Nautical phrases ahoy there, me hearties, heres the language that came from our nautical friends. The only way the person could be convicted is if he was caught with the animals blood still on his hands. Phrases from the bible the single book that has given more sayings, idioms and proverbs to the english language than any other. Below is a list of old sayings and where they came from. Excellent book for anyone who likes history of words, idioms and phrases. Phrases and sayings with meanings and origins explained. You probably use tons of expressions, idioms, and slang phrases every. The myth dates back as far as the 14th century and comes from a book called the travels of sir john mandeville. Frog in the throat the earliest use of this name for a sore throat. There are two possible sources for this common short saying.
The phrase turn a blind eyeoften used to refer to a willful refusal to acknowledge a particular. Proverbs a list of hundreds of the proverbs that give meaning to our language like no other form of expression. However, sometimes it is impossible to say for certain how an old saying originated. This now famous phrase is a line from jungle book author rudyard kipling s poem the female of the species, published in 1911. Find out more about the unusual origin stories behind 10 everyday phrases. What our everyday sayings and idioms figuratively mean, unlocks the surprising origins of some of our most. In greek mythology thetis dipped her son achilles in the mythical river styx.
The title caught my attention right away, i enjoy learning about the origin of phrases and. Phrases coined by shakespeare the bard of avon, he gave us more words and expressions than anyone else. Be the first to ask a question about the illustrated book of sayings. Sometimes we can only give the most likely explanation. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The second refers to the practice of cutting out the tongues of liars and blasphemers and feeding them to cats. This originates from an old english law that ordered any person to be punished for butchering an animal that wasnt his own.
Whats the meaning and origin of the phrase by the book. But then again, the author denies that he meant to write this as a reference book so much as a history book. Like many old sayings in the english language this one comes from the bible. Today it means to generally stay out of trouble, but the original phrase is actually biblical in origin. Their origins and meanings reprint by ewart, neil isbn. White elephants were once considered highly sacred creatures in thailandthe animal even graced the. Attorney korach has spent a lifetime researching the origins of phrases while sifting through old journals and books in libraries and. The whip caused so much pain that the victims were left speechless. She grew up with her nose stuck in a book almost every day. New book reveals the odd origins of our most popular phrases. The first refers to the catoninetails a whip used by the english navy for flogging. Not when you understand the phrases that were born.