the Bandwagon” Used to Be Literal
“White Elephant” Gifts Weren’t Always Fun
“White Elephant” Gifts Weren’t Always Fun
“Get the Upper Hand”—From Cards to Control
“Get the Upper Hand”—From Cards to Control
Why Do We Say “Let the Chips Fall Where They May”?
Why Do We Say “Let the Chips Fall Where They May”?
“Kick the Can Down the Road”—Where Did It Start?
“Kick the Can Down the Road”—Where Did It Start?
The Unexpected Story Behind “Butter Someone Up”
The Unexpected Story Behind “Butter Someone Up”
Why Do We Say “In a Nutshell” When We Mean Briefly?
Why Do We Say “In a Nutshell” When We Mean Briefly?
Why Do We Say “Pull Out All the Stops”?
Why Do We Say “Pull Out All the Stops”?
Why Do We Say “Pass the Buck”? The Poker Table Origin of Blame-Shifting
Why Do We Say “Pass the Buck”? The Poker Table Origin of Blame-Shifting
Why Do We Say “Paint the Town Red”?
Why Do We Say “Paint the Town Red”?
Why Do We Say “Steal Someone’s Thunder”?
Why Do We Say “Steal Someone’s Thunder”?
The Military Roots of “Above Board”
The Military Roots of “Above Board”
“Go Cold Turkey”: The Gross Origins Behind the Phrase
“Go Cold Turkey”: The Gross Origins Behind the Phrase
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
Why “Cold Turkey” Isn’t About Poultry
Why “Cold Turkey” Isn’t About Poultry
Why Do We Say “Piece of Cake” When Something Is Easy?
Why Do We Say “Piece of Cake” When Something Is Easy?
“Hold Your Horses”: A Phrase with Literal Horsepower
“Hold Your Horses”: A Phrase with Literal Horsepower
Why We Say “Back to Square One”—Was There Ever a Square?
Why We Say “Back to Square One”—Was There Ever a Square?
“A Red Herring” and Its Fishy Origins
“A Red Herring” and Its Fishy Origins
Why Do We Say “The Bee’s Knees”—And What Do Bees Have to Do With It?
Why Do We Say “The Bee’s Knees”—And What Do Bees Have to Do With It?
“The Elephant in the Room”: Who Put It There?
“The Elephant in the Room”: Who Put It There?
“Raining Cats and Dogs”: Where Did That Even Come From?
“Raining Cats and Dogs”: Where Did That Even Come From?
“Skeletons in the Closet”: Where the Creepy Phrase Comes From
“Skeletons in the Closet”: Where the Creepy Phrase Comes From
Why Do We Say “Break a Leg” Before a Performance?
Why Do We Say “Break a Leg” Before a Performance?
Why Do We Say “Cat Got Your Tongue”?
Why Do We Say “Cat Got Your Tongue”?
“Off the Cuff”: From Sleeves to Spontaneity
“Off the Cuff”: From Sleeves to Spontaneity
Why Do We Say “Bury the Hatchet”?
Why Do We Say “Bury the Hatchet”?
Where “Burning the Midnight Oil” Comes From
Where “Burning the Midnight Oil” Comes From
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
Why Do We Say “A Dime a Dozen”?
Why Do We Say “A Dime a Dozen”?
What’s the Deal with “Biting the Bullet”?
What’s the Deal with “Biting the Bullet”?
The Real Meaning Behind “Close But No Cigar”
The Real Meaning Behind “Close But No Cigar”