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Now Sayings get passed on through time,
And wives tales can seem quite sublime;
From whence did they come?
those sayings that Mum
did clearly know all in her prime
And wives tales can seem quite sublime;
From whence did they come?
those sayings that Mum
did clearly know all in her prime
D
Dark Horse- Is someone who you thought would not be able to succeed at something, or have previous knowledge of that subject and suddenly they display their experience or aptitude. Eg. When trying to diagnose a problem with your car, the person says- "Let me have a look, I'm a qualified mechanic". Then you'd might reply with- "You're a bit of a dark horse?, I didn't know that about you?" The term began as horse racing parlance for a race horse that is not known to gamblers and thus is difficult to place betting odds on. The earliest-known mention of the concept is in Benjamin Disraeli's novel The Young Duke (1831) Dead as a Dodo- What ever it is- a battery, a computer etc., if it's not working, you may say "It's as dead as a Dodo" Dodos were caught and eaten into extinction during the 17th Century. Because they couldn't fly they were easy to shoot & kill for food.The Portuguese gave the birds the name of doudo, which means stupid. Dead as a Doornail- Same meaning as- Dead as a Dodo. This is mentioned in Charles Dickens'- 'A Christmas Carol'. But why is a doornail referred to as dead? In carpentry, a nail is "deadened" by hooking the end over, making it immovable or fixed, 'dead'. Back in Dickens' time and even further back, carpenters would use this form of nailing around the stud area of very large doors, to strengthen them. Dead as a Herring- Same meaning as Dead as a Dodo The Herring is a delicate fish and immediately as it is taken out of the water, it gives a small squeak then dies. Even if it is thrown back into the water, it never recovers. Mackerels (as in Dead as a mackerel) if they bite the line, they bite rapidly. They bite so ravenously, that they're not letting go, so are destined to die. Early 1800's gives reference to a saying 'As mute as a Mackerel' and from the 16th century it was, Mute as a fish. Dead Spit- To look very much like someone in appearance. Eg. "John is the dead spit of his father" Also 'Spitting image' which was originally 'Spit and Image', means the same thing, but this variation came later. Some say that this stems from, Dead Spirit, which has been shortened over the years, Deil was short for devil so, this may be the case, but there is no evidence to support that theory at the present. Dear Old Blighty- "Blighty" is a British English slang term for Britain or often specifically England. The term is commonly used as a term of endearment by the expatriate British community or those on holiday to refer to home. During World War I, "Dear Old Blighty" was a common sentimental reference, suggesting a longing for home by soldiers in the trenches. The Music Hall artiste Vesta Tilley had a hit in 1916 with the song "I'm Glad I've Got a Bit of a Blighty One" (wiki) Devil May Care- Having the attitude of being light hearted and cheerful, also reckless and not worrying about things that you should be worrying about, an 'I don't care' attitude. 'The devil may care; I don't care'. From- Tales of My Landlord: 3rd series By Sir Walter Scott Dire Straits- In a bad way or situation. Needing lots of help. Can be used in reference to lack of money. 'Dire' meaning extreme and 'Stait', from the 16th century, meant, a situation of perplexity or distress. Apparently, the first person to put the two words together, was President Roosevelt in 1933 and the saying took off. Read an expert's research on the origin- https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat Dog Day Afternoon- A Hot tiring afternoon, Things aren't going well, you just want it to be over. Sirius is known as the 'Dog star' and is the brightest star in the night sky. The name "Sirius" is derived from the Ancient Greek Seirios, meaning "glowing" or "scorcher". So, any day that is hot and tiring, is considered a 'Dog day' Don't Burn Your Bridges Behind You- You can never go back the same way, if you've burnt the bridge that you've just crossed over. It is usually referring to someone who is very foolish & have made it hard to go back to a situation or friend etc., because of some negative occurrence in their life, that they've dealt with very badly, making it hard for them to face again. From a Military origin, based on the burning of bridges that had just been crossed, to prevent the enemy from crossing it in pursuit, but you may just want to retreat back that way again. Dragging Your Feet- A slow poke, or someone who is not keeping up with the correct pace or not doing something fast enough in the allocated time to accomplish something. It can also mean that you're tired and that you're having a hard time getting moving- "I'm dragging my feet today" The word drag even back as far as 1803, in 'A critical pronouncing dictionary, and expositor of the English language ...By John Walker', the word 'Drag' is defined as- To pull along the ground by main force, to draw anything burdensome; to draw contemptuously along. It's only natural, that if you feet are tired, you would feel as if you were dragging them and not keeping the pace. Draw a Blank- Being unable to remember something, or think of the correct answers. Apparently, In 'The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland By Sir George Kettilby Rickards', dated 1807, it explains the terms of Lotteries. Two boxes, one having numbered tickets (obviously representing the person's number), the other box had either fortunate or blank tickets in it. A ticket would be drawn out from each box and read aloud, so if you missed out on a 'fortunate ticket', then a blank would have been drawn. Draw the Line- To say 'This is where I draw the line', or 'I draw the line at this', means that this is as far as you are prepared to go. Eg. "I travel with you as far as the next station, but I draw the line at that" (that's as far as I'm going) Some say that the origin of this, stems back to Biblical connections in (New Testament) John Chapter 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. But we really don't know what Jesus wrote in the sand, it does not mention a line. There are many references to 'Draw the Line', in very old Carpentry & Architectural books, as in 'The Builder's Golden Rule, Or, The Youth's Sure Guide: By William Pain, 1781', it's possible that with measurements, when the line was drawn, that's as far as you go? Drop a Bombshell- To make an unexpected or shattering announcement. For example, Bill dropped a bombshell when he said he was quitting. This expression, which alludes to the destruction caused by a falling bomb, dates from World War I. (wiki) Drop a Line- To write a short letter or note. For example, I hope you'll drop me a line soon. This idiom uses line in the sense of “a few words in writing,” a usage first recorded in 1647. (wiki) Drop it like a Hot Potato- To disassociate yourself with something or someone that might be undesirable. Eg. "I've heard that Jason cheats on his girlfriends, so you should drop him like a hot potato" The Portfolio, Volume 5, 1828- When any mortal presumes to make an attempt at unauthorized appropriation, he is desired by the owner to drop the article ' as he would a hot potato. It goes on to say that 'The mouth has long been considered to be the Potato-Trap', so I'm sure that if you put a hot potato in your mouth, you would drop it out very quickly. Drop of a Hat- You can leave or do something without notice, you're ready to go. "Call me at the drop of a hat and I'll come" The placing of a hat, nay have been a signal to start fighting? These references are from 1839, on the life of Thomas Reynolds- Forty paces were measured, and in the centre of this distance, an inner space of ten paces was measured, at each end of which a hat was placed. The parties were to be placed at the two extremities of the greater distance, and on the word 'advance' being given, they are at liberty to advance as they pleased.... but the combatants could never approach each other nearer than ten paces. Donkey's Years- A very long time. "I haven't seen him for donkeys' years" The earliest reference seems to be from 1909, in- Report and Transactions of the "Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art". Yes, I says, for years and donkey ears.' ' Why donkey ears? ' I questioned. 'Because they'm long.' C. E. L.” Ingenious, but hardly correct. It is no doubt “donkey years,” not “ donkey ears,” and alludes to the donkey's proverbial long life. Previous to this in the document, words of correctness are being discussed. Double Dutch- Not a real language, but said in reference to a language that is hard to understand- "He's speaking Double Dutch to me, when he talks about computer programming", the same as "It's all Greek to me". In other words, I can't understand what you're saying. There were once, three forms of German: Low German, spoken in the flat lowlands, Central German and High German spoken in the mountainous areas. Old Dutch was spoken in parts of the Lower Rhine and Westphalia regions of Germany. The British apparently in the 1800's, referred to this mix up of languages, as Double Dutch, as they found it extremely hard to understand. Earlier in the 1700's, it was known as High Dutch and still incomprehensible. Down in the Dumps- Low spirited, Melancholy, feeling depressed. This saying is said to have derived from 'Dumpos', a king of Egypt, who died of melancholia. Dutch Comfort- Thank Goodness it's no worse. During the 17th Century, there was great rivalry between the British and the Dutch, so anything called 'Dutch' was meant as an insult. Dutch Concert- Everyone in the orchestra plays a different tune, (musically bad) During the 17th Century, there was great rivalry between the British and the Dutch, so anything called 'Dutch' was meant as an insult. Dutch Courage- Having false courage, due to being intoxicated by liquor. During the 17th Century, there was great rivalry between the British and the Dutch, so anything called 'Dutch' was meant as an insult. Dutch Treat- No treat at all, you have to pay for yourself. During the 17th Century, there was great rivalry between the British and the Dutch, so anything called 'Dutch' was meant as an insult. Dyed in the Wool- Having strong beliefs or opinions, which are immovable, not changing, dedicated to the cause or belief. Religious, Political, Moral values etc. Vegetable dye was used in Medieval times, to dye raw wool, so that the colour in the finished product would be more even and lasting. |