I find myself using old expressions sometimes but having no clue where they came from.
Here are two to share today!
THE DEVIL TO PAY
Originally this saying was devil to pay and no hot pitch. In a sailing ship a devil was the seam between planks. This had to be made waterproof. Fibres from old ropes were first hammered into the seam and then pitch (a tar-like substance) was poured (or paid) onto it. If you had the devil to pay and no hot pitch you were in trouble.
Originally this saying was devil to pay and no hot pitch. In a sailing ship a devil was the seam between planks. This had to be made waterproof. Fibres from old ropes were first hammered into the seam and then pitch (a tar-like substance) was poured (or paid) onto it. If you had the devil to pay and no hot pitch you were in trouble.
START FROM SCRATCH
This phrase comes from the days when a line was scratched in the ground for a race. The racers would start from the scratch.
This phrase comes from the days when a line was scratched in the ground for a race. The racers would start from the scratch.
Do you know any?
2 comments:
Thanks for sharing. I love finding out where sayings come from. I just love history.
Fit to be tied! I think it has something to do with finding the right sized bag to fit a heist in. if your sack is too small you cannot tie it closed and thus have a greater chance of someone seeing what is in your sack. Actually, I just wanted to post the word sack and now I did. . .3 times!
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