The Strange Origins Behind Idioms We Say All The Time
Alright — it's time to "spill the beans." Most of us use idioms like this in our everyday lives, but when it comes to explaining the actual origins of these phrases, we might have to ask, "Cat got your tongue?" Look, we won't "beat around the bush," because we definitely don't want you to go "barking up the wrong tree." these 30 common English idioms have some of the most bizarre and unexpected origins out there. And no — we're not "pulling your leg" in the slightest.
1. Cat got your tongue?
There are two supposed explanations behind this idiom. The first comes from the "Cat-o'-nine-tails," which was a whip members of the English Navy would use for floggings that often left victims speechless. Alternatively, some trace the expression back to ancient Egypt, where liars' tongues were cut out and fed to cats as punishment.
2. Cold feet
The first instance of someone getting "cold feet" was in author Stephen Crane's novella Maggie: A Girls of the Streets, in which he wrote, "I knew this was the way it would be. They got cold feet." During World War II, this expression became commonly associated with soldiers whose frost-bitten toes prevented them from fighting.
3. Big wig
During the 18th century, high-ranking members of society wore wigs to denote their power and influence — the bigger the headpiece, the bigger a deal you were. What most of these elites didn't discuss, however, was that the vast majority of them were just using their wigs to hide bald spots caused by syphilis infections that were rampant during this era.
4. White elephant
A gift that's more trouble than it's worth is called a "white elephant" thanks to a traditional Thai custom. Despite being considered sacred, white elephants were incredibly difficult to care for and were thus gifted in an almost backhanded sense: while owning one was a great honor, it would almost always drive the recipient into financial ruin.
