By Paula Mitchell
The source of idiomatic expressions was brought to mind by a friend who passed on the following expressions, which the reader may find quite interesting.
•In George Washington’s days there were no cameras. The image was either painted or sculpted. Some paintings of George Washington show him with both legs and both arms, while others show him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back. Prices charged by the painter were based on how many limbs were to be painted. Hence the expression, “Okay, but it’ll cost you an arm and a leg.” (Hands and limbs were more difficult to paint.)
•In the good old days, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October). Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Woolen wigs were afforded by wealthy men. They couldn’t wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell and bake it for 30 minutes. The wig would take on the appearance of being big and fluffy, hence the term “Big Wig.” Today, the term “here comes the Big Wig” is used when someone appears to be powerful or wealthy.
•Early aircraft throttles had a ball on the end of it. In order to go full throttle, the pilot had to push the throttle all the way forward into the wall of the instrument panel. Hence “balls to the wall” for going very fast was introduced.
•Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people deemed important. Since there was no social media, the politicians sent their assistants to local bars, pubs, and taverns. They were told to “go sip” some Ale and listen to people’s conversations and political concerns. “You go sip here” and “You go sip there.” The two words “go sip” were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and thus there is the term “gossip.”
•In the heyday of sailing ship, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, there was a need to keep the cannon balls from rolling around on the deck. The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on 16. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem… how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a “Monkey” with 16 round indentations. However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make “Brass Monkeys.” Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, “Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.”
Now the reader has been enlightened with the historic origin of these idiomatic expressions.
Life’s little instructions include the following:
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Reach for an item on a high shelf for someone.
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Let someone go in front of a person in line.
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Smile at people one passes.
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Leave a positive note in a library book.
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Offer to help someone with heavy bags.
The last few days of this past week were so welcome. The sun kissed cheeks, and the breezes ruffled the hair. Folks have been eager for a dapple of sunlight, and warmer weather. It has medicated the bones and revived the spirit. Mornings have been drenched with birdsong, mostly starlings. Certainly, spring is on the way!
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“Who cannot sail a ship when the sea is calm?” — Traditional Chinese Proverb
“It was not the apple on the tree but the pair on the ground that caused the trouble in the Garden of Eden.” — Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
“I’m not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did.” — Yogi Berra
“There are two ways of exerting one’s strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.” — Booker T. Washington
“I attribute my success to this…I never gave or took any excuse.” — Florence Nightengale.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
•The world’s largest cattle station found in Australia is almost the same size as Belgium.
•Greyhounds are the world’s fastest dogs with the ability to reach up to 45 mph.
•Cats spend approximately 30 percent of their waking hours grooming themselves.
•In Belize, students are required to wear uniforms, and are expected to have a junior college education.
•Papua, New Guinea, is part of the Coral Triangle, which contains the highest marine biodiversity in the world.
Sitting outside to hear the songs of creation is the best place to hear the “Talk of The Grove.”
Sunday, Christine and Ronnie Bowers had fun time with their great granddaughter and great-grandson, Laura Jean and Varley.
“Pidge” Anderson is busy with the greenhouse. It won’t be long before it will be open for business.
Signs of spring are in the air. Phil Downs saw his first robins in the yard last week. Others have joined in the “robin watching.” Crocuses and snow drops have made their appearance. They have made a welcome sight. To join in the jubilation are the frogs that have been croaking their choruses. The late Gordon Todd always said that he was homesick whenever he heard the spring frogs.
