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A few things you may not have known: [View all] CaliforniaPeggy Nov 2021 OP
I know for sure that at least some of these are not accurate. tblue37 Nov 2021 #1
Yea TimeToGo Nov 2021 #4
How about telling us which ones those are? ShazzieB Nov 2021 #13
Well, for instance, a shot of whiskey ... Jim__ Nov 2021 #16
I agree that "shot of whiskey" etymology sounds mighty dubious. But... Bucky Nov 2021 #32
State rooms. A shot of whiskey. Over a barrel. tblue37 Nov 2021 #19
Interesting.. whathehell Nov 2021 #2
👍 Joinfortmill Nov 2021 #3
That's a compilation of folk etymology DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #5
Please tell us how you know. ShazzieB Nov 2021 #15
Google a few of them DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #20
How would you know if some French person is saying "rif et raf"? Bucky Nov 2021 #34
No--French pronounce Fs at the end of words. spooky3 Nov 2021 #36
It would, indeed DFW Nov 2021 #66
Thanks, DFW. spooky3 Nov 2021 #68
The French have a great expression: DFW Nov 2021 #69
I hope they didn't say that about the VP. :-) nt spooky3 Nov 2021 #70
Not yet, anyway DFW Nov 2021 #72
LOL! Nt spooky3 Nov 2021 #73
You Google it.. whathehell Nov 2021 #51
I'm surprised by this hostility. DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #56
I was surprised by the arrogance whathehell Nov 2021 #61
Another one, from the same source DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #21
How about posting the LINK, i.e. "the same source"? whathehell Nov 2021 #53
. Effete Snob Nov 2021 #71
Lol whathehell Nov 2021 #74
Some may be correct DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #23
DavidDorkin: You are right. Fun but wrong. Martin68 Nov 2021 #64
The play/movie was based on a NC " showboat" unc70 Nov 2021 #6
That's how I knew the history of that term, too. n/t intheflow Nov 2021 #18
Always love word and phrase origins! Thanks. TigressDem Nov 2021 #7
"The whole nine yards" Mr.Bill Nov 2021 #8
I always wondered about that one. momta Nov 2021 #10
Didn't see this before I posted my explanation. See my post about fabric, #26. George II Nov 2021 #27
Well, that sounds just as logical. Mr.Bill Nov 2021 #33
I love stuff lile this. Grumpy Old Guy Nov 2021 #9
When traveling from England to India lapfog_1 Nov 2021 #11
Well . . . TimeToGo Nov 2021 #14
Generally the simple explanation is indeed correct NullTuples Nov 2021 #17
Depends on what we mean by simple TimeToGo Nov 2021 #29
Interesting. Thanks for posting. Jim__ Nov 2021 #12
Cool stuff. Today I'm wiser tomorrow I'm older..74 mountain grammy Nov 2021 #22
Happy birthday! Many happy returns! ❤ littlemissmartypants Nov 2021 #37
Thank you mountain grammy Nov 2021 #42
Happy Birthday! nt Heartstrings Nov 2021 #46
Thank you.. mountain grammy Nov 2021 #52
By golly I learned something today JPPaverage Nov 2021 #24
Interesting & fun, thanks for posting Peggy. As a appalachiablue Nov 2021 #25
Another one: many years ago fabric was sold in increments of three yards, up to nine yards. George II Nov 2021 #26
Nine yard 3auld6phart Nov 2021 #47
Nine yard 3auld6phart Nov 2021 #48
Fun empedocles Nov 2021 #28
I'll take a shot of oil and a barrel of whiskey. NBachers Nov 2021 #30
I knew "curfew" and "buying the farm" but that's about it. calimary Nov 2021 #31
I'm surprised the WWI life insurance policy was $5000. I think that might marybourg Nov 2021 #35
❤ nt littlemissmartypants Nov 2021 #38
"State Rooms" have been called that since before there were states or steamships Bucky Nov 2021 #39
The term "hot off the press" originated in the days when newspapers used a process called sop Nov 2021 #40
Maybe maybe not. The Jungle 1 Nov 2021 #49
"Hot off the press - everyday phrases that come from printing." sop Nov 2021 #55
Maybe maybe not. The Jungle 1 Nov 2021 #65
Ah yes, the good ol' Linotype machine. trof Apr 2022 #75
I learned the etymology of "sleep tight" just this year. OilemFirchen Nov 2021 #41
That was a cool post I_UndergroundPanther Nov 2021 #43
Hot off the press. twodogsbarking Nov 2021 #44
Thanks Peggy! Love your posts! flying_wahini Nov 2021 #45
Another one - when a horse is withdrawn from a race it's "scratched" - in England centuries ago.... George II Nov 2021 #50
Pretty sure "over a barrel" refers to the sexual proclivities of sailors re young boys. eppur_se_muova Nov 2021 #54
It could, but... Marcuse Nov 2021 #60
Where did the word Threshhold come from? in the 1500's ratchiweenie Nov 2021 #57
Here are 4 more: "bone house", "graveyard shift", "saved by the bell, and "dead ringer". ratchiweenie Nov 2021 #59
I love these, and all others like them! BobTheSubgenius Nov 2021 #58
I learned a few things today lunatica Nov 2021 #62
I just checked up on the first one because it sounded very doubtful. Martin68 Nov 2021 #63
Looking this stuff up is half the fun DFW Nov 2021 #67
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