That's WHat I'm saying!
We’ve said or heard these thing our whole lives… What do they mean and where did they come from?
·Bless you: it was believed that when one sneezed, their soul was leaving their body and the only way to save the soul from Satan, was for God to bless them. Therefore, we have bless you.
·Ring-a-Round-the-Rosy: This childhood nursery rhyme came from the time of The Black Death. The symptoms of the Black Death were rosy red rash in the shape of ring (Ring-a-round-the-rosy). The pockets were filled with sweet smelling herbs or posies which were carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells (pocket full of posies). Ashes to ashes come from the cremation of all the dead bodies. (Ashes, ashes, we all fall down).
·Humpty Dumpty: Humpty Dumpty was believed to be large cannons. It was used in the English Civil War. They placed the cannon on the wall next to St Mary's Church. Many times the cannon would fall and break into many pieces.
·Okay, but it will cost you an arm and a leg: Paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs would cost the buyer more.
·Always a Bridesmaid, never a bride: This was used for Listerine mouthwash advertisement. The advertisement goes something like this: Poor Edna was turning thirty and most of her girlfriends were either already married. Oh, she wished that, instead of being their bridesmaid, she could be the bride! However, any romance of hers ended quickly. There was a reason, she suffered from bad breath and no one would tell her, not ever her closest friends.
·You’re barking up the wrong tree: This saying originated back to when hunting was a major sport. Also when dogs were used to hunt the prey. The dogs would “bark up the tree” and many times “bark up the wrong tree”. As in the tree did not have any prey around.
·Beat around the bush: This means someone who doesn’t get to the point, but like before, the origin of this phrase is from hunting. The hunting of boars. The ferocious animal often employed and ordered to go straight and chase it out. But very much aware, and afraid of the animals sharp tusks. They preferred to ‘beat around the bush’ which was strongly disapproved of by their masters.
·Put your best foot forward: Many people used this saying when trying to make a good impression on someone, much like the phrase ”bless you”, it is based on Satan. The left foot was believed to be the “realm of the devil”. It was advisable to keep the left foot behind you and step forward with the best foot; the right.
·Break a leg: Well known in the theater, this saying is like reverse psychology. Once someone would wish one to do good, they would do awful. If someone would wish for one to do badly they would do great. Therefore we have the saying “break a leg.”
_Angel Whaley
·Ring-a-Round-the-Rosy: This childhood nursery rhyme came from the time of The Black Death. The symptoms of the Black Death were rosy red rash in the shape of ring (Ring-a-round-the-rosy). The pockets were filled with sweet smelling herbs or posies which were carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells (pocket full of posies). Ashes to ashes come from the cremation of all the dead bodies. (Ashes, ashes, we all fall down).
·Humpty Dumpty: Humpty Dumpty was believed to be large cannons. It was used in the English Civil War. They placed the cannon on the wall next to St Mary's Church. Many times the cannon would fall and break into many pieces.
·Okay, but it will cost you an arm and a leg: Paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs would cost the buyer more.
·Always a Bridesmaid, never a bride: This was used for Listerine mouthwash advertisement. The advertisement goes something like this: Poor Edna was turning thirty and most of her girlfriends were either already married. Oh, she wished that, instead of being their bridesmaid, she could be the bride! However, any romance of hers ended quickly. There was a reason, she suffered from bad breath and no one would tell her, not ever her closest friends.
·You’re barking up the wrong tree: This saying originated back to when hunting was a major sport. Also when dogs were used to hunt the prey. The dogs would “bark up the tree” and many times “bark up the wrong tree”. As in the tree did not have any prey around.
·Beat around the bush: This means someone who doesn’t get to the point, but like before, the origin of this phrase is from hunting. The hunting of boars. The ferocious animal often employed and ordered to go straight and chase it out. But very much aware, and afraid of the animals sharp tusks. They preferred to ‘beat around the bush’ which was strongly disapproved of by their masters.
·Put your best foot forward: Many people used this saying when trying to make a good impression on someone, much like the phrase ”bless you”, it is based on Satan. The left foot was believed to be the “realm of the devil”. It was advisable to keep the left foot behind you and step forward with the best foot; the right.
·Break a leg: Well known in the theater, this saying is like reverse psychology. Once someone would wish one to do good, they would do awful. If someone would wish for one to do badly they would do great. Therefore we have the saying “break a leg.”
_Angel Whaley