You probably use a bunch of expressions, idioms, and slang phrases every day that don’t make sense literally. If you’ve ever thought a lot about why you say something in a specific way, you could probably take a guess. However, some expressions in English are so peculiar that it’s impossible to guess where the hell they came from — unless you know the story. If you didn’t know, historical events, legends, important figures, religion, and even advertisements form the basis of many expressions used today. Here are the origins of some of the most interesting idioms!
Bite the BulletMeaning: To accept something difficult or unpleasant.Origin: In the old days, when doctors were out of anesthesia or short on time during a battle, they would ask the patient to bite a bullet to distract from the pain. The first recorded use of the phrase was in 1891 in The Light that Failed.Break the IceMeaning: To break a conflict or start a friendship.Origin: When road transport was not yet developed, ships were the only means of transport and trade. Sometimes, ships would get stuck in the winter due to ice formation. The receiving country would send small ships to “break the ice” and clear a path for the trading ships. This gesture demonstrated affiliation and understanding between two territories.Butter Someone UpMeaning: To excessively praise or flatter someone.Origin: This was a religious custom in ancient India. Devotees would throw balls of butter at the statues of their gods to seek favor and forgiveness.Mad as a HatterMeaning: To be completely crazy.Origin: No, you didn’t know this beforehand because it didn’t originate from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll. Its origins date back to the 17th and 18th centuries — long before the publication of Lewis Caroll’s book. In 17th century France, there were cases of poisoning among hat makers who used mercury for hat felt. The “Mad Hatter Disease” was characterized by shyness, irritability, and tremors that made the person seem “crazy.”VIVIANE FAVERJournalistvfaver@gmail.com