ACHILLES HEEL In Greek mythology, Thetis dipped her son in the mythical River Styx. Anyone who was immersed in the river became invulnerable. However Thetis held Achilles by his heel. Since her hand covered this part of his body, the water did not touch it and so it remained vulnerable. Achilles was eventually killed when an arrow hit his heel.
BAKERS DOZENMeans thirteen. It is said to come from the days when bakers were severely punished for baking underweight loaves. Some added a loaf to a batch of a dozen to be above suspicion.
BAKERS DOZENMeans thirteen. It is said to come from the days when bakers were severely punished for baking underweight loaves. Some added a loaf to a batch of a dozen to be above suspicion.
BEE LINEIn the past people believed that bees flew in a straight line to their hive. So if you made a bee line for something you went straight
BIG WIGIn the 18th century when many men wore wigs, the most important men wore the biggest wigs. Hence today important people are called big wigs.
BITE THE BULLETMeans to grin and bear a painful situation. It comes from the days before anaesthetics. A soldier about to undergo an operation was given a bullet to bite.
BITTER ENDAnchor cable was wrapped around posts called bitts. The last piece of cable was called the bitter end. If you let out the cable to the bitter end there was nothing else you could do, you had reached the end of your resources.
BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN YOUR MOUTHOnce when a child was christened it was traditional for the godparents to give a silver spoon as a gift (if they could afford it!). However a child born in a rich family did not have to wait. He or she had it all from the start. They were ‘born with a silver spoon in their mouth’.
COPPER
The old word "cop" meant grab or capture, so in the 19th century policemen were called coppers because they grabbed or caught criminals.
The old word "cop" meant grab or capture, so in the 19th century policemen were called coppers because they grabbed or caught criminals.
CROCODILE TEARS
Are an insincere display of grief or sadness. It comes from the old belief that a crocodile wept (insincerely!) if it killed and ate a man.
CUT AND RUN
In an emergency rather than haul up an anchor the sailors would cut the anchor cable then run with the wind.
Are an insincere display of grief or sadness. It comes from the old belief that a crocodile wept (insincerely!) if it killed and ate a man.
CUT AND RUN
In an emergency rather than haul up an anchor the sailors would cut the anchor cable then run with the wind.
FLYING COLOURS
If a fleet won a clear victory the ships would sail back to port with their colours proudly flying from their masts.
FROM THE HORSES’S MOUTH
You can tell a horse’s age by examining its teeth. A horse dealer may lie to you but you can always find out the truth ‘from the horse’s mouth’.
If a fleet won a clear victory the ships would sail back to port with their colours proudly flying from their masts.
FROM THE HORSES’S MOUTH
You can tell a horse’s age by examining its teeth. A horse dealer may lie to you but you can always find out the truth ‘from the horse’s mouth’.
GET THE SACK (get fired)
Comes from the days when workmen carried their tools in sacks. If your employer gave you the sack it was time to collect your tools and go.
Comes from the days when workmen carried their tools in sacks. If your employer gave you the sack it was time to collect your tools and go.
GO TO POT
Any farm animal that had outlived its usefulness such as a hen that no longer laid eggs, would literally go to pot. It was cooked and eaten.
HAT TRICK
Comes from cricket. Once a bowler who took three wickets in successive deliveries was given a new hat by his club.
Any farm animal that had outlived its usefulness such as a hen that no longer laid eggs, would literally go to pot. It was cooked and eaten.
HAT TRICK
Comes from cricket. Once a bowler who took three wickets in successive deliveries was given a new hat by his club.
KICK THE BUCKET
When slaughtering a pig you tied its back legs to a wooden beam (in French, buquet). As the animal died it kicked the buquet.
KNOW THE ROPES
On a sailing ship it was essential to know the ropes.
When slaughtering a pig you tied its back legs to a wooden beam (in French, buquet). As the animal died it kicked the buquet.
KNOW THE ROPES
On a sailing ship it was essential to know the ropes.
LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG
Is probably derived from the days when people who sold piglets in bags sometimes put a cat in the bag instead. If you let the cat out of the bag you exposed the trick.
Is probably derived from the days when people who sold piglets in bags sometimes put a cat in the bag instead. If you let the cat out of the bag you exposed the trick.
TO SEE A MAN ABOUT A DOG
This phrase first appeared in 1866 in a play by Dion Boucicault (1820-1890) called the Flying Scud in which a character makes the excuse that he is going ‘to see a man about a dog’ to get away.
WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE
In the Middle Ages knights who fought at tournaments wore a token of their lady on their sleeves. Today if you make your feelings obvious to everybody you wear your heart on your sleeve.
Thanks Joe Y
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