Origin of Popular Sayings 3

“Wrong end of the stick”

This saying originates from the Romans and their public toilets. A stick with an attached cloth or sponge at one end would soak in a bowl of saltwater. After each man wiped himself, he would pass the stick along to the next man. If one were not paying attention he would get the “wrong end of the stick” which was covered in feces.

“The writing is on the wall”

Trouble is on the way.

Its origin is from the Bible, Daniel 5:5 &6

“Whipping boy”

One who is disciplined.

Whipping boy was an actual position during the 15^th and 16^th centuries in England. These boys were the companions of the royal princes, were very well educated alongside the princes and received privileges just as the princes did. Unfortunately for them if the prince misbehaved, it was himself that was punished not the prince. The belief was that seeing his friend suffer would hurt the prince. It was also believed that kings were appointed by God himself and therefore couldn’t be punished or touched.

“Woe is me”

I am deeply saddened.

This saying originates in the Bible, Job 10:15 and dates back more than 3500 years.

“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”

If the pressure of a thing is too much for you then leave it alone.

Harry S. Truman coined this phrase in 1942 when he was a senator. He is also accredited with the expression “the buck stops here”.

“If I had my druthers”

It means If I had my choice in the matter.

This saying is as American as apple pie. It is a shortening of proper English from “I would rather” and dates back to the old wild west of the 1870’s.