What's a phrase or saying you've used or heard that surprised you when you learned what it really meant or how it originated?

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#1

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”- to mean “be grateful for what you are given/gifted, apparently comes from the old days when people wanted to know if a horse was healthy, they would check it’s teeth (ie “look in its mouth”)
So basically- if you’re given a free horse, don’t check to see if it’s a GOOD horse, just be grateful you got a free horse!

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Anna Stephenson
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Sylvia Weiss
Sylvia Weiss
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht in´s Maul. I guess this idiom was created in Middleage? When you see the teeth of a horse, you have an impression how old the horse is. How worn/used the teeth are. And in that time, even an very old horse was of high value, cause you could slaughter it. So, in any case - you where happy, when you where gifted. Please excuse my bad english...

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    #2

    When addressing corruption in an organization (police, church, etc.) you often hear them say that it was only one or two bad people, and not systemic, by saying "It was only a few bad apples". Except, the whole phrase "A few bad apples spoils the bunch" is a warning about systemic corruption.

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    Phil
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    Vix Spiderthrust
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've always heard "a few bad apples spoil the barrel" but yes, this is what it means. Corruption anywhere leads to corruption everywhere.

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    #3

    Begs the question... There is a common use today that is quite different than the original use from formal logic

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    ArodTheHorrible
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    Sara Wilson
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't the point of this post to explain the origin? Seems a pointless post on here without it

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    #4

    Saying "My/your name is mud" meaning to be disgraced by your actions is a reference to Dr. Samuel Mudd who treated John Wilkes Booth for his injuries after he assassinated Abraham Lincoln. As a consequence his career and life were effectively ruined as he was convicted of being a co-conspirator and sent to prison.

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    Carol LeMay
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    Vix Spiderthrust
    Vix Spiderthrust
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nope, just a coincidence. The phrase is older than that. https://grammarist.com/idiom/ones-name-is-mud/

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    #5

    Clue From the ball of yarn or "clew" that Theseus unraveled behind him in the labyrinth of the Minotaur

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    Jen Mart
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    Mimi M
    Mimi M
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My new experimental rock band is going to be called 'Labyrinth of the Minotaur'. The first album is going to be titled 'Journey of Theseus', first track, 'The Clew'. We will have epic tours with all sorts of lighting and effects. And yes, a Moog will make its appearance.

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    #6

    "panem et circenses" (by Juvenal) which is very fitting for the Internet, as well as many other aspects of our "entertaining" society (thankfully not all of it!).

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    Costa Villaras
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    Sans Serif (Sans)
    Sans Serif (Sans)
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Bread and circuses : sustenance and entertainment provided by government to appease public discontent". Très improbable! /s

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    #7

    Butt load equaling a lot. Origen of the phrase is:

    A regional English measure of capacity of a heavy cart (a butt), containing 6 seams, or 48 bushels, equivalent to 384 gallons.

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    Xenon
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    #8

    Not really a phrase, but a kids' song- Ring Around the Rosie is about the Bubonic Plague

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    A Wild Bean (they/them/any)
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    Vix Spiderthrust
    Vix Spiderthrust
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Apparently this is a myth - the rhyme isn't nearly old enough https://www.thoughtco.com/debunking-ring-a-ring-a-roses-1221610

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    #9

    "Blind drunk" homemade alcohol may contain methyl alcohol can damage the optic nerves

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    meltdavidmcbride
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    Vix Spiderthrust
    Vix Spiderthrust
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nope. Just means too drunk to see straight. https://slate.com/technology/2012/12/blindness-treated-with-whiskey-can-you-really-lose-your-sight-from-drinking.html

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    #10

    "Câline de bine!" is basically French for "goshdarnit". The origin is railroad workers, French and English working together, a rough translation of the English guys yelling "Coal in the bin!"

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    Catastrophisticate
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    #11

    "As the crow flies" . "Dead to rights" - still searching for meaning of this one. Thought it was related to sailing but not so. Anyone?

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    Pamelot
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    Miss C
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    https://grammarist.com/idiom/dead-to-rights/ Means being caught red handed

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    #12

    Bye, Felicia. (I thought it was just something my mom said. I was wrong.)

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    Echo
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    Sara Wilson
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And another post without sharing the origin! Is this a difficult concept? :D

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