THE ORIGIN OF THE COMMON SAYING

BITE THE BULLET

Meaning: Accepting something difficult or unpleasant

History: There was no time to administer an anaesthetic

before emergency surgery during battle. The surgeon made

patients bite down on a bullet in an attempt to distract them

from the pain.

BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER

Meaning: Family comes before everything else

History: In ancient Middle Eastern culture, blood rituals

between men symbolized bonds that were far greater

than those of family. The saying also has to do with

“blood brothers,” because warriors who symbolically shared

the blood they shed in battle together were said to have

stronger bonds than biological brothers.

BREAK THE ICE

Meaning: To commence a project or initiate a friendship

History: Before the days of trains or cars, port cities

that thrived on trade suffered during the winter because

frozen rivers prevented commercial ships from entering the

city. Small ships known as “icebreakers” would rescue

the icebound ships by breaking the ice and creating a

path for them to follow. Before any type of business

arrangement today, it is now customary to

“break the ice” before beginning a project.

BUTTER SOMEONE UP

Meaning: To flatter someone

History: An ancient Indian custom which involved throwing

balls of clarified butter at statues of the gods to seek favour.

CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?

Meaning: Something said when a person is at a loss for words

History: There are two possible sources for this common saying.

The first refers to the cat-o’-nine-tails, a whip used by the

English Navy for flogging. The whip caused so much pain that

The victims were left speechless. The second refers to the

practice of cutting out the tongues of liars and blasphemers

and feeding them to cats.

CAUGHT RED-HANDED

Meaning: To be caught doing something wrong

History: This saying originated because of a law. If someone

butchered an animal that didn’t belong to him, he had to be

caught with the animal’s blood on his hands to be convicted.

Being caught with freshly cut meat did not make the

person guilty.

DON’T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER

Meaning: Hang on to valuable things when getting rid of

unnecessary things

History: During the 1500s, most people bathed once a year.

Even when they did bathe, the entire family used the same

tubful of water. The man of the house bathed first, followed

by other males, then females, and finally the babies.

You can imagine how thick and cloudy the water became by

that time, so the infants’ mothers had to take care not to

throw them out with the bathwater when they emptied the tub.

EAT HUMBLE PIE

Meaning: Making an apology and suffering humiliation along with it

History: During the Middle Ages, the lord of a manor would

hold a feast after hunting. He would receive the finest cut

of meat at the feast, but those of a lower standing were

served a pie filled with the entrails and innards, known as

“umbles.” Therefore, receiving “umble pie” was considered

humiliating because it informed others in attendance of the

guest’s lower status.

GIVE THE COLD SHOULDER

Meaning: A rude way of telling someone he isn’t welcome

History: Although giving someone the cold shoulder today is

considered rude, it was actually regarded as a polite gesture

in medieval England. After a feast, the host would let his guests

know it was time to leave by giving them a cold piece of

meat from the shoulder of beef, mutton, or pork.