Meanings of Idioms, Familiar Phrases and Axioms
Origin and Meaning Behind Commonly Used Sayings
Both in writing and in every day speech, sayings and expressions are repeated without any real thought to where they come from or why people say them.
A large percentage of many popular sayings have their roots in either Shakespeare or the Bible, but others simply evolved from colloquialisms and practices of the time.
Barking Up the Wrong Tree and Beating Around the Bush
“Barking up the wrong tree” – This saying is of U.S. origin and is thought to have come from hunting for raccoon. Believed to be from the 1830s, it wasn’t uncommon for this nocturnal activity end up in a dog following a false scent and as a result, barking mistakenly under a tree with no raccoon hiding in it.
“Beat around the bush” – Meaning to be evasive or indirect, this is another hunting reference which dates back hundreds of years. When hunting birds, a number of participants in a hunting party would stir up the birds by literally beating bushes while others waited ready to capture the fleeing birds.
Dead as a Doornail
“Dead as a doornail” – The origin of this idiom dates back to the14th century. It was used by Shakespeare in 1590 in King Henry VI. The exact reason behind the usage of a doornail isn’t quite clear, but one explanation can be found in carpentry. A doornail is a wide-headed nail that once hammered through, the protruding end of the nail would normally be bent in to secure it and prevent its removal; hence the nail’s deadness.
Like the Dickens and In a Pickle
“Like the Dickens” – Meaning “a lot” or in large amounts, this saying has nothing to do with the writer Charles Dickens. A euphemism for devil or devilish, Dickens was likely a shortened form of the word devilkins.
“In a pickle” – To be in a pickle is to find oneself in a difficult position. It seems that in 1611, Shakespeare was the first to use the actual phrase “in a pickle” in The Tempest, although the references to “ill pickles” and “this pickle” can be traced back to the 1500s.
Eating Humble Pie and Happy as a Clam
“Eating humble pie” – During medieval times, humble pie or umble pie was an actual dish made out of entrails - heart, liver, intestines and the like – that was served to the servants and lower classes. To have to eat humble pie means to be submissive or apologetic especially when admitting a wrong. Similar to this is “Eating crow”.
“Happy as a Clam” – The meaning of this saying is quite obvious, but the why behind its usage takes a little digging. This American saying used to have a second half: “happy as a clam at high tide”. Digging for clams has to be done at low tide in order to have any success. At high tide, the clams safe and sound under the water making for a happy clam.
A Drop in the Bucket and By the Skin of Your Teeth
"A drop in the bucket" - Meaning a small or insignificant portion of the whole, this idiom has its genesis in the Bible. Isaiah 40:15 (New International Version) reads "Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust."
"By the skin of your teeth" - Another Old Testament Biblical reference meaning to barely or narrowly elude something. In lamenting his tribulations, Job 19:20 (King James Version) states "My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
Though the list of commonly used sayings is more numerous than the day is long, this brief list gives a little insight as to how these sayings began and exactly what it is that they mean - even if not much light is shed on why they continue to be in such great use.
Sources:
“Origins”.Writing; Jan2006, Vol. 28 Issue 4.
Welch, Jack. ”Rooted in Reality”. Louisville Magazine; Dec2004, Vol. 55 Issue 12, p 80-80.
William Shakespeare
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William Shakespeare
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