ORIGINS

 

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ORIGINS OF SOME WORDS AND PHRASES:

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Eavesdrop:

Meaning:

To secretly listen to a conversation.

Origin:

The word comes from the Old English ‘efes’ meaning ‘edge of a roof’. Eavesdrop was first used to refer to the place around the house where the water from the eaves dripped. So, the original ‘eavesdropper’ was someone who stood under the eaves and listened to the conversation taking place inside the house.

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Cat got your tongue?

Meaning:

Said to someone who remains silent when they are expected to speak.

Origin:

There are two theories on how this saying came into being. The first one says that it could have come from a whip called “Cat-o’-nine-tails” that was used by the English Navy for flogging and often left the victims speechless. The second one may be from ancient Egypt, where liars’ tongues were cut out as punishment and fed to the cats.

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The Walls Have Ears:

Meaning:

Be careful what you say as people may be eavesdropping.

Origin:

The face Louvre Palace in France was believed to have a network of listening tubes so that it would be possible to hear everything that was said in different rooms. People say that this is how the Queen Catherine de’Medici discovered political secrets and plots.

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Bury the hatchet:

Meaning:

End a quarrel or conflict and become friendly.

Origin:

During negotiations between Puritans and Native Americans men would bury all of their weapons, making them inaccessible.

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Cold feet:

Meaning:

Loss of nerve or confidence.

Origin:

This idiom originates from a military term, warriors who had frozen feet were not able to rush into battle.

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Oops, no, that's Bigwig from Watership Down

Big Wig:

Meaning:

An important person, especially in a particular sphere

Origin:

Back in the 18th century, the most important political figures would wear the biggest wigs, hence today influential people are called big wigs.

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Raining cats and dogs:

Meaning:

Rain very hard.

Origin:

There are various possible explanations on the origin:

1. That it comes from Norse mythology where cats would symbolise heavy rains and dogs were associated with the God of storms, Odin.

2. That in 16th century England, houses had thatched roofs which were one of the few places where animals were able to get warm. Sometimes, when it would start to rain heavily, roofs would get slippery and cats and dogs would fall off, making it look like it’s raining cats and dogs. Unlikely.

3. That in Medieval times, street cats and dogs often got caught up in the runoff after a storm and drown in the ditches next to streets. If cats were seeking refuge from the cold, they would be inside the houses, not outside where they would get washed away.

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Blood is thicker than water:

Meaning:

Family relationships and loyalties are the strongest and most important ones.

Origin:

Even though many might think this saying means that we should put family ahead of friends, it actually meant the complete opposite. The full phrase actually was “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb,” and it referred to warriors who shared the blood they shed in battles together. These ‘blood brothers’ were said to have stronger bonds than biological brothers.

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