Raining cats and dogs
This describes a heavy cloudburst and there are different theories as to how the expression came to be, the first of which is from Norse mythology.
The cat was supposed to have great influence on the weather and witches that rode on storms were said to assume the form of cats. The dog and wolf, [more…]
The Real McCoy
Is it the Real McCoy? – Is it the genuine article?
This phrase stems from a story about the world class welterweight boxing champion Charles ‘Kid’ McCoy. Supposedly he was at some time challenged to prove that he was who he said he was and so he knocked out the inquirer! When the man came [more…]
Back to square one
This phrase sounds like it has its origins in crosswords but it originated from the early days of radio broadcasting of football matches.
So that listeners could follow the match more easily, a diagram of the pitch was published in the radio programme.
The diagram was divided into numbered squares and of course, the numbers started [more…]
Codswallop
Codswallop!
If something is a load of old codswallop it is nonsense or of no value. Where does this odd word come from?
One theory speaks of Hiram C Codd, who in the 1870s, went into business selling lemonade in green glass bottles with marble stoppers.
‘Wallop’ was a nineteenth century slang term for beer and [more…]
Alphabet
The word ALPHABET is derived from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, ALPHA and BETA.
When it was first introduced into English, some purists, or nit-pickers, thought that the word should be used purely to describe the Greek version. The English version should be referred to as the ABC, or the abece. An [more…]
Cravat
A cravat is a wide neckband and was the forerunner to the modern tie. It is still occasionally worn but where did it come from?
Many people associate the word cravat with France but in fact it originates in Croatia.
Croatian mercenaries in the French army in the 17th century wore linen neckcloths.
The word cravat comes from [more…]
Fiasco
Fiasco in Italian literally means bottle.
It is from fiasco that the English words flask and flagon are derived.
However, a fiasco meaning a ludicrous failure or debacle, is thought to come from an Italian theatre saying, far fiasco or ‘make a bottle’, which was slang for a complete breakdown in performance. Make a bottle sounds [more…]
OK – Okay
OK or okay is perhaps one of the most used words in the world.
Its origins are thought to be held in a president’s nickname and a Scottish expression.
In 1840 Martin Van Buren ran as the Democratic candidate for US President. His nickname was Old Kinderhook, after the town where he was born. OK gained [more…]
Orient
East is East and West is West but the Orient sounds so much more exotic!
The word Orient came into English many centuries ago from the Latin for ‘to rise’. It was used to indicate the direction from which the sun rose and came to mean the places located in that direction.
The meaning narrowed and [more…]