Language, as we use it every day, is a bit like the universe: endlessly fascinating, unexpectedly bizarre, and thoroughly misunderstood. Consider the phrases we toss about with reckless abandon—“bite the bullet,” “spill the beans,” or “raining cats and dogs.” Where did they come from? And who, for heaven’s sake, decided that was the best way to describe the situation?
Join me as we dive into the quirky, meandering history of 20 common phrases. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll definitely wonder how anyone in the 17th century got anything done at all.
1. Bite the Bullet
In the days before anesthesia, when doctors were more likely to kill you than cure you, surgery was a gruesome, agonizing ordeal. Patients undergoing procedures like amputations were given a literal bullet to clench between their teeth to keep from screaming—or biting off their tongues. Metal bullets were ideal because they didn’t splinter under pressure (unlike, say, a stick), though they were presumably terrible for the dental health of anyone lucky enough to survive.
2. Spill the Beans
This one takes us to Ancient Greece, where democracy looked suspiciously like a game of marbles. Votes were cast using beans—white for yes, black for no. If someone clumsily knocked over the jar holding the votes, the results were revealed prematurely, causing outrage, scandal, and presumably a lot of awkward apologies. Thus, spilling the beans became synonymous with revealing a secret.
3. Raining Cats and Dogs
There are two theories about this one, and both are delightfully bonkers. One suggests that in 17th-century England, during heavy storms, animals often drowned and their bodies were washed into the streets, leading people to believe it had quite literally rained cats and dogs. The other theory claims it stems from Norse mythology, where cats symbolized heavy rains, and dogs represented windstorms. Either way, it’s clear that weather forecasting in the 1600s was not for the faint of heart.
4. Break the Ice
Picture yourself in the 18th century, standing by the docks of a freezing harbor. Trade ships couldn’t reach port until smaller vessels broke through the ice blocking their way. The phrase evolved to describe taking the first step to remove a barrier—whether it’s icy water or an awkward silence at your cousin’s wedding.
5. Caught Red-Handed
Ah, medieval justice: so logical, so merciless. This phrase originated from the 15th century, when being caught with literal blood on your hands after committing a crime (often poaching) was irrefutable evidence of guilt. No blood? No problem. But blood? Straight to the gallows.
6. The Whole Nine Yards
This one’s a linguistic black hole, and scholars have debated it for decades. The most popular theory traces it to WWII, when fighter planes’ machine guns were loaded with belts of ammunition precisely nine yards long. If a pilot used the whole belt, they’d given everything they had—hence, the whole nine yards. Other theories involve Scottish kilts, concrete trucks, and possibly the dimensions of Noah’s Ark.
7. Kick the Bucket
Charming, isn’t it? This phrase likely originates from slaughterhouses in the Middle Ages. When a pig was hung up for butchering, it often kicked wildly against the beam—or “bucket”—to which it was tied. Over time, “kicking the bucket” became shorthand for meeting one’s end, though it’s unclear how this made death sound any less grim.
8. Mad as a Hatter
Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland made the Mad Hatter famous, but the phrase predates Carroll by decades. Hatters in the 18th and 19th centuries often suffered from mercury poisoning—a common side effect of the chemicals used in hat-making—leading to symptoms like tremors, hallucinations, and outright madness. Who knew headwear could be so hazardous?
9. Under the Weather
Sailors have given us many colorful expressions, but few are as fitting as this one. When a sailor was feeling ill, they were sent below deck to recover—literally “under the weather” and away from the wind and waves. It’s a phrase that makes you almost nostalgic for the days when your boss could just send you below deck instead of demanding you attend a Zoom meeting.
10. Close, But No Cigar
This phrase hails from 19th-century carnivals, where cigars were often handed out as prizes for games of skill. If you came tantalizingly close but didn’t quite succeed, the carnie running the booth would shout, “Close, but no cigar!” One can only imagine the disappointment of losing—and the peculiar thrill of winning a tobacco product at a family fair.
11. Cold Turkey
Quitting something abruptly, without preparation or weaning, has been likened to the suddenness and pallor of, well, cold turkey. Some say the phrase refers to a person’s physical state during withdrawal—clammy, pale, and thoroughly unpleasant. Others insist it’s related to a quick, no-frills meal of cold turkey, which, to be fair, sounds equally distressing.
12. Cat Got Your Tongue?
This odd little gem likely comes from the 18th century and has two potential sources—both unsettling. One theory suggests it refers to the cat-o’-nine-tails, a whip used by the British Navy, leaving sailors speechless from pain. Another claims it stems from ancient Egypt, where liars and blasphemers had their tongues cut out and fed to cats. Either way, it’s hardly the cheerful idiom it sounds like today.
13. Pulling Out All the Stops
Pipe organs have “stops” that control airflow to different pipes. When an organist pulls out all the stops, the instrument produces its fullest, most glorious sound. In modern terms, it’s what you do when you’re hosting a dinner party and serve both cake and pie—because why hold back?
14. Burn the Midnight Oil
Before electricity, burning oil lamps was the only way to work or study late into the night. Scholars, writers, and insomniacs alike became associated with the phrase, proving that staying up too late to finish a project has been a universal experience for centuries.
15. Let the Cat Out of the Bag
This one has its roots in medieval markets, where shady merchants would swap piglets for cats in a sack to cheat their customers. If the cat was released, the scam was exposed. And just like that, “letting the cat out of the bag” became synonymous with revealing a hidden truth.
16. Butter Someone Up
This phrase finds its origins in ancient India, where devout followers would throw balls of clarified butter (ghee) at statues of gods to seek their favor. While the practice of literally buttering up has thankfully faded, the metaphor for flattery remains deliciously intact.
17. Saved by the Bell
This expression comes not from boxing, as one might assume, but from 17th-century burial practices. In those days, people lived in constant fear of being buried alive. To combat this horrifying possibility, coffins were fitted with bells that could be rung from inside. A lucky few who were “saved by the bell” went on to live long, presumably paranoid lives.
18. Chew the Fat
In the days of long sea voyages, sailors would pass the time chewing on tough, salty slabs of cured fat—essentially proto-jerky. Over time, “chewing the fat” became a metaphor for sitting around and engaging in leisurely conversation, though one hopes the modern version is slightly more appetizing.
19. A Baker’s Dozen
In medieval England, bakers were notoriously wary of being fined for selling underweight bread. To avoid punishment, they would include an extra loaf when selling a dozen, ensuring they wouldn’t be accused of shortchanging their customers. And so, the baker’s dozen—thirteen instead of twelve—was born.
20. Straight From the Horse’s Mouth
When buying a horse, savvy buyers would inspect the animal’s teeth to estimate its age and health. If you got information “straight from the horse’s mouth,” it meant you weren’t relying on the seller’s potentially dubious claims. It’s the 18th-century equivalent of running a Carfax report on your new car.
21. The Writing on the Wall
This phrase comes from the biblical Book of Daniel, where mysterious writing appears on a wall to foretell the fall of Babylon. Over time, it has come to signify an ominous warning—though, thankfully, one that doesn’t involve divine prophecy and imminent ruin (most of the time).
Language, as you can see, is a living, breathing chronicle of human ingenuity, superstition, and occasional absurdity. Isn’t it delightful to think that our everyday conversations are sprinkled with the echoes of history?
