Many of us grew up hearing old sayings, and as we aged, we learned what they really meant. I’m sure we “baby boomers” have heard most of these. But the younger generation may look at you with a puzzled expression.
Here are a few of those sayings and what they mean and even some of the origins of where they were thought to come from.
“At the drop of a hat” means to do something without delay. The origin of this is thought to be from the 19th century when a hat was used to indicate the start of a race or a fight. A hat would be dropped or swept in a downward arc and participants would begin.
“Has the cat got your tongue?” is used for someone who should be talking but remains silent. This is usually meant for someone who keeps quiet.
“The walls too have ears” alerts someone that somebody may be eavesdropping. So be careful what you are talking about in front of certain people.
To have “cold feet” means to be nervous or scared, not to literally have feet that are cold. I’ve also heard this used when someone has made a commitment, like marriage, but has cold feet and is unsure of their decision.
“Barking up the wrong tree” means taking the wrong approach or wasting your efforts talking to the wrong person about something. People with hunting dogs probably came up with this saying. Sometimes the dogs would lose the scent and select the wrong tree.
To “bite the bullet” means to get on with something even though you may not want to or it was a mistake. The real origin of this saying was when there was no such thing as pain relief or anesthesia in the 19th century or on the battlefields. As a result, when soldiers were injured on the battlefield and needed treatment, they were given a bullet to bite down on to prevent them from screaming out loud from their pain.
“Burning the midnight oil” means that someone is working late into the night. Before the days of electricity, oil lamps were used for lighting a room. Hence, you were burning oil at midnight if you were working late.
To “bury the hatchet” means to end a disagreement, and the two sides move on. This old saying comes from a Native American tradition. When tribes declared a truce from battle, the chief from each opposing side would take a hatchet and bury it during a ceremony.
Getting “caught red-handed” means that someone was apprehended while committing the crime. My research found that the real meaning was from 15th century Scotland: Being caught red-handed refers to committing a crime that leaves you with blood on your hands.
To “chow down” means to get into a meal aggressively. The U.S. military came up with this slang term during WWII.
To be “feeling under the weather” means that you are sick. My research found that this is another one of those old sayings that come from the sea. Sailors would rest under the bow of a ship if they became seasick during a voyage. This was the best place as it would protect the sailor from bad weather. Those who were ill were described as “being under the weather.”
If someone “can’t hold a candle to” someone else, they are nowhere near as good at doing something. In the 17th century, it was the job of the apprentices to hold the candles during the night so that their teachers or the talent could see what they were doing.
A person “in the limelight” is the center of attention in a group setting. In the 19th century, theaters used a limelight—a bright white spotlight—to light up the actors. “In the limelight” became known as being the center of attention.
If your “ears are burning” it is believed that someone is talking about you behind your back. My internet research found that the Ancient Romans paid particular attention to bodily sensations. They believed they were signs of good or bad luck, depending on where these sensations occurred.
If a group is “pulling out all the stops,” they are making a huge effort. In the late 19th century, organists used stops to create volume whenever they played. Pulling out all the stops is the loudest an organ can play.
To “sleep tight” means to have a good night’s sleep. This is just one of the many old sayings derived from Shakespeare’s era. In those days, beds and mattresses were secured with ropes that were pulled tight. This formed a solid base and led to a night of good sleep.
To “spill the beans” means to tell a secret. Back to Ancient Greece again for this old saying. During elections, voters would place a bean into a jar designated to the candidate of their choice. Sometimes the jar would be knocked over and the beans would spill out, revealing the result of the voting.
These are just a few old sayings with certain meanings. I’m sure you have heard many others. We visit this topic again in the future. Remember, there is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story. Until the next time.
(Kyle Lovern is a longtime journalist in the Tug Valley. He is now a retired freelance writer and columnist for the Mountain Citizen.)