Tag: sayings

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Chew the fat could have several meanings

Chew the Fat -Today this means to have a long friendly conversation with someone. This idiom has several possible sources as listed below. It is not clear which one is accurate. Discover, Share and help us Preserve our lost and forgotten stories. Become an Alabama Pioneers Patron Sailors, while of resting and conversing would chew […]

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The idiom Raise Cain comes from the Bible

The idiom: RAISE CAIN comes from the Bible Cain was the first murderer according to scriptural accounts in the Bible – Genesis 4 – The biblical account, tells of how Cain and Abel, the two sons of Adam and Eve, bring offerings to God, but only Abel’s is accepted.Cain kills Abel in anger and is […]

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Double-cross originates from signing documents

The idiom DOUBLE-CROSS means to trick someone. Centuries ago, when illiteracy was common, and a person was asked to sign a document, they’d do so by inserting an “X” in place of their signature. This was legal. However, the process was often done under pressure (at gunpoint) which meant that the signing party had no […]

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DYK: He was taken back by the site

Did you know that “Taken back” is a nautical term. If the wind suddenly changed direction a sailing ship stopped moving forward. It was ‘taken aback’, which was a bit of a shock for the sailors.   VINEGAR OF THE FOUR THIEVES: Recipes & curious tips from the past See best-selling books by Donna R […]

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DYK: Bites the Dust comes from Ancient Greece

The phrase BITES THE DUST –   comes from Ancient Greece This phrase comes from a translation of the epic Ancient Greek poem the Illiad about the war between the Greeks and the Trojans. It was poetic way of describing the death of a warrior. REVIEWS: The exhilarating action & subplots keep the reader in constant […]

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Chip on your shoulder originates in 19th century

The idiom: Chip on your shoulder means being angry about something that happened in the past. A ‘chip’ can be defined as a piece of timber, or wood. Depending on the amount and size, timber can be quite heavy, and oftentimes people carry heavy things on their shoulders. The phrase appears to have originated with a 19th […]

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DYK: What does Good as Gold really mean?

 Today the phrase, Good as Gold, usually refers to a person or child being well-behaved and obedient. The phrase comes from the time when banknotes were first introduced they weren’t considered to be money in the sense we now think of them, but were promissory notes or IOUs. Gold or silver was real money as it had intrinsic […]