INTERESTING STORIES BEHIND COMMON ENGLISH IDIOMS

 

An idiom is a phrase that has a figurative meaning, whereas a phrase is a group of words that have a literal meaning. Idioms are common linguistic expressions comprising of a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words. We have all been using them, often unknowingly e.g. over the moon, when pigs fly, burning the midnight oil, because we are so used to listening to them. These idioms however have very interesting stories behind their origin. I have, in my previous blogs, told you about the stories behind several commonly used English idioms.

https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-story-behind-english-idioms.html

https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-origin-of-common-english-idioms.html

https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-origin-of-common-english-idioms-2.html

https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-history-behind-some-english-idioms.html

 

Idioms are crucial to the progression of language. They function in a manner that, in many cases, literal meanings cannot. Many linguists have dedicated themselves to finding the origins of these idioms and they are called etymologists. Today I will share with you the fifth blog on the etymology of English idioms with the following examples:

 

Fat chance

Meaning: We use the expression “fat chance” to refer to something that is incredibly unlikely. Bizarrely, and contrary to what one might expect, the related expression “slim chance” means the same thing.
Example: “Donald Trump will again become President?.” “Fat chance.”
Origins: The origins of this expression are unclear, but the use of the word “fat” is likely to be a sarcastic version of saying “slim chance”. A similar expression is “Chance would be a fine thing”, which refers to something that one would like to happen, but that is very unlikely.

 

Head in the clouds

Meaning: Used to describe someone who is not being realistic, the expression “head in the clouds” suggests that the person isn’t grounded in reality and is prone to flights of fancy. The opposite expression would be something like “down to earth”, meaning someone who is practical and realistic.
Example: “He’s not right for the Prime Minister’s post, he has his head in the clouds.”
Origins: In use since the mid-1600s, the origins of this expression are unclear beyond the obvious imagery of someone who is a bit of a fantasist (having one’s head in the clouds is clearly impossible – or at least it was in the days before aviation!).

 

Driving me up the wall

Meaning: This expression is used when something (or someone) is causing extreme exasperation and annoyance. A similar expression meaning the same thing is “driving me round the bend”.
Example: “That constant drilling noise is driving me up the wall.”
Origins: The saying evokes someone trying desperately to escape something by climbing up the walls. However, it’s unknown when it was first used.

 

Call it a day

Meaning: This means to stop doing something for the day, for example work, either temporarily or to give it up completely.
Example: “I can’t concentrate – let’s call it a day.”
Origins: The expression was originally “call it half a day”, first recorded in 1838 in a context meaning to leave one’s place of work before the working day was over. “Call it a day” came later, in 1919.

 

Knight in shining armour

Meaning: A knight in shining armour is a heroic, idealised male who typically comes to the rescue of a female.
Example: “He saved me from humiliation – he’s my knight in shining armour.”
Origins: The phrase harks back to the days of Old England, when popular imagination conjures up images of chivalry and knights coming to the rescue of damsels in distress. Much of this is likely to be Victorian fantasy, as this was a period when interest in the legend of King Arthur and the Court of Camelot was high. The earliest use of the expression was in a poem by Henry Pye in 1790, which referred to “No more the knight, in shining armour dress’d”.

 

Know the ropes

Meaning: Someone who “knows the ropes” is experienced at what they are doing. “Showing someone the ropes” means to explain to them how something is done.
Example: “The climate change action lobby is looking towards Modi, he knows the ropes around here.”
Origins: This phrase has its origins in the golden age of sailing, when understanding how to handle the ropes necessary to operate a ship and its sails was an essential maritime skill. By the mid-19th century it was a common slang expression, and it survives to this day.

 

Larger than life

Meaning: The phrase “larger than life” refers to a flamboyant, gregarious person whose mannerisms or appearance is considered more outlandish than those of other people.
Example: “His colourful waistcoats and unusual taste for headgears made him a larger-than-life character in the local community.”
Origins: First recorded in the mid-20th century, the phrase was famously used by The New Yorker to describe wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

 

Extend the olive branch

Meaning: To extend the olive branch is to take steps towards achieving peace with an enemy (or simply someone with whom you have fallen out).
Example: “I thought it was about time Putin went over the U.N and extended the olive branch towards Ukraine.”
Origins: This expression has biblical origins, and was seen as an emblem of peace. In Genesis, a dove brings an olive branch to Noah to indicate that God’s anger had died down and the flood waters had abated.

 

Barking up the wrong tree

Meaning: If someone is “barking up the wrong tree”, they are pursuing a line of thought or course of action that is misguided.
Example: “I’m certain that he is not the murderer.” “I think you’re barking up the wrong tree. He was elsewhere at the time.”
Origins: The saying refers to a dog barking at the bottom of a tree under the mistaken impression that its quarry is up it, suggesting that the phrase has its origins in hunting. The earliest known uses of the phrase date back to the early 19th century.

 

In stitches

Meaning: If you’re “in stitches”, you’re laughing so hard that your sides hurt.
Example: “Mr. Bean was so funny – he had me in stitches all evening.”
Origins: Presumably comparing the physical pain of intense laughter with the prick of a needle, “in stitches” was first used in 1602 by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night. After this, the expression isn’t recorded again until the 20th century, but it’s now commonplace.

 

“I’ve got it in the bag”

Meaning: Secured success

Example: I’m not even worried about the interview. I’ve got it in the bag.

Origin: Although there are other recorded uses, the version of this idiom that has become so widely accepted came about thanks to the old New York Giants (now San Francisco Giants) baseball team. It began as a superstition. In 1916 the Giants had a run of 26 consecutive wins. A bag filled with 72 extra baseballs would be put on the playing field at the beginning of each game. These balls were used to replace any that were hit into the seats or any that became too dirty. The Giants, during this crazy winning streak, fell under the impression that if they were in the lead during the ninth (last) inning, carrying the ball bag off the field would ensure their win because, according to the team, they had captured the game in the bag.

 

Bee’s knees

Meaning: Excellence or perfection. To be of the highest standards

Example: Have you tried the gilawati kebab; it is bees knees!
Origin: In 1920s America there was a relatively short-lived trend which involved the pairing of an animal with a body part. That craze spawned a plethora of expressions including elephant’s adenoids, cat’s miaow, ant’s pants, tiger’s spots, elephant’s wrist, eel’s ankles, and bullfrog’s beard just to name a few. Today only three such expressions survived such as bee’s knees, cat’s pyjamas, and dog’s bollocks

 

Burning ears

Meaning: When someone is being talked about.

Example: Vicky Kaushal’s performancr in Sam Bahadur is burning ears
Origin: In Roman times, it was believed that a tingling or burning sensation in the ears meant that a person was being talked about by others. The ancient belief that the left-hand side signifies evil and the right for good also applies. Therefore, if a person’s right ear was burning then he was being praised, but a burning left ear indicated that he is the subject of evil intent.

Take the piss

Meaning: To mock or tease.

Example: They are always taking the piss out of him because he supports Modi.

Origin: One explanation for the origin of this slang phrase comes from the canals in Britain. Before synthetic dyes were invented, urine was collected and used in the process of fixing dye to wool to create such colours as blue. Transporting urine to wool mills wasn’t as lucrative as transporting wine, so when the boatmen were questioned what they were carrying they would lie, saying “I’m taking wine”. Anyone suspecting otherwise might ask if he was, ‘taking the piss’.

 

Up to scratch

Meaning: To be acceptable.

Example: Hospitals were re-evaluated during COVID crisis and action taken if they found not up to scratch.

Origin: In the early days of boxing, there was no bell to signal the beginning of a round. Instead, the referee would scratch a line on the ground between fighters, and the round began when both men stepped over it. A contestant who had been knocked down had to demonstrate that he was fit to continue by walking up to the scratch. If the boxer wasn’t able to, he was considered unfit to continue the fight, ‘not up to scratch‘. The fight was awarded to his opponent.

 

The writing is on the wall

Meaning: A clear sign that something unpleasant is going to happen.

Example: The Congress is again losing the election, the writing is on the wall.

Origin: This phrase can be traced back to the Bible. In the Book of Daniel, God punishes King Belshazzar for indulging in a drunken revelry and degrading sacred temple vessels by using them as wine goblets. God sends this hand to write the words ‘mene mene tekel upharsin’ on the palace wall, which foretell Belshazzar’s downfall. Unable to interpret the message, Belshazzar’s sends for Daniel to interpret it. Belshazzar couldn’t see the obvious warning that was apparent to others because he was so engrossed in his sinful

 

Get the sack

Meaning: Be fired from a job.

Example: He was not a team player, no wonder he got the sack.

Origin: In the 1500’s, tradesmen carried all their belongings and tools around in a sack that they would leave in a safe place or in the boss’s office. At the end of their shift, they were allowed to go in and pick it up. However, if the boss was displeased with their work, he would literally ‘give them their sack’.

 

A bigwig

Meaning: An important person.

Example: He was an ordinary student leader in the university but after winning the parliamentary election today he is a big wig.

Origin: In the 17th century, wig-wearing was at its peak. It was fashionable for people to keep their hair short, or even shave their head in order to wear a wig sporting a style that they couldn’t grow naturally. Hair was sold by the strand and was very expensive. While it was common to see the lower class wearing wigs with only several strands of hair, the richer upper class were able to buy large wigs consisting of thousands of strands of hair. The term ‘bigwig’ quickly became associated with a rich person.