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Story behind the phrases we use today
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Be interesting to hear where sayings originated from.
Examples:why do we say..
'keeping up with the Jones's'
'if the boot was on the other foot'
'don't let the bed bugs bite'
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Keeping up with the Joneses originated in the 80s, after Aled Jones made the nation weep with his haunting ballad "Walking in the Air". This song was written by the decade's best songwriter, Howard Jones.
Walking in the Air was number one for 50 weeks, so the other bands were told by their record companies to keep up with the Joneses. |
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Here’s an interesting one:
Although the following is somewhat disputed, many scholars have cited the origin of the colloquialism, ‘Painting the town red.’ to a particularly riotous night that occurred in 1837 in Melton Mowbray. The story goes that the Marquis of Waterford and a group of his friends got gloriously inebriated one fateful night and literally ran around the town daubing red paint upon the buildings(!!!)
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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“Screaming from the roof tops”
If shit got really bad religious leaders would tell everyone to get on their roof and start praying HARD for the gods to fix it |
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The phrase originates with the comic strip Keeping Up with the Joneses, created by Arthur R. "Pop" Momand in 1913. The strip ran until 1940 in The New York World and various other newspapers. The strip depicts the social climbing McGinis family, who struggle to "keep up" with their neighbors, the Joneses of the title. The Joneses were unseen characters throughout the strip's run, often spoken of but never shown. The idiom keeping up with the Joneses has remained popular long after the strip's end. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The phrase originates with the comic strip Keeping Up with the Joneses, created by Arthur R. "Pop" Momand in 1913. The strip ran until 1940 in The New York World and various other newspapers. The strip depicts the social climbing McGinis family, who struggle to "keep up" with their neighbors, the Joneses of the title. The Joneses were unseen characters throughout the strip's run, often spoken of but never shown. The idiom keeping up with the Joneses has remained popular long after the strip's end."
I think you'll find it was Aled Jones. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Rope makers used to make rope from hemp with a temporary waterproofing. When it wore off customers would bring it back to the maker who would sell them more rope. The old rope could then be reproofed and sold on again. Hence ‘money for old rope’.
Something I learned in the Devil’s Arse only today….  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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“Turning water into wine” was a Greek idiom for making things better. Similar to our (kids) use of “cool” or “it’s a gas”. Not meant to be taken literally. So when Jesus went to the party and “turned water into wine” it simply meant that the party got suddenly better because of him.
Telling you this just in case you’ve wondered about why he should have performed such a banal miracle! |
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Turning A Blind Eye:
Again, a controversial one but it is commonly believed that this phrase originates with naval hero Horatio Nelson, who used his blind eye to look through his telescope.
Why? Well, in this manner he was able to deliberately avoid perceiving signals from his superior/s, who were signalling him to withdraw from battle.
As history attests, ignoring the order, Nelson attacked nevertheless, and was victorious  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Actually now I am realising that I posted on the wrong thread and now Pete you can say
Bob’s your uncle and Brigitte is his aunt "
Bobby Machado. Now there's a blast from the past. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Rope makers used to make rope from hemp with a temporary waterproofing. When it wore off customers would bring it back to the maker who would sell them more rope. The old rope could then be reproofed and sold on again. Hence ‘money for old rope’.
Something I learned in the Devil’s Arse only today…. "
I think you find it as when they hung criminals they sold off the rope , hence “money for old rope “ |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The phrase originates with the comic strip Keeping Up with the Joneses, created by Arthur R. "Pop" Momand in 1913. The strip ran until 1940 in The New York World and various other newspapers. The strip depicts the social climbing McGinis family, who struggle to "keep up" with their neighbors, the Joneses of the title. The Joneses were unseen characters throughout the strip's run, often spoken of but never shown. The idiom keeping up with the Joneses has remained popular long after the strip's end."
This is the correct answer! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Keeping up with the Joneses originated in the 80s, after Aled Jones made the nation weep with his haunting ballad "Walking in the Air". This song was written by the decade's best songwriter, Howard Jones.
Walking in the Air was number one for 50 weeks, so the other bands were told by their record companies to keep up with the Joneses."
It was actually a comic strip from 1913 in America! Nothing to do with aled or his merry band of snowmen |
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Mad As A Hatter:
Nothing to do with Lewis Carroll’s literary creations but rather the result of a spate of Mercury poisoning as was experienced in 17th century France, wherein hat makers who used mercury for the hat felt, sometimes developed, ‘Mad Hatter Disease’, a condition which was marked by random bouts of shyness, irritability, and physical tremors (resulting in the sufferer often being labelled as ‘mad’) |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1 "
The same guy that directed Keeping Up Appearances? Talented guy. But it was definitely Howard Jones. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The same guy that directed Keeping Up Appearances? Talented guy. But it was definitely Howard Jones."
I can’t tell if you’re taking the piss or not? |
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The golfer howard Clarke? Never knew he was also a songwriter"
Noel Clarke? We don’t talk about him no more…. |
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By *humper.Man
over a year ago
northumberland/scotland |
Hungover.
Not sure on the exact story but it's along the lines of...
"back in the day" if you'd been to an Inn and had a skin full and couldn't afford a room, they would park you blind d*unk, stood up... "hung over" a rope that was tied from wall to wall. There would be rows of d*unks wake up in an empty stone floored room, in the morning... literally "hung over" |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The golfer howard Clarke? Never knew he was also a songwriter
Noel Clarke? We don’t talk about him no more…."
I thought that was Bruno? |
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"Hungover.
Not sure on the exact story but it's along the lines of...
"back in the day" if you'd been to an Inn and had a skin full and couldn't afford a room, they would park you blind d*unk, stood up... "hung over" a rope that was tied from wall to wall. There would be rows of d*unks wake up in an empty stone floored room, in the morning... literally "hung over" "
I though that came from witnessing a hanging. It was a special occurrence & people congregated to catch the spectacle (it was before TV!) and they all celebrated in the nearest tavern. Then, back to work, usually with a sore head, thus hungover |
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The golfer howard Clarke? Never knew he was also a songwriter
Noel Clarke? We don’t talk about him no more….
I thought that was Bruno?"
Frank Bruno? |
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"Sleep tight I think is from when beds were strung with rope, the tighter the rope the more comfortable the bed, not sure about the bed bugs bit however "
Oh and fact check
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeping_up_with_the_Joneses
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Sleep tight I think is from when beds were strung with rope, the tighter the rope the more comfortable the bed, not sure about the bed bugs bit however
Oh and fact check
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeping_up_with_the_Joneses
"
See? |
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The golfer howard Clarke? Never knew he was also a songwriter
Noel Clarke? We don’t talk about him no more….
I thought that was Bruno?
Frank Bruno? "
Frank Boff you say? Another disgraced presenter…. |
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By *Y87Man
over a year ago
Cockermouth |
There were quite a few which recently got banned from being used in sport by the BBC, the one I remember was...
Sold down the river
In the 19th Century, people were literally sold down the river to plantation owners further south where brutal conditions awaited. The use of that phrase in a sporting context waters down the association it has with (word which can't be used on the forum).
It's and odd thing language. |
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The same guy that directed Keeping Up Appearances? Talented guy. But it was definitely Howard Jones.
I can’t tell if you’re taking the piss or not?"
You can't? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The golfer howard Clarke? Never knew he was also a songwriter
Noel Clarke? We don’t talk about him no more….
I thought that was Bruno?
Frank Bruno?
Frank Boff you say? Another disgraced presenter…. "
Can't really see what Frank did wrong. |
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"Keeping up with the Joneses originated in the 80s, after Aled Jones made the nation weep with his haunting ballad "Walking in the Air". This song was written by the decade's best songwriter, Howard Jones.
Walking in the Air was number one for 50 weeks, so the other bands were told by their record companies to keep up with the Joneses."
Bunkem
Keeping up with jones been around a lot longer |
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Son Of A Gun: Olde world navel speak for offspring born upon a ship where the resulting babies were officially recorded as such in the naval logs.
There is an altogether more alarming, alternative version for the saying’s origin however which details the somewhat unusual practice of aiding birth by tying expectant mothers to the cannons (and then firing them??!)
The latter is (hopefully) likely inaccurate…
….I sincerely hope….  |
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The golfer howard Clarke? Never knew he was also a songwriter
Noel Clarke? We don’t talk about him no more….
I thought that was Bruno?
Frank Bruno?
Frank Boff you say? Another disgraced presenter….
Can't really see what Frank did wrong."
It's Bough if I recall and he quite liked kinky swinger's clubs |
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The golfer howard Clarke? Never knew he was also a songwriter
Noel Clarke? We don’t talk about him no more….
I thought that was Bruno?
Frank Bruno?
Frank Boff you say? Another disgraced presenter….
Can't really see what Frank did wrong."
He lost to Mike Tyson for starters and in doing so, subsequently lost me a bet  I was a naive but hopeful fool  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The golfer howard Clarke? Never knew he was also a songwriter
Noel Clarke? We don’t talk about him no more…."
he was framed because he was doing so well in his career I'll never believe no other |
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The golfer howard Clarke? Never knew he was also a songwriter
Noel Clarke? We don’t talk about him no more….
I thought that was Bruno?
Frank Bruno?
Frank Boff you say? Another disgraced presenter….
Can't really see what Frank did wrong."
Frank the snowman? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The golfer howard Clarke? Never knew he was also a songwriter
Noel Clarke? We don’t talk about him no more….
I thought that was Bruno?
Frank Bruno?
Frank Boff you say? Another disgraced presenter….
Can't really see what Frank did wrong.
He lost to Mike Tyson for starters and in doing so, subsequently lost me a bet I was a naive but hopeful fool "
Well let that be a lesson. Never rely on daytime TV presenters. You've seen what happened to Phil and Holly. |
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"Disagree all you wish but it howard clarke wrote it and it never topped the charts at no 1
The golfer howard Clarke? Never knew he was also a songwriter
Noel Clarke? We don’t talk about him no more….
I thought that was Bruno?
Frank Bruno?
Frank Boff you say? Another disgraced presenter….
Can't really see what Frank did wrong.
He lost to Mike Tyson for starters and in doing so, subsequently lost me a bet I was a naive but hopeful fool
Well let that be a lesson. Never rely on daytime TV presenters. You've seen what happened to Phil and Holly."
I heard - and I quote - they would NEVER jump a queue. |
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As happy as a sandboy
In days of yore, when folk would ride their horses to and fro the equivalent of lidl along ye olde High Street, the govt not having provided enough public horse toilets would often urinate, little boys Under the height of 14 hands would walk behind the horses and throw sand on the steaming horse urine to stop people getting wet feet....when the shoppers got home they would tip the sandboy and make them very happy. |
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Grabbing (or getting) The Wrong End Of The Stick:
Contrary to the commonly held, altogether cruder, origin for this phrase, this saying ostensibly came into use somewhere between the 1400’s-1800’s and literally denotes grabbing a specifically fashioned walking aid such as a cane by the wrong end, thus negating its function to steady oneself.
…..but you want to hear the crude version, right?
Well, according to some, it actually stems from ancient Rome wherein people used a crafted stick with wadding on the end with which to wipe their arses. ‘Getting the wrong end of the stick’ in said instance, was therefore…..a highly undesirable occurrence….ahem  |
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Give The Cold Shoulder:
During medieval times in England, after everyone was done gormandising, the host would apparently often give his guests a cold piece of meat from the shoulder of the beef or pork as a ‘takeaway’ or ‘doggy bag’ in effect which served as a way of indicating that it was time for everyone to leave. |
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"Grabbing (or getting) The Wrong End Of The Stick:
Contrary to the commonly held, altogether cruder, origin for this phrase, this saying ostensibly came into use somewhere between the 1400’s-1800’s and literally denotes grabbing a specifically fashioned walking aid such as a cane by the wrong end, thus negating its function to steady oneself.
…..but you want to hear the crude version, right?
Well, according to some, it actually stems from ancient Rome wherein people used a crafted stick with wadding on the end with which to wipe their arses. ‘Getting the wrong end of the stick’ in said instance, was therefore…..a highly undesirable occurrence….ahem "
Left holding the shitty end of the stick? |
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"Grabbing (or getting) The Wrong End Of The Stick:
Contrary to the commonly held, altogether cruder, origin for this phrase, this saying ostensibly came into use somewhere between the 1400’s-1800’s and literally denotes grabbing a specifically fashioned walking aid such as a cane by the wrong end, thus negating its function to steady oneself.
…..but you want to hear the crude version, right?
Well, according to some, it actually stems from ancient Rome wherein people used a crafted stick with wadding on the end with which to wipe their arses. ‘Getting the wrong end of the stick’ in said instance, was therefore…..a highly undesirable occurrence….ahem
Left holding the shitty end of the stick? "
I believe the saying has indeed evolved over time to encompass the latter, commonly held historical connotation.
Note: No ancient Roman’s were harmed or deliberately undignified in this message…
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Rule Of Thumb:
A decidedly sexist, historical origin to this one; It is believed that the saying stems from a 17th century English Judge named, Sir Francis Buller who decreed that husbands were perfectly entitled to beat their wives with a stick provided that it was no wider than the man’s thumb(!!!!)   |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I think we all know "hasn't got a pot to piss in" originates from the idea of someone being too poor to own a chamberpot  "
From the tanneries, they used to buy urine to tan the hides and it comes from people who couldn't afford a pot couldn't be paid for their piss! |
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By *humper.Man
over a year ago
northumberland/scotland |
"Hungover.
Not sure on the exact story but it's along the lines of...
"back in the day" if you'd been to an Inn and had a skin full and couldn't afford a room, they would park you blind d*unk, stood up... "hung over" a rope that was tied from wall to wall. There would be rows of d*unks wake up in an empty stone floored room, in the morning... literally "hung over"
I though that came from witnessing a hanging. It was a special occurrence & people congregated to catch the spectacle (it was before TV!) and they all celebrated in the nearest tavern. Then, back to work, usually with a sore head, thus hungover "
Oh, now I'm doubting myself... that makes sense too.
Pretty sure I'm right though |
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Flogging A Dead Horse:
An intriguing one; whilst it might elicit imagery of cruelly overworking a poor old nag to death (and continuing to flog it to work still afterwards) the saying actually refers to a term that apparently dates from the 17th century, wherein a so named, ‘dead horse’ denotes work which a person had been paid for in advance (but has already, possibly unwisely, spent). |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Keeping up with the Joneses originated in the 80s, after Aled Jones made the nation weep with his haunting ballad "Walking in the Air". This song was written by the decade's best songwriter, Howard Jones.
Walking in the Air was number one for 50 weeks, so the other bands were told by their record companies to keep up with the Joneses."
Quite amused by the number of people who are incapable of recognising satire
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Jaywalking:
A simple and straightforward one; Jays, a member of the crow family, have been observed to sometimes become disoriented by city lights and noise and to act somewhat erratically and out of character in contrast to how they do in their natural, wooded habitat, as a result.
The term, ‘Jaywalking’ therefore, came about to describe the act of walking awkwardly across a road. |
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Caught Between A Rock And A Hard Place:
This phrase apparently originated in America in the early 1900s to describe a dispute between copper miners and the mining companies in Bisbee, Arizona. The miners demanded better working conditions, which the companies refused to supply which left the miners with two unpleasant choices: to continue to mine in the same terrible conditions (the rock) or else face unemployment and poverty (a hard place).
The phrase came into more popular use during The Great Depression of the 1930s. |
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"Hungover.
Not sure on the exact story but it's along the lines of...
"back in the day" if you'd been to an Inn and had a skin full and couldn't afford a room, they would park you blind d*unk, stood up... "hung over" a rope that was tied from wall to wall. There would be rows of d*unks wake up in an empty stone floored room, in the morning... literally "hung over"
I though that came from witnessing a hanging. It was a special occurrence & people congregated to catch the spectacle (it was before TV!) and they all celebrated in the nearest tavern. Then, back to work, usually with a sore head, thus hungover
Oh, now I'm doubting myself... that makes sense too.
Pretty sure I'm right though "
I think I like yours better |
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"I think we all know "hasn't got a pot to piss in" originates from the idea of someone being too poor to own a chamberpot
From the tanneries, they used to buy urine to tan the hides and it comes from people who couldn't afford a pot couldn't be paid for their piss! "
Are we back in the squirting thread? |
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Mad as a hatter.
In medieval Europe, hat makers used mercury in the felt process. The poison slowly leeched into their bloodstream through the scalp, with symptoms such as weird or unexplained behaviour. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Freeze the balls off a brass monkey is a navy term and refers to cannon balls falling out of the brass tray they were kept in if it got so cold the tray contracted "
It would contract but enough to displace the cannonballs? I had understood that if it got very cold the water froze and “froze the balls ONTO a brass monkey”. The phrase has since been corrupted. |
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Awwwww Xx bless you
Thankyou
That's actually made my day.
