Have you ever wondered why we say certain phrases or where they come from? Things like “feeling under the weather” and “break a leg” can seem a bit bizarre if you think about it. Here is the history of how some of these sayings came to be:
“Break a Leg”
It is not entirely clear how this saying of “good luck” came to be, but there are a few theories. Some say that in Ancient Greece, audience members of a show would stomp their feet rather than clap. An Elizabethan era story claims that the audience would hit their chairs on the floor. If they managed to break a leg off the chair, that meant that they really enjoyed the show.
“Cool Beans”
A phrase that we typically use to say “that’s great” or “excellent,” “cool beans” is said to have popped up in the 1970s as slang used by college students. Others note that it was also used around that time by comedians Cheech and Chong. Some suspect, however, that the phrase most likely stuck around after D.J. Tanner often used it in the sitcom “Full House.”
“The Last Straw”
Whenever we’re fed up with something, we may use this phrase. “The last straw” first appeared around 1755 and is from the English proverb “it is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.” Sometimes an animal such as a horse would be used instead of a camel, but this old saying was used until around 1836.
“Feeling Under the Weather”
This saying we use when we’re not feeling well appeared as early as 1835 in a newspaper. It is said that it came from long ago when sailors would feel seasick. They would move under the ship’s deck to escape the weather over the sea.
“A Taste of Your Own Medicine”
We use this phrase to describe people who are experiencing something negative that they had previously caused on others. It originates from an Aesop fable about a man who knowingly sells medicine that does not work, but claims that it does anyway. Eventually, the man becomes sick himself, and the people around him attempt to give him his own medicine.
“It’s Raining Cats and Dogs”
Something people say when it is raining hard outside, the first noted appearance of this phrase was in 1651 in a poem. It is not clear where it exactly originated from, however. Some suspect that it is from the Greek word “cata doxa,” which meant “contrary to experience or belief.” Another possibility is that it is from the Old English word “catadupe,” which referred to waterfalls.
“Cry Over Spilled Milk”
This saying suggests that someone should not get upset over something that they can’t do anything about. It was first noted in the 1659 book “Paramoigraphy” by James Howell, which stated “no weeping for shed milk.” The way this phrase is worded now is found as early as 1872 in a book titled “Once Upon A Week.”
“Cold Turkey”
Meaning to suddenly stop doing something that a person is addicted to was, this term was first seen in 1921. It is not known exactly where this saying came from, but there are a few theories. One states that cold turkey pieces do not take long to get ready; hence, it is done somewhat suddenly. Another suggests that its roots lie in an even older phrase, “talking turkey,” which implied “to speak frankly and plainly.” It could be that the saying, “to quit cold turkey” was used to say that someone is clearly quitting something. A final idea of this phrase’s origin explains that drug addicts who are having withdrawals after quitting can appear similar to a turkey’s dead body. The skin can have signs of goosebumps and look “clammy and pale.”
“Couch Potato”
This term is used for people who often spend time sitting on the couch. It came from an artist in the 1970s who drew comic characters who did just that. He referred to them as “couch potatoes.”
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine”
This saying can be for gossip heard through a number of sources. It popped up in the 1800s when Samuel Morse invented the telegraph, which consisted of wires that were strung across poles. Many people said that this appeared similar to strands that were used to train vines and began referring to them as “the grapevines.” There were many rumors that arose during the Civil War through the telegraph. People would say, “I heard it through the grapevine” when questioned about the truth of the rumor.
Rebekah Davidson
Intern