Common sayings and where they come from
1. "Bite the bullet" - This saying originated from the practice of having soldiers bite on a bullet during surgery to help them endure the pain before anesthesia was widely used.
2. "Break the ice" - This saying comes from the practice of breaking ice to allow ships to pass through frozen waters. It is now used to describe the act of initiating a conversation or breaking the tension in a social situation.
3. "Burning the midnight oil" - This saying refers to working late into the night, often by the light of an oil lamp. It originated from the literal act of burning oil to continue working after dark.
4. "Caught between a rock and a hard place" - This saying originated from the Greek myth of Odysseus, who had to navigate between Scylla, a rock monster, and Charybdis, a whirlpool. It is now used to describe being in a difficult situation with no good options.
5. "Don't cry over spilled milk" - This saying advises against worrying about things that have already happened and cannot be changed. It likely originated from the idea that crying over spilled milk is a waste of time and energy.
6. "The early bird catches the worm" - This saying encourages being proactive and starting tasks early to achieve success. It comes from the idea that birds that wake up early are more likely to find worms to eat.
7. "Hit the nail on the head" - This saying means to accurately identify or address a problem or issue. It likely originated from the act of hitting a nail directly on its head to secure it in place.
8. "Kill two birds with one stone" - This saying means to accomplish two tasks with a single action. It likely originated from the practice of hunting, where a skilled throw could kill multiple birds with one stone.
9. "Let the cat out of the bag" - This saying means to reveal a secret or disclose information that was meant to be kept confidential. It likely originated from the practice of dishonest merchants who would sell a cat in a bag instead of a pig, only to have the cat escape and reveal the deception.
10. "Piece of cake" - This saying means something is very easy to do. It likely originated from the idea that eating a piece of cake is a simple and enjoyable task.
Above is Common sayings and where they come from.