As humans, we toss around a lot of familiar phrases without ever pausing to wonder where they sprang from. In this roundup we’ll explore 10 intriguing origins behind the everyday sayings you use, revealing the colorful histories that gave rise to the idioms that pepper our conversations.

10 Intriguing Origins Unveiled

10 Turn a Blind Eye

To turn a blind eye means to deliberately ignore something you know is true. The story traces back to Admiral Horatio Nelson at the 1801 Battle of Copenhagen. While the British fleet was locked in combat, a signal was sent ordering a withdrawal. Legend has it that Nelson lifted his telescope to his blind eye, claiming he could not see the command, and pressed on with the attack.

By feigning inability to sight the order, Nelson defied his superiors and secured a decisive victory for Britain. This bold act of pretending not to see a directive birthed the idiom, now used for any situation where someone chooses to overlook or dismiss inconvenient facts.

Over the centuries the phrase has leapt beyond naval lore, becoming a staple in everyday English to describe anyone who consciously sidesteps wrongdoing, uncomfortable truths, or any situation that would require a difficult acknowledgment.

9 To Shed Crocodile Tears

The expression to shed crocodile tears describes an insincere display of sorrow. Its roots lie in ancient myth: observers once believed crocodiles wept while devouring prey, giving the illusion of remorse. The watery droplets that appear when a crocodile opens its jaws likely inspired this misconception.

By the 16th century, the notion of “crocodile tears” entered English literature, cementing the idea that such tears were not genuine but a deceptive façade. The phrase soon became shorthand for any feigned grief or hollow sympathy.

Today, the metaphor is widely employed to call out hollow emotions, whether in personal apologies, political rhetoric, or any scenario where someone’s sorrow seems more theatrical than heartfelt.

8 Feeling Under the Weather

When someone says they are feeling under the weather, they are indicating mild illness or low spirits. This idiom hails from maritime jargon of the 19th century, where sailors described a vessel as being “under the weather bow” when it was battered by rough seas and adverse conditions.

The phrase captured the sense of being battered by elemental forces, a feeling that resonated with those on deck who often suffered nausea, fatigue, and other ailments caused by stormy voyages. Over time, the nautical metaphor migrated onto land, becoming a gentle way to describe a temporary bout of sickness.

In contemporary usage, saying you’re “under the weather” offers a polite, concise way to convey that you’re not feeling your best, without delving into the specifics of coughs, fevers, or headaches.

7 Let the Cat Out of the Bag

The idiom let the cat out of the bag refers to the accidental revelation of a secret. One popular theory links it to the notorious “cat o’ nine tails,” a whip used by the Royal Navy for discipline, whose scratches resembled a cat’s claw marks.

A more plausible story points to a medieval market scam: merchants would place live piglets in bags for transport, but some unscrupulous sellers swapped the pig for a cat while the buyer’s attention wavered. The deception was only uncovered when the buyer opened the bag at home, literally letting the cat out.

Since then the phrase has stuck, vividly illustrating how once information is released it’s nearly impossible to contain, whether in playful banter or serious disclosures.

6 Like a Bull in a China Shop

Describing someone as like a bull in a China shop paints a picture of reckless, clumsy behavior in delicate surroundings. The expression originates from 17th‑century London markets, where cattle occasionally wandered into nearby china stores, wreaking havoc among fragile wares.

The first printed appearance emerged in the early 1800s, quickly gaining traction as a metaphor for anyone who barrels through a situation without finesse, risking damage to valuable or sensitive items.

Today the phrase serves as a colorful warning: exercise care and subtlety when navigating environments that demand a gentle touch, lest you become the proverbial bull smashing priceless porcelain.

5 Beat About the Bush

To beat about the bush means to avoid getting straight to the point. Its lineage reaches back to medieval hunting, when hunters would thump bushes with sticks to flush out hidden birds or game. Sometimes the prey proved elusive, prompting hunters to keep beating around the foliage instead of targeting it directly.

This indirect method was seen as inefficient, and the phrase gradually migrated from the hunt to conversation, symbolizing a roundabout approach that sidesteps the core issue.

In modern parlance, “beating around the bush” describes any evasive talk, whether in personal chats, business negotiations, or everyday discussions, highlighting a reluctance to address matters head‑on.

4 Straight From the Horse’s Mouth

The saying straight from the horse’s mouth signals that information comes directly from an authoritative source. Its origin lies in horse‑racing circles, where bettors prized intel from the horse’s owner, trainer, or stablehand—people who possessed the most reliable insight into a horse’s condition and prospects.

Because such insider knowledge proved more trustworthy than second‑hand rumors, the phrase entered broader usage to denote any firsthand, credible information.

Nowadays, invoking “the horse’s mouth” underscores the value of primary sources, whether in casual conversation, journalistic reporting, or professional research.

3 To Put Someone on the Spot

When you put someone on the spot, you force them into an uncomfortable position, demanding an immediate answer or decision. The phrase finds its roots in theater, where stage directions marked specific spots where actors were expected to appear and deliver lines.

If a performer was suddenly thrust onto a marked spot without preparation, the pressure was palpable, mirroring the modern experience of being unexpectedly asked a probing question.

Today the idiom captures any scenario where a person is singled out and pressured to respond swiftly, be it in social settings, workplaces, or public forums.

2 To Get Cold Feet

The expression to get cold feet describes a sudden loss of courage before a major undertaking. One theory links it to 16th‑17th‑century soldiers marching in harsh weather, whose inadequate footwear left their feet freezing, rendering them unable to fight.

Another account places the phrase in 19th‑century American slang, where gamblers or political hopefuls would feel a chilling sensation in their feet as nerves took hold, prompting them to back out of a bet or campaign at the last minute.

Literary evidence appears in Stephen Crane’s 1896 novel “Maggie: Girl on the Streets,” cementing the phrase in popular usage to denote a last‑minute retreat driven by fear or doubt.

1 Bury the Hatchet

The idiom bury the hatchet signifies making peace after a dispute. It stems from Native American customs, where tribes would literally inter the weapons of conflict—often a hatchet or tomahawk—into the earth during treaty ceremonies, symbolizing a commitment to reconciliation.

By embedding the weapon, the parties ensured it could not be readily retrieved for future hostilities, turning a tangible object into a powerful emblem of mutual goodwill.

Historical records show the practice as early as 1680 in Massachusetts, and it featured prominently in the 1795 Treaty of Hopewell, where leaders from the United States and various Native nations performed the ritual to seal their agreement.

Welcome to our deep‑dive into the top 17 sayings that have been shuffled around the world of quotations. You’ll find the real voices behind each line, so you can quote with confidence and impress anyone who loves a good proverb.

Top 17 Sayings Overview

1 W C Fields

“Anybody who hates children and dogs can’t be all bad.” This witty observation is often linked to the legendary comedian W. C. Fields, but the true source is Leo Rosten, who delivered it during a dinner while introducing Fields.

2 Horace Greeley

“Go west, young man!” is the rallying cry many attribute to newspaper magnate Horace Greeley. In reality, the phrase first appeared in an 1851 article by John Soule in the Terre Haute Express.

3 Mark Twain

“Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it!” is commonly credited to Mark Twain. The genuine author is Charles Dudley Warner, who penned the line in an August 24, 1897 editorial for the Hartford Courant.

4 Charles Darwin

The phrase “Survival of the fittest” is forever linked to Charles Darwin, yet it was actually coined by philosopher Herbert Spencer in his work *Principles of Biology* and earlier writings.

5 Thomas Jefferson

“That government is best which governs least.” While many point to Thomas Jefferson as the originator, the saying was first articulated by Henry David Thoreau, who quoted it in his essay *Civil Disobedience* and even framed it as a personal motto.

6 The Bible

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Though it sounds biblical, the line was first delivered by John Wesley in Sermon No. 93, titled “On Dress.”

7 Confucius

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” This timeless advice is widely ascribed to Confucius, but the true author is Lao‑Tzu, who wrote it in the *Tao Te Ching*.

8 The Bible

“God helps those who helps themselves.” Many believe this proverb comes from the Bible, yet it actually stems from Aesop’s fable, phrased as “The gods help them that help themselves.”

9 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

“God is in the details.” This elegant maxim is often linked to architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, but the original wording belongs to François Rabelais, who wrote “The good God is in the details.”

10 Harry S Truman

“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” While many think President Harry S. Truman coined it, the line was actually quoted by his friend Harry Vaughn, whom Truman was paraphrasing.

11 V I Lenin

“Promises are like pie crust, made to be broken.” This witty observation is frequently attributed to V. I. Lenin, yet it originates from Jonathan Swift, who wrote a similar line about promises being “like pie‑crust, leaven to be broken.”

12 Mark Twain

“Wagner’s music is better than it sounds.” Though many put this quip on Mark Twain’s résumé, the actual author is Edgar Wilson Nye.

13 Hermann Goring

“When I hear the word ‘culture’, I reach for my gun.” This chilling remark is often linked to Hermann Göring, but it was first spoken by Hanns Johst in his 1933 play *Schlageter*: “Whenever I hear the word ‘culture’, I reach for my Browning.”

14 Vince Lombardi

“Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” While this mantra is inseparably tied to Vince Lombardi, the original phrasing was delivered by UCLA football coach Red Sanders and later quoted in a 1955 *Sports Illustrated* article.

15 The Bible

“Spare the rod and spoil the child.” Though many assume this is a biblical injunction, it actually appears in Samuel Butler’s satirical poem *Hudibras* (1664).

16 Muhammad Ali

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, your hands can’t hit what your eyes can’t see.” While the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali popularized the first part, the full version was crafted by his close friend and trainer Drew “Bundini” Brown.

17 Queen Marie Antoinette

“Let them eat cake!” This infamous line is forever linked to Queen Marie Antoinette, yet the actual source is Jean‑Jacques Rousseau, who recorded the sentiment in his 1767 *Confessions*.

Source: The Book of Lists

The world of everyday language is littered with catchy expressions, but many of the top 10 sayings we toss around have backstories that are stranger than fiction. Below we break down each phrase, separating the tall tales from the documented facts, so you can impress friends with the real scoop.

10 Upper Crust

Meaning: Refers to people who sit at the very top of the social ladder—think aristocrats, high‑society types, and anyone who enjoys the finer things.

Myth: Legend has it that medieval bakers reserved the very top slice of a loaf for nobles, dubbing it the “upper crust” because only the elite could afford such a luxury. Some even point to a 15th‑century injunction that supposedly advised cutting the upper crust for one’s sovereign. Yet the story never actually says that only the rich could eat it.

Reality: The phrase didn’t acquire its snobbish meaning until the early 19th century. The first recorded use as a synonym for the upper class appears in 1823, where it described a person’s head or hat—or even the earth’s surface—rather than a piece of bread. In short, “upper crust” simply came to label those perched at society’s pinnacle.

9 Toe the Line

Meaning: To act in strict accordance with established rules or expectations.

Myth: Some claim the phrase stems from a misspelling—”tow the line”—and imagine a nautical scene where a ship is being towed, or even a parliamentary practice designed to keep MPs from killing each other. These colorful explanations, however, have no documentary support.

Reality: The correct spelling is indeed “toe the line,” first documented in 1813. Historically, it referred to athletes placing their feet on a marked line before a race or competition. Over time the expression broadened to any situation where someone conforms to a prescribed standard, and it’s especially common in political discourse about “toe‑the‑party line” behavior.

8 Brand Spanking New

Meaning: Something that is completely fresh, never before seen.

Myth: A popular tale suggests the phrase evokes an infant being spanked to make it cry, implying a literal spanking. In reality, the word “spanking” here merely intensifies the idea of “brand new,” adding emphasis rather than referencing any physical discipline.

Reality: The expression first shows up in print in 1860, likely evolving from an older phrase “brand span new.” The word “span” may have morphed into “spanking” for added punch. The “brand” element harks back to the hot iron marks used by ranchers to brand cattle—a practice dating to the 16th century.

7 Bated Breath

Meaning: Holding one’s breath in anticipation or anxiety.

Myth: Many mistakenly write “baited breath,” assuming it relates to laying a trap. The notion of “baiting” a breath is nonsensical, and the misspelling has become so common that it often eclipses the original.

Reality: The phrase dates back to Shakespeare’s 1598 play *The Merchant of Venice*, where “bated” is a shortened form of “abated,” meaning reduced or restrained. Over the centuries the verb “to bate” fell out of everyday use, leaving the phrase as a fixed idiom.

6 As the Crow Flies

Meaning: The most direct, straight‑line distance between two points, ignoring obstacles.

Myth: A fanciful story claims medieval sailors kept crows in a cage to guide them to land, arguing that crows despise water and would fly straight to shore, thereby giving the crew a clear line of sight. This tale also tries to link the phrase to the ship’s “crow’s nest” lookout.

Reality: The earliest printed uses appear in the 18th century, primarily describing land distances. Observers on the ground noted that crows, when they fly, tend to take the most direct route, soaring over terrain without the need to navigate around trees, rivers, or buildings—hence the metaphor.

5 A Kangaroo Court

Meaning: An unofficial, biased tribunal that delivers a predetermined verdict.

Myth: Because kangaroos are iconic Australian animals, many assume the term originated Down Under and reflects the creatures’ unpredictable hopping. Some even imagine a courtroom where judges literally hop over evidence.

Reality: The phrase first surfaced in the United States in 1849, describing sham trials that lacked genuine legal authority. Occasionally it was also called a “mustang court.” The kangaroo metaphor was likely chosen for its whimsical, chaotic connotation rather than any direct Australian link.

4 Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater

Meaning: Don’t discard something valuable while getting rid of the unwanted.

Myth: A medieval anecdote claims families washed the baby last, so the filthy bathwater obscured the infant, leading mothers to accidentally discard the child with the used water. Comedian Karl Pilkington even joked that the baby might have washed itself.

Reality: The saying actually stems from a 1512 German proverb recorded by satirist Thomas Murner in his work *An Appeal to Fools*. It was never about literal bathwater; rather, it warned against careless elimination of precious items while discarding the unwanted.

3 It’s All Greek to Me

Meaning: Something that is incomprehensible or unintelligible.

Myth: Many attribute the phrase to Shakespeare’s *Julius Caesar* (1601), believing he coined it to describe a character’s confusion.

Reality: The expression predates Shakespeare, appearing in a Medieval Latin proverb “Graecum est; non legitur” (“It is Greek; it cannot be read”). Thomas Dekker used it before Shakespeare, and the phrase has retained its original meaning ever since.

2 It Ain’t Over ‘til the Fat Lady Sings

Meaning: A situation isn’t finished until the very end, no matter how close it seems.

Myth: Some claim the saying originates from Kate Smith, whose powerful renditions of “God Bless America” allegedly turned the Philadelphia Flyers into an unstoppable force, making the phrase synonymous with sports luck.

Reality: The earliest printed appearance is a 1976 pamphlet titled *Southern Words and Sayings* that notes, “Church ain’t out ‘till the fat lady sings.” The phrase entered popular culture when NBA coach Dick Motta used it to describe a tight basketball game, linking it to the operatic tradition of the concluding soprano in Wagner’s *Götterdämmerung*.

1 Kick the Bucket

Meaning: To die.

Myth: A grim legend says a person ready to hang themselves would stand on a bucket, tie a noose, then kick the bucket away, causing the death.

Reality: The “bucket” element traces back to the French word *buque*, meaning a yoke or wooden beam. In 16th‑century England, a pig slaughtered on a beam would thrash and eventually kick the beam—referred to as the “buque.” Shakespeare even alludes to this in *Henry IV*, using the term in a death‑related context.

Understanding the Top 10 Sayings

Now that you’ve seen the real origins behind each phrase, you can appreciate how language evolves, shedding myths for documented history. The next time you drop one of these expressions into conversation, you’ll know exactly what (and what not) to tell your audience.

In the past, we have taken a look at some common sayings that most of us use in day-to-day speech, but many of us use them incorrectly. This can be because we have misheard them, or maybe because they contain a word we have never heard of, or maybe they simply make more sense to us that way. Regardless of the reason (or, dare we say, irregardless), these erroneous expressions have made their way into the common lexicon and, in some cases, have become even more popular than the original, correct sayings. 

And guess what? There are plenty more where those came from, so today we are taking a look at 10 more of them.  

10. Mute Point

During an argument or debate, if someone makes a statement that is irrelevant to the subject at hand, it might get dismissed as a mute point. Or, if you want to be correct, you would dismiss it as a moot point because that is the right expression.

The term mute point is an eggcorn, which is a misheard word or phrase that sounds similar to the words it replaces and even retains its original meaning. The most popular eggcorns can sometimes become more common than their correct counterparts, and this is mainly due to two reasons. One – the eggcorn still makes some sense. And two – the original phrase contains an antiquated word that most people would be unfamiliar with.

Both reasons apply in this case. You can see why someone would think that an irrelevant point would be “muted,” or silenced. At the same time, the right word “moot” has been around for a thousand years, since the times of the Anglo-Saxons, but nowadays it is mainly used in law, so your average person will not encounter it too many times in their everyday lives.

9. Beckon Call

If you make yourself available to serve someone at a moment’s notice, day or night, you might say that you are at their beck and call. However, some people might be under the misapprehension that you are, in fact, at their beckon call.

The latter is another example of an eggcorn. In this context, the word “beckon” does make some sense, since it means to attract someone’s attention with a gesture. However, the idiom’s biggest problem is that the real-world “beck” has become obsolete. It is a “fossil word,” meaning that it has fallen completely out of use in modern English, but still appears in phrases and idioms. 

In other words, you are highly unlikely to ever use the word “beck” outside of the phrase beck and call, unless you are debating whether Odelay or Mellow Gold was the better album.

8. Escape Goat

Someone who takes the blame for something that wasn’t really their fault is often described as a scapegoat. The term comes from the English translation of the Old Testament. In the Book of Leviticus 16:8, Aaron takes two goats. While the first is sacrificed outright, the other one, which is the scapegoat, is sent into the wilderness carrying the sins of the Israelites so that it may be punished instead of them. 

Meanwhile, escape goat is yet another eggcorn, even though, in this particular case, the correct and incorrect phrases mean the exact same thing. “Scape” is just an old-fashioned way of saying “escape,” and if we want to be extra pedantic, we can point out that scapegoat itself was an English mistranslation from Hebrew. Originally, it said “Azazel,” the name of a demon which was wrongly translated as “ez ozel,” meaning “goat that departs.” This mistranslation remained in use for centuries. Nowadays both the Contemporary English and the American Standard versions of the Bible have changed it back to “Azazel,” but the scapegoat isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

7. Scotch-Free

If you managed to escape a situation without any repercussions, you might say that you got off scot-free, although many use the erroneous alternative scotch-free. Some use the second version because they might have heard it incorrectly, while others purposely avoid the expression scot-free because they fear it might be derogatory towards Scottish people.

If you are among them, you may rest easy. The saying has nothing to do with Scots or with scotch. In medieval England, “scot” was the name for a tax, defined in the Middle English Compendium as “payment for food or drink at a social gathering.” It was derived from the even older Norse word “skot,” and someone who managed to wriggle his way out of paying the tax was described as being scot-free.

6. Chomping at the Bit    

Someone who is restless or shows a lack of restraint can be described as “chomping at the bit,” or as the original saying went, “champing at the bit.” This is a situation where the incorrect idiom has become so widely used that even some dictionaries have started recognizing it as an acceptable variation of the original.

The problem is that the verb “champ” is a fossil word, meaning that it has become mostly obsolete outside of it being used in idioms and phrases. In this particular case, the saying “champing at the bit” is the only place where you are likely to hear this archaic word which was used to refer to the grinding of a horse’s teeth. The expression itself dates to the early 19th century and comes from horseracing, where the bit was a piece of iron that was part of the bridle and inserted into the horse’s mouth to help control him. 

Restless horses often chewed on their bits, hence the expression, but it seems that even the experts are ready to embrace the modern version which uses the verb “chomp.”

5. Say Your Peace

Let’s say you’ve just had an argument with someone and you’ve spoken about everything that was on your mind. Did you just say your piece or did you say your peace?

It’s the first one – say your piece, not say your peace. A little confusing, we know. You can probably see how the mix-up happened since the two words are homophones- they are pronounced the same, but have different meanings. Then there is also the similar, but unrelated idiom hold your peace, which means to stay quiet and keep your objections to yourself. That’s the expression we hear in every wedding scene on television, and that one does use the word “peace” instead of “piece,” which further confounds the matter.  

So if you want to speak up, then it is “piece,” but if you intend to stay quiet, then the correct word is “peace.” And we hope that clears everything up.

4. Shoe-In

Here is one example that is a bit more straightforward, even though we are dealing with two homophones again: shoe, as in the footwear, and shoo, as in the verb meaning to scare something away by shouting and waving your arms about. If we want to refer to someone or something as a guaranteed winner, we might call them a shoo-in, or maybe a shoe-in.

In this particular case, the second spelling is simply incorrect. Some people might reason that it refers to something fitting as well as a foot in a shoe, which makes it a pretty good eggcorn because not only does it sound like the original saying, but it also retains some of the meaning. 

The correct version, however, is shoo-in, using the verb “shoo.” The idiom dates back to the 1930s and comes from horse racing again. Back then, whenever jockeys fixed a race, they would hold back their own horses and “shoo” along the winner in the final stretch. Therefore, a shoo-in referred to someone guaranteed to come out on top, although it also had an implication of cheating or dishonesty that no longer exists today.

3. Blow a Casket

Just to be clear, if you have a leaf blower, a coffin, and some free time on your hands, you could literally blow a casket. However, you cannot metaphorically blow a casket, meaning to lose your temper and react furiously because the correct expression is to blow a gasket. 

In this case, it is a little strange that the incorrect saying is so pervasive since the wrong expressions with true staying power are the ones that either retain the original meaning or make sense on their own. In this case, blowing a casket is pretty nonsensical, while blowing a gasket is a relatively common engine problem. 

The confusion probably stems from the fact that many people who are not mechanically inclined do not know the word “gasket,” meaning a piece of rubber or other soft material fitted in a joint to prevent fluids from escaping. When a gasket fails, the effect is usually immediate and energetic, so the saying makes perfect sense, but those who are unfamiliar with it simply replaced the word with a similar one they have heard of, and that’s how they ended up blowing a casket.

2. Tongue and Cheek

If you say something humorous or sarcastic, but deliver it in a serious manner, you could say that you delivered the line tongue in cheek. But make sure that if you do use the expression, you place that tongue firmly in the cheek, because if you say tongue and cheek, as many people do, then you are just listing off body parts.

Switching “in” to “and” seems like a pretty easy and minor mistake to make, but the expression only makes sense if the tongue is in the cheek since that is what people physically did to show the sarcasm or humor in their statement. In fact, originally it was meant to show contempt for the other person. The practice makes an appearance in Tobias Smollett’s 1748 novel The Adventures of Roderick Random, where the main character signifies his disdain for a cowardly passenger by “thrusting [his] tongue in [his] cheek, which humbled him so much, that he scarce swore another oath aloud during the whole journey.”

Over the decades, the meaning of the physical act changed, and by the mid-19th century, the phrase had made its way into various poems and novels with its modern connotation. 

1. For All Intensive Purposes

We finish up today’s list with a look at the expression for all intents and purposes, meaning “for all practical purposes,” which is way too often misused as for all intensive purposes. 

The correct expression is almost 500 years old, dating back to an Act of Parliament in Britain which gave King Henry VIII the power to interpret laws “to all intents, constructions, and purposes.” It seemed like the British people liked the saying so they continued using it, mainly in legal documents, although they dropped the “constructions” part for whatever reason. Then, when the expression made its way to America, it was changed one more time to “for all intents” instead of “to all intents.” 

The eggcorn variation “for all intensive purposes” is much younger than that, although the earliest recorded examples still date to the 1870s, so this is one error that has been around for a while and probably will not go away anytime soon.