A Picture Paints a Thousand Words
This term which means a story told by pictures as well as a vast amount of descriptive text comes from the quotation 'One picture is worth ten thousand words', Frederick R. Barnard in Printer's Ink, 8 Dec 1921 retelling a Chinese proverb. .
A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand
This term's origin comes from the bible
A Leopard Can't Change His Spots
When people state that they can't change who they are--their nature--they sometimes use the phrase "A leopard can't change his spots" (it's used in much the same way as "you can't teach an old dog new tricks"). The phrase about leopards is descended from the Bible, in the book of Jeremiah: "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?" (Jer 13:23)
Absent Without Leave
A military originated term which is often shortened to AWOL. Not present without permission is what this term has come to mean.
America
America is named after Amerigo Vespucci. Amerigo was a ship navigator and first came to the new world in 1499. He felt that Columbus had discovered a new continent instead of a new route to Asia, and wrote of this in his letters. These letters made him a celebrity and in 1507 cartographer Martin Waldseemueller created a map showing the new world as "America".
Back Seat Driver
This idiom comes from the habit many people have of giving too much advice (unwanted advice) to the driver of an automobile from the backseat. this idiom means 'someone who watches and criticizes'
Back To Square One
Meaning back to the beginning this idiom was first heard on football radio commentaries during games.Football isn't easy to commentate on on the radio so they had the idea of splitting up the field into notional numbered squares so that listeners could be told where the ball was. Whenever the game restarted after a break it was 'back to square one'.
Bad Hair Day
A bad hair day is one of those days when nothing seems to be going right. Originated in the 1992 movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Baker's Dozen
A regular dozen is twelve, but a baker's dozen is 13. Years ago in England there were strict penalties for those who gave short weight. During this era Bakers were usually not educated and terrible counters. So to avoid any penalties, the bakers would give 13 instead of 12 or a dozen, just in case they miscalculated.
Ball and Chain
Believed to have originated in Britain, this term has come to mean 'wife'. Originating from the presumption that a man's wife has held him down thus, keeping him from doing the things he really wanted to do in life.
Balls to the Wall
Dating back to the 1950's, this refers to nn all-out effort. The phrase originated from an aviation term. On airplanes, the throttle control handles and the fuel mixture are often topped with grips that are ball shaped, thus referring to pilots as "balls." If you push the ball forward close to the front wall of the cockpit your result would be a top speed.
Beeswax
This term which dates back to the 1930's is commonly found in the phrase 'none of your beeswax'. It actually has nothing to do with 'wax'. It is just an intentional malapropism for business.
Big Apple
Dating back to the early 1920's, this term refers to all horse racetracks around the city of New York. These tracks were the "big" money courses and the word "apple" refers to the prize. A few years later the term was used by musicians to describe the whole city. In the 1970's the term was used in a NYC tourism ad campaign and became famous.
Blackmail
The word "blackmail" became popular in the 1800's and comes from the clan chieftains who ran protection rackets on farmers in Scottland. If the farmers didn't pay the mail (an old term for rent), the chieftains would steal their cattle and crops. Since this was considered evil, it was considered "black".
Blind leading the blind
Another common phrase is the "blind leading the blind", by which it is meant that the person in charge of the situation knows no more about it than those whom he is leading. This is Biblical in origin, coming from Jesus: "Let them alone; they are blind leaders of the blind. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall in a pit.".
Blue Moon
The term Blue Moon means something that happens rarely, as in "once in a blue moon". It is rare that in one calendar month you would see a second full moon or "blue moon". This is an event that is seen as absurd and can never occur. Although the moon is never actually "blue", unless alot of dust is kicked up into the atmosphere, then the moon can almost appear blue. Some events in history that have caused this effect and made the moon appear as blue include: The eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, late Indian monsoons in 1927, and forest fires in Canada in 1951.
Blue Moon
The term Blue Moon means something that happens rarely, as in "once in a blue moon". It is rare that in one calendar month you would see a second full moon or "blue moon". This is an event that is seen as absurd and can never occur. Although the moon is never actually "blue", unless alot of dust is kicked up into the atmosphere, then the moon can almost appear blue. Some events in history that have caused this effect and made the moon appear as blue include: The eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, late Indian monsoons in 1927, and forest fires in Canada in 1951.
Blue Sky
Ones outlook on life or business situation is all "Blue Sky" no clouds to block the view. A very foolish outlook for when your looking at "Blue Sky" you will not seehazards in your path.
Break A Leg
The original origins of "break a leg," began in theatre ballet productions where they came out for curtain calls. The rod that allows for the curtain to be raised and lowered is called the "LEG". So "break a leg," means truly to get so many curtain calls that the leg breaks in two. Might want to put that out there and correct your site.
Brownie Points
This phrase comes from the girl scouts. They have a point system that gives girls points for achievement. The term was first used in World War II when soldiers acted silly or childlike.
Catch-22
Originated from a 1961 novel by Joseph Heller, where one bureaucratic regulation is dependent on another, which in turn is dependent on the first. A Paradox - a situation or statement which seems impossible or is difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics.
Caught With Your Pants Down
This idiom means while you were peeing or pooping someone walked in and caught you doing it.
Chip on his Shoulder
This idiom simply means to carry a grudge. It dates back to the 19th century. Fighters would put a chip on their shoulder and dare others to knock it off.
Close but no Cigar
If you come close to achieving success but reach a disappointment due to failure you are 'close but no cigar'. Many years ago slot machines gave out cigars as prizes. Also, early carnival games also gave out cigars as prizes.
Copasetic
adj: completely satisfactory.
Crackerjack
This term dates back to the late 1800's, and means "superb" or "excellent" In 1896 the name was trademarked for the caramel popcorn product. In 1908 Jack Norworth wrote the lyrics for Take Me Out to the Ballgame, which mentioned the name of the candy propelling it to fame. This song is now sung during seventh inning stretches at baseball games.
Cup Of Joe
According to the June 2004 issue of Sea magazine (volume 96, no. 6, page 22): When Josephus Daniels became secretary of the Navy in 1913, he prohibited alcohol aboard all U.S. Navy vessels - making coffee the strongest drink that could be served on board. For that reason, sailors started referring to a mug of strong coffee as "a cup of Joe".
Cut to the Chase
Meaning to get to the point. A movie term from the 1920's, it originally meant to cut from a dramatic scene to an action scene (like a chase).
Dead Ringer
A dead ringer is something that is exactly duplicated. A horse that is substituted to fraud bookies is a 'ringer'. The word 'dead' in this idiom means 'exact'.
Deadline
Originated in the American Civil War, where a prisoner would be shot if they crossed a line around the prison or prison camp.
Devil's Advocate
The word "Devil's Advocate" actually comes from Canon Law. In the Vatican, when arguments are being presented to have a person declared a saint, the Church appoints an official to find flaws in this evidence. This official is called the "Devil's Advocate" and has come to mean a person who espouses a cause just for the sake of argument.
Diamond in the Rough
A diamond in the rough means someone of good character who lacks social graces. Often will be expressed just as 'rough diamond'.
Dirt Poor
Dates back to the 1930's Depression era where there was extreme poverty and many people lived in dirty conditions. Some people say it dates back to England in the 1500's where finished floors were rare, but this origin has not been proven.
Dog Days
This idiom means extremely hot days (which are usually mid to late summer). The name comes from the dog star 'Sirius' which is in the same part of the sky as the sun is.
Don't look a Gift Horse in the Mouth
When given something don't be ungrateful. By counting the teeth you can tell the age of a horse. Checking whether a present of a horse was old would be considered impolite.
Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs
You shouldn't teach anyone who knows alot more than you do.
Drink like a fish
Meaning drink heavily, this idiom originated from the fact that fish live in water and are associated with water. Obviously, fishes don't drink.
Dropping like flies
This idiom means dead very quickly or falling down ill and in large numbers. It comes from a story in which a child uses his belt to kill several flies. The stroy was 'The Brave Little Tailor' by the Brothers Grimm.
Eat Drink and Be Merry
This phrase originates from the Bible (Luke 12:19), where Jesus is telling a parable. The parable is about a man who stores up food for years to come and then tells himself: "Soul, you have many goods laid up for years to come; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry." This is often used as a positive phrase nowadays ("Let's eat, drink, and be merry!"), but in the parable God then refers to the man as a "fool", because his life ended that very day. The point was that whom had he stored up all of this stuff for, because he "can't take it with him."
Eighty Six
Eighty six is to refuse to serve an unwelcomed customer at a bar or restaurant. It may have derived from Chumley's Bar and restaurant at 86 Bedford Street in Greenwich Village NYC.
Elvis has left the building
Meaning the show/event has ended, this comes from the announcements that used to be made at the end of musician Elvis's concerts in order to get fans to leave the arena. Now we use this term anytime an event has ended.
End of story
Orginating in the US, it is said to end a conversation. If its the end of story then the talking is over and there is nothing else to be discussed.
Excuse my French
Meaning to forgive one for using a swear word / cussing. This is a phrase used when one tries to pass swearing off as french language.
Face the Music
Dates back to 1850, but the exact origin is unknown. One theory is that it comes from the theater world, where musicians were in a pit in front of the stage, so "to face the music" was to turn towards the audience. Another theory says it comes from a Civil War military ceremony where an officer that is about to be cashiered is literally drummed out.
Field Day
Fairs and circuses used to always set up in fields. Whenever these events came to town it was a special time. Thus, it has come to mean an enjoyable or especial time.
Finger lickin' good
Excellent, delicious food. This idiom originated from an advertising slogan of the KFC Chicken company.
Fly on the wall
A fly on the wall refers to someone who over sees something without the watched noticing him/her. This term comes from fly on the wall documentaries.
Get out of the wrong side of bed
Meaning to be in a bad mood, it is considered unlucky to put your left foot on the floor first when getting out of bed.
Getting Down To Brass Tacks
"Getting down to brass tacks" means getting serious. Years ago millinery stores had brass tacks set in their counters every 6 inches. Tailors would come in and look over the fabric picking up bolts that they liked, but they weren’t serious until they "got down to brass tacks" and measured out the amount they needed and intenede to purchase.
Go out on a limb
This idiom refers to taking a rish in order to support something or someone. It could have originated from the risk of climbing onto the limb of a tree.
Go The Extra Mile
Going the extra mile means that you have gone above and beyond what was required of you. This originates from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, when He said, "Whoever forces you to go one mile with you, go with him two." Thus, you are fulfilling Jesus' commands by "going the extra mile" beyond what is required. (Mt 5:41).
Graveyard Shift
It started as "graveyard watch" in the late 1800's as a nautical term for a late-night work shift, but in the early 1900's "shirt" was used instead by workers on land. It has nothing to do with actually working a graveyard.
Gung Ho
The unofficial motto of the US Marine Corps. Originated from "kung ho" which is Mandarin for industrial cooperative.
Have an axe to grind
This means to have an ulterior motive. A visitor once asked Ben Franklin how his grindstone worked. Franklin sharpened the this person's axe for him when demonstrating, this is probably what was intended in the first place .
Going to Hell in a Handbasket
If your going bad ) without effort then you are going to hell in a handbasket. A handbasket being easy to carry. This term dates back to the early 1940's.
Hit The Nail on the Head
To precisely define the conclusion of an argument or discussion. From the old practice of stricking a 'nail' when agreeing a sail between traders. The nail was a stone or post standing nearly waist high and two or three feet in diameter, the parties to the deal would place the money they were offering on the 'nail', and when the deal was agreed it was hit by both parties.
Hocus Pocus
Used for trickery or magic. From the early 17th century these words used by conjurers and jugglers when performing tricks. The orginal phrase was 'Hocus pocus, toutous talontus, vade celerita jubes'
Hold your horses
A U.S. origin which dates back to the 19th century which means to be patient and to wait.
Houston we have a problem
First used to report a real serious problem in space. This term is now used as humor to report any type of problem.
I Wash My Hands Of It
Commonly, when someone has attempted to avert a wrong and it continues anyway, he states, "I wash my hands of the issue", indicating that he is clean and not to blame. This comes from Jesus' trial, as recorded in Matthew 27:24. Pontius Pilate, who was in charge of sentencing Christ, claimed that Jesus was innocent as far as he could tell. However, the crowds pushed to have Him executed. "When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves.'
In Like Flynn
Dates back to 1945, refering to how easily movie star Errol Flynn could get women into bed with him.
In the bag
Meaning 'secured' this idiom Originated in Great Britian when a bag was placed under the Speaker's chair. If there was a petition that was 'put in the bag' then it must be raised on that day.
It came like a bolt from the blue
Just as a lightening bolt that strikes on a clear day with no clouds. It means a surprise.
Jinx
A bringer of bad luck or an evil influence. Dates back to the 17th century as word for a charm or spell. In 1859 it was used as a character name in a poem, representing vexation or trouble. In the early 1900's sportswriters started using the term to mean bad luck.
Kilroy was here
This term is used in the graffiti by the US army to show that they had been there and moved on. Did you know that Kilroy was an actual person, an inspector at the Naval Shipyards in Maryland during WWII. His job was to count rivets, he counted thousands a day, in order to keep track of what he had counted and so they would not be counted again by another person he would write Kilroy was here. Now later on when these ships were full of men headed for war, they found that Kilroy had already been there, it made them feel better that they weren't the first, Kilroy had gone on ahead. Now if the inspectors name had been Bob "bob was here" it probably wouldn't have caught on. The accompaning cartoon came later.
Kitty-corner
Originated from "catercorner" meaning diagonal. Later became catty-corner and evolved in to kitty-corner.
Knock on wood
This idiom comes from people who tap their knuckles on wood in hopes of bringing good luck or better luck. This term may be associated with the mythology that trees bring good spirits. It may also have to do with the christian religious cross which is also made of wood.
Know which way the wind blows
When circumstances change and you still understand what is happening is what this idiom means. The origin may come from traditional hunting.
Let The Dog See The Rabbit
(also cat see the rat, and cat see the rabbit) Get out of the way, I can't see what I am looking at! From hunting days when you might get in the way of the dog as it hunted a rabbit.
Level playing field
Dating back to the 1980's this term refers to fair competition. On a level playing field, no side has an advantage.
Like a chicken with its head cut off
Meaning in a frenzied manner. Poultry twitch and sometimes run around after decapitation. When poultry is decapitated, they begin to twitch and may sometimes begin to run around, that is how this idiom which means 'in a frenzy' comes from.
Live By The Sword, Die By The Sword
When Judas had betrayed Jesus and a crowd came up to arrest Him, the Apostle Peter drew a sword and attacked one of the guards. Mt 26:52 records, "Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword back in its place, for all those who take up the sword perish by the sword."
Lollygag
Dating back to the 1860's, it means to idly or dally spend time , to flirt or engage in amorous behavior especially in public, to hoax, or act foolishly.
Long in the Tooth
As I read your greatfacts.com website, I came across the "long in the tooth" fact on page one. The gums in a horse do not receed as the horse gets older. The horse has what are called open rooted teeth that allow the teeth to continuously erupt (or grow) throughout its life until the tooth eventually falls out. Therefore, "long in the tooth" actually does refer to a horses teeth growing very long as it ages.
Loose Cannon
This idiom originated when ships were damaged due to unsecured cannons rolling around on deck. Today, the term can mean anything unpredictable.
Mad As A Hatter
"Mad As A Hatter: refers to mercury nitrate that was used by hat makers to make fur pelts softer and suitable for hat use. After years of mercury exposure it would make the user quite mentally unstable.
Mexican Wave
The 'Mexican Wave' or as we know it today as just 'The Wave' is when crowds at sporting events rise up and down from their seats in a continious pattern all around the ballpark. Although 'The Wave' was popular in the late 70's/early 80's with colleges. It became popular in the 1986 World Cup which was held in Mexico.
Money is the Root of All Evil
This idiom is actually a misquote from the Bible. The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy in I Tim 6:10, says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil..." This is commonly misstated by saying that "money is the root of all evil", rather than greed (love of money).
Mumbo Jumbo
From Mama Dyanbo, a Mandingo god....meaning 'Nonsense'.
Murphy's Law
Generally meaning "if anything can go wrong, it will". It was Ccined in the late 1940's and refers to Captain Ed Murphy, a development engineer assigned to research on the rocket sleds.
New York Minute
A reference to the hectic pace that New York citizens live their lives. The term may have originated in Texas in the late 1960's, with people saying a New Yorker does in an instant what a Texan would do in a whole minute.
No Dice
When a proposition is refused, this means 'No Dice'. Originally used in dice games when a throw is out of play or not lying flat, the throw is not valid and ruled as 'no dice'
No Room to Swing a Cat
In other words 'a small space'. The term may have derived from the British Navy but the origin is unclear.
Not Playing With a Full Deck
If your 'not playing with a full deck' then you are stupid. This comes from lacking the required intelligence, as a card game being played with a missing card.
Nothing is certain but death and taxes
Coined by Ben Franklin in 1789 'In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.', Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790).
One for the road
'One for the road' means one last drink before leaving.
It is believed that this term derived from felons final drinks before heading off to be executed in front of the public.
One over the eight
This is a drinking term. It was once believed that drinking more than eight alcholic beverages would get you drunk.
P's and Q's
Means to learn one's letters. Dates back to the late 18th century. Some people think it refers to the hard time children had learning to distinguish between the letters p and q, since they are mirror images of one another.
We received these emails from site visitors:
Email 1: P’s n Q’s: it actually means, Mind your Pints and Quarts. In Pubs when people would start arguing, the bartenders would tell them to mind their own drinks... being pints n quarts!
Email 2: I always thought that Mind your P's and Q's meant to behave appropriately. Also I thought it meant that if you don't mind your P's and Q's You are irresponsible Because if P's and Q's were referred to as Penny's and Quarters and nobody minded or paid attention to them and you lost them then you would have lost your Pennies and Quarters, or P's and Q's.
Email 3: The most convincing explanation of this idiom I've heard is that it comes
from the early days of printing, when movable type was positioned for
printing. This process was done upside-down - a technique not impossible to
get used to after some time. However, the lowercase letters p and q were
hard to distinguish, since in most designs they were mirror images of each
other. Hence" mind your P's and Q's!", a phrase I was told was shouted at
young children working in these print shops.
Email 4: I am under the impression that the saying minding your p's and q's, does
mean mind your pints and quarts. Bartenders would use tally marks i.e. 4
pints equal a quart, if the customer got out of line, the bartender would
use the phrase, mind your p's and q's. I have also heard the customer would
use it when they thought they were being over charged.
Email 5: I have heared a different story about the saying mind your p's and q's. Back when Mark Twain lived in Missouri or as he liked to call it Missary, he had a horrable job working as a newspaper editor. The job was to put the letters that were to make all the words on the page in sentence form backwords. There was an upper case and lower case (thuse the use of that idiom) and Mark Twain once wrote in a news article about the two letters in the English alphabete that were mirror images of themselves. He said, "no mater how hard he tried he could never mind his p's and q's". This means that when he did his job he had to make sure that if he choose a q it was really a p and not a q but when printed it was backward so if it was a p it was really a q and vise versa.
Email 6: As a bartender for 16 years, you've got 1/2 the stoy right. In the days of old in taverns and pubs, mind your p's and q's was a term the bar owner or manager said at the end of the night to the waitresses or cocktail girls. They kept track of what they sold by marking P's and Q's on a peice of paper for all the pints and quarts they sold or disbursed. The bar owner would say, "Mind your P's and Q's, (pints and quarts). That meant for them to tally up their P's and Q's and give a total.
Pick up your ears
To pay careful attention. This orgin probably was coined from the habit of dogs, horses and other animals in which they lift their ears when listening attentively.
Pie in the Sky
Of course, this means to search for the impossible dream but it originated in the early 1900's. A famous labor organizer named Joe Hill was extremely critical of the clergy's treatment of slaves. He wrote a tune called 'The Preacher and the Slave" accusing the clergy of making false promises of a better life in heaven while people starved on earth. The song goes: 'Work and pray, live on hay. You'll get pie in the sky when you die. That's a lie!
Pipe Down
Pipe down or 'be quiet' could have started when pipes on ships were blown like whistles to give the sailors signals. When a sailor was to be dismissed below he would have been 'piped down' by an officer.
Play by ear
When a situation is handled in an impromptu manner without refering to any set of guidelines. This comes from not using sheet music to play the music.
Pull out all the stops
This idiom meaning to put a maximum of effort into a certain activity, is a term first coined by organists. It refers to pulling out all the stop levers in an organ, which results in the maximum volume from the organ.
Pull the Wool Over His Eyes
Dates back to 1839, meaning "to deceive". "Wool" refers to a powdered wig, such as men used to wear. Pulling down the wool wig would temporarily blind the person wearing it.
Push the Envelope
This term originated in the airplane industry and means to go the limits. Planes performances used to be marked on a 2 dimensional graph. The area of the graph that indicated safe usage was the envelope. This all started in the late 1970's.
Put a sock in it
Years ago gramophones didn't have any volume control so to turn the volume down one had to actually put a sock in the trumpet part. Now, people use the term, 'Put A Sock In It" as a request to be quiet or silent.
Put your best foot forward
To 'Put Your Best Foot Forward' or 'to make a bold start' originated when ladies looked for a well turned leg in men.
Rain Cats and Dogs
This phrase's origin is unknown. Possible explainations include: The archaic French catdoupe is a waterfall or cataract, lightning and thunder sounds like that of a cat/dog fight, cats had a big influence on the weather, and the sky dog Odin was attended to by wolves according to Norse Mythology.
Another theory is that in old England, they had hay roofs on their houses and the cats and dogs would sleep on the roof. When it rained, the roofs got slippery and the cats and dogs would slide off of the roofs. There for it was "Raining Cats and Dogs".
This from a website visitor:
"raining cats and dogs" came from the middle ages, when houses had thatched roofs. To keep warm lots of animals would hide in the roofs when it was raining and sometimes fell through the flimsy roofs on to the streets below.
This from another website visitor:
I do believe the idiom "Rain Cats and Dogs" stems from the Norse Mythology. Cats were believed to represent the wind and dogs represented rain. Different animals represented different weather and natural phenomenon
This from another website visitor:
For the Idiom "Rain Cats and Dogs" I have heard one other explanation. In old England when peoples cats and dogs died they would simply through them into the gutter or alley with the garbage. If a strong enough rain came through it would flood the gutters and alleys to the point where all the dead cats and dogs would begin to float down the streets. Therefore very harsh rains were associated with cats and dogs.
Redhanded
This term for guilt dates back to the 1400's when it meant having blood on one's hands.
Rule of thumb
A rule of thumb is a basic rule that is usually but not always correct. A thumb can be used as a rough measurement tool. Most old English measures of distance were based on the body measurements of the king -- the length of the foot, inch (thumb tip to first knuckle), cubit (elbow-to-fingertip), and yard (nose-to-fingertip). Another possibilty is a term dating back to medieval times when the diameter of your thumb was the largest diameter of stick that was allowable for disciplining one's wife i.e. - the rule of the thumb.
Shake a leg
To rouse yourself and get out of bed. Originally used in the navy. An alternative to 'show a leg'. This was the injunction given by naval officers to ratings who they were rousing from sleep. Showing a leg out of the sailor's hammock was required to prove they were awake.
Shot in the dark
A shot in the dark is a desperate attempt at doing something. For example, if you shoot at an enemy or attacker that you cannot see. or it can be an educated guess about a specific topic or conversation.
Skin of your teeth
This saying means to barely escape from a harrowing situation. It comes from Job 19:20, where God inflicts all sorts of terrible things on one of those who love him. Poor Job had all his animals stolen, his children die, his house collapse and his body covered with sores. Job has this to say; "My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth."
Spare The Rod, Spoil the Child
This was a common phrase in the previous century, and still exists today. It refers to the practice of spanking your children in discipline; the phrase "spare the rod, spoil the child" means that if you don't punish your children when they do wrong, you'll spoil them. This comes from a Biblical proverb (Prov 13:24): "He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently."
Spitting Image
The word spit may have come from the word 'spirit'. The word spit may have also come from spitting of the mouth, as in one person is so much like that person he may have been spit from the person's mouth.
There's more than one way to skin a cat
In other words, there is not only one way to achieve a goal. Skinning in this idiom may mean to beat and cats may have suffered.
Third times a charm
While your first two attempts may have not been a success, the thrid try is good luck. American origin. The similar phrase 'third time lucky' is used in the UK..
Three Sheets to the Wind
Refers to when someone has had too much to drink and is therefore unsteady. When I visited Nantucket Island - which has several windmills, that the operators would adjust the number of sails dependent upon how strong the winds were. One rule that they had to follow was to always keep an even number of sails (either 2 or 4), opposite each other so that the windmill remained balanced. If they ever had 3 sheets, the windmill became unbalanced and extremely wobbly and unsteady.
Three strikes and you are out
Originally a baseball term. This phrase was used by US President Clinton as a slogan for his policy of long term jail sentences for three-time offenders.
To Make A Long Story Short
"Usually the phrase repeated by a person telling a boring, long-winded story, but who has no real intention of actually shortening the story at all. When you hear this phrase, you know you're 'in for the long haul'." The origin of this phrase probably dates back to Old English times - long before tv, the internet, or computers came on the scene - w/ guys like Chaucer who used to travel around the countryside with nothing better to do than to tell boring, long-winded stories that no one wanted to hear.
Tongue In Cheek
To keep yourself from laughing at a bad time, you can thrust your tongue into your cheek. Back in the 1700's, this was used to signal contempt for another person. Over the years the meaning changed to be more humor related.
Under the Weather
This popular phrase for "ill" dates back to 1827. It is commonly believed that bad weather can make you sick.
Wet Behind The Ears
This phrase is used to state that someone is very young or, more often, inexperienced. When animals are born, they are wet from the amniotic fluid and the birthing blood. After giving birth, the mother animal licks her offspring clean with her tongue. This also stimulates them into taking their first breath. At that point, they begin to nurse and their fur dries. Due to the folds of skin, the last place to dry is often behind the ears, at the base. Thus, they are so newly born that they are still wet behind the ears.
Who Let The Cat Out Of The Bag
The origins of this phrase come from when farmers would sell chickens at market. Most of the time they would just throw the chickens in a bag and sell them as however many were supposidly in there. But cats were cheaper than chickens so many times farmers would put a cat into the bag with the chickens and if someone suspected something they would open the bag. At that point the cat would jump out of the bag, thus giving away the secret.
Windy City
Chicago is the Windy City because of the breezes from Lake Michigan.
You are what you eat
What you eat determines how healthy of a person you are. So to be fit you must eat healthy. It was first used in the 1960's (during the hippy era). It originally referred to eating wholefood.
Zigger Zigger
These are noisy rattles that were once used at sporting events in Europe.
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