You might not realize it, but there are plenty of phrases that you probably use every day that have weird and wild backstories. Some come from old-time practices that we no longer do, while others come from strange historical events. Either way, here are 18 phrases with pretty weird stories behind them.
“Break the Ice”
When ships sailed icy seas, smaller ice-breaking boats would go ahead to clear the way. This made it easier for larger ships to pass through without getting stuck on the ice. Now, “break the ice” has come to mean easing tension and getting a conversation going, especially when things feel awkward. We’re honestly not sure which one is more difficult.
“Bite the Bullet”
Back in the day, before anesthesia was a thing, soldiers had to deal with surgeries and amputations with nothing for the pain. They’d literally bite down on a bullet to keep from screaming, which would’ve been just as painful as it sounds. Thankfully, today, we use “bite the bullet” to mean toughing out something difficult.
“Butter Someone Up”
Ancient Indians used to throw balls of clarified butter, called “ghee,” at statues of their gods to try and win their favor. Eventually, this practice evolved into the phrase “butter someone up,” which we use today when we try to get on someone’s good side by flattering them. It’s a little less messy, but you’re still trying to please someone when you do it.
“Cat Got Your Tongue?”
It’s not clear where “Cat got your tongue?” exactly came from, but there are some pretty gruesome ideas. One theory is from ancient Egypt, where liars had their tongues cut out and fed to cats. Another is from the British Navy, where a whip called the ‘cat-o’-nine-tails’ left victims speechless. Either way, it’s a pretty creepy phrase.
“Caught Red-Handed”
In old English law, being caught with blood on your hands was pretty solid proof you’d been poaching. There was no denying it when you were literally red-handed, which has now become the phrase “caught red-handed.” Thankfully, when you use it today, you’re hopefully not actually talking about someone with blood on their hands.
“Cold Feet”
“Cold feet” was originally a military term and referred to soldiers who had cold feet and couldn’t rush into battle because their feet were quite literally frozen. These days, we use it to talk about losing your nerve before a big event. Thankfully, this phrase doesn’t involve frozen toes anymore.
“Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater”
In medieval times, families would all bathe in the same tub. By the time the baby got in, the water was so dirty you could barely see anything, so they’d have to throw the water out. This later became the phrase “Don’t throw the baby out with the baby water,” which reminded people to keep the good stuff while getting rid of the bad.
“Go the Whole Nine Yards”
During WWII, fighter pilots had a nine-yard chain of ammunition, and if a pilot used all his ammo, he went “the whole nine yards.” Nowadays, it means going all out or doing something thoroughly. It’s a phrase that’s all about giving it your all, no matter if you’re working or just having some fun.
“Mad as a Hatter”
In the 18th and 19th centuries, hat makers used mercury in their work, which led to mercury poisoning. This caused people to act pretty strangely, which is where the term “mad as a hatter” came from. While we still use it to describe someone acting crazy, hat-making has become much safer since then.
“No Spring Chicken”
New England farmers sold chickens born in the spring at higher prices because they were fresher, and old birds that had survived winter weren’t as valuable. When someone tried to pass off an old chicken as new, buyers would say it was “no spring chicken.” Today, it just means someone’s not as young as they used to be.
“Paint the Town Red”
The Marquis of Waterford was infamous for acting pretty wild, and he led a group that literally painted a town red in the 19th century. They vandalized buildings with red paint, which created the phrase “paint the town red,” which means having a wild, fun night out. Hopefully, though, it’s not as chaotic as his night out.
“Pulling My Leg”
Old London thieves would trip their victims by pulling their legs, making it easier to rob them. Over time, “pulling my leg” came to mean joking or deceiving someone in a playful way. It’s a much less criminal context these days, and when someone says it, they’re usually just kidding around.
“Spill the Beans”
In ancient Greece, people used beans for voting, where a white bean was a positive vote, and a black bean was a negative one. If someone accidentally knocked over the jar of beans, everyone could see secret votes. Today, we use “spill the beans” to talk about someone revealing a secret or letting people know something they shouldn’t.
“Steal Someone’s Thunder”
Playwright John Dennis created a device to mimic thunder for his play, but it flopped. Later, he found his invention being used in another play, and he claimed they’d “stolen his thunder.” After all, wouldn’t you feel the same way? It’s now a phrase that means taking someone else’s idea or attention for your own benefit.
“Straight from the Horse’s Mouth”
Horse traders would check a horse’s teeth to determine its age and health, and this meant that getting information “straight from the horse’s mouth” was literally the most reliable source of information. These days, it means getting information directly from the person who knows best. Luckily, you don’t have to look at their teeth to do that.
“The Whole Kit and Caboodle”
During the Civil War, American soldiers talked about their entire set of personal belongings as their “kit and caboodle.” It’s a phrase that has stuck around and now means a whole lot of something or just a way to say you’re bringing everything along. No matter what you’re doing, if you’ve got “the whole kit and caboodle,” you’re ready for any eventuality.
“Turn a Blind Eye”
Admiral Horatio Nelson had one blind eye, and he ignored signals to retreat by putting his telescope in his blind eye. He claimed he couldn’t see the orders. This mistake is something that’ll be remembered forever, as “turning a blind eye” has come to mean ignoring something you don’t want to acknowledge.
“Under the Weather”
When sailors felt seasick, they went below deck to recover from the harsh weather above. This meant that they were “under the weather.” Today, we use the term to say that someone is feeling a bit ill or down, but thankfully, without being on a ship. That’d just make things a whole lot worse.
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