In the English language, you often come across phrases or idioms that are not to be taken literally. For example, take ‘beating around the bush.’ This phrase is meant to indicate that someone is dragging the conversation without getting to the point. If you think of it in a literary manner, it won’t make a lot of sense.

And that’s just one example. This does raise the question of where these phrases come from–are they random sayings or is there more to it?

Well, if you are interested in learning about the historical backgrounds of common phrases, that’s exactly what we’re covering.

1. Painting the Town Red

You may have heard this phrase often in movies or in music. Does it really mean that you’re going to head out with a bucket of red paint and literally paint the town red? Well, not exactly. The meaning of the phrase is that you are in the mood for a fun night out. So, what is the historical background behind it?

In 18336, Marquis of Waterford and his friends were having a great night out on the streets of Melton Mowbray, an English town, and in the heat of the moment, Marquis decided to take his fun night to the next level by painting the entire town red. Hard to believe, isn’t it?

Tima/Pexels | Marquis did it literally but, it’s best if you don’t if you’d rather stay out of jail

2. Blockbuster

Nowadays, when you think of the word ‘blockbuster,’ you think about a super hit movie or production. The origins of the phrase, though, might not be so pleasing–the word originated from a World War II bomb used by RAF. These bombs were so destructive that the Germans began referring to them as a ‘block Buster’ because of their ability to demolish buildings in a matter of seconds.

Pixabay/Pexels | Isn’t that just mind-’blowing’! See what we did there?

3. Giving the Cold Shoulder

This is a pretty common phrase, often used to describe someone who is being rude or ignorant. But did you know that it originated in the 1800s? Believe it or not, people back then were just as straightforward as the people of today but they had different methods to express themselves. It is said that this phrase originated from the tradition of the host presenting their unwelcome guests with a cold-cut piece of meat from the shoulder area of an animal. To their favorite guests, however, these hosts would carve out the juiciest and fleshiest pieces of meat, signifying their importance.

Los Muertos Crew/Pexels | The shoulder cut is the toughest meat of the animal, hence signifying the dislike

Did you get to learn something new today? There’s a history lesson behind just about everything.