We all have one or two phrases we utter on a regular basis that we have heard from our grandparents or parents, but, when asked if we know what it actually means or where it originated from, we do not always have the answer.
I, for one, love to use the phrases, ‘good night, sleep tight’ and ‘daylight robbery’, but, I am blissfully unaware of where they actually come from. So, being naturally inquisitive and eager to learn, I opened my trusted browser (Google) and started searching.
Great was my surprise, when I stumbled upon a post on a Facebook page I am following (Gremlins, Goblins and Gobsmackers), sharing information on exactly what I was looking for. So, in the hopes that you, our loyal readers, might also find this interesting (and maybe helpful), I just had to share the origins of some well-known, and well-used phrases.
• In the 1400s, a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have ‘the rule of thumb’.
• Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled ‘Gentlemen Only … Ladies Forbidden’… and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
• In Shakespeare’s time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase, ‘goodnight, sleep tight’.
• It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4 000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar-based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.
• In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts … So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them ‘Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down’. It’s where we get the phrase ‘mind your Ps and Qs’.
• Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. ‘Wet your whistle’ is the phrase inspired by this practice.
• In 1696, William III of England introduced a property tax that required those living in houses with more than six windows to pay a levy. In order to avoid the tax, house owners would brick up all windows except six. (The Window Tax lasted until 1851, and older houses with bricked-up windows are still a common sight in the UK.) As the bricked-up windows prevented some rooms from receiving any sunlight, the tax was referred to as “daylight robbery”!
Do you have any phrases you use regularly? Share your phrases (and their origins) with us by sending an email to roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za/ northside@caxton.co.za
Until next week, stay safe and look out for each other …
