He is the first North American pontiff to be elected leader of the Catholic Church
Numerous expressions slip into our daily conversations without us ever wondering about their origins. Admittedly, a few of them are somewhat intuitive and it's pretty obvious. However, certain expressions hide rather disturbing origins, and most of us are totally unaware.
Some of these phrases have strong historical ties, originating from medieval battlegrounds to times of slavery. They have endured for generations to find their way into our everyday vocabulary and we're none the wiser about their grisly etymology.
Browse through the following gallery and learn about the dark origins of these common expressions.
This one is quite easily linked with the Mad Hatter character from Lewis Carroll’s book 'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.'
However, the character has rather dark undertones. During Victorian times, many men actually suffered from mental health issues caused by exposure to mercury, which was utilized in making felt hats more pliable.
We generally connect this phrase with things spiraling out of control and the resulting destruction.
The phrase's origins carry a similar meaning, but it was employed on the battlefield to grant soldiers the authority to do whatever they pleased, including engaging in slaughter. This practice was actually prohibited in England during the 1300s.
"Pulling my leg" is commonly used when someone is attempting to deceive us or play a prank on us. It's a well-used expression in the UK, and its origins can be traced back to Victorian London.
In those days, dragging an individual by the leg was a common tactic employed by robbers to seize one's belongings.
Probably one of the most popular phrases you'll hear throughout your life. First as a student, and then as an employee. Hopefully, you won't die if you don't meet these deadlines, but missing the original deadline would truly have been deadly!
A deadline was an actual line drawn on Civil War prisons. If a prisoner escaped and crossed that line, he would be killed. Not quite the same consequence as not responding to an email, right?
To "wash one's hands" of something is to discard any kind of responsibility in a given situation. What, exactly, is the context for this?
This is literally what Pontius Pilate did when he condemned Jesus Christ to die on the cross. Pilate wanted to convey that he condemned Jesus to comply with the wishes of others, not his own. He washed his hands of Jesus's blood and the responsibility for his death.
The phrase essentially means doing something/making a difficult decision that we've been hesitant to make.
It can be traced back to soldiers in battle who would have to go under emergency procedures without anesthesia or alcohol to numb the pain. They'd have to literally bite down on a bullet instead.
We've all heard this after someone sneezes. But why is it specifically said after sneezing?
Its roots can be traced back to the plague. It was used to convey a wish for your soul to stay in your body, as the Black Death could snatch it away.
The term "diehard" dates back to the 1700s. But it wasn't used to describe a huge fan of something. Instead, it was attributed to those who struggled the longest when hanged!
The term became popular after its use in 1811’s Battle of Albuera, when British officer William Inglis supposedly told his men: "Stand your ground and die hard … make the enemy pay dear for each of us!"
One is "sold down the river" when they're subjected to betrayal, or when someone takes advantage of them unfairly. This expression finds its origins in the context of the slave trade.
Slaves were literally sold and shipped down the Mississippi River to toil on plantations in the South.
This well-known phrase is often employed to depict insincere sorrow and feigning an emotional reaction. However, the phrase itself is based on a medieval myth.
People of that era believed that crocodiles shed tears of sadness while they killed and consumed their prey.
This phrase is commonly used when something has gone awry. But what's its actual meaning?
"Snafu" comes from the World War II military acronym S.N.A.F.U., which stands for Situation Normal, All [ ] Up. Which, in the context of war, means exactly that.
This expression is frequently employed when someone is caught off guard, not anticipating something. Its origins are also rather somber.
It originates from the notion of launching an attack from behind. The element of surprise typically makes it an efficient method for carrying out an assault.
You know, when things get a little wild, crazy, or out of control. The word Amok comes from the Amuco, a band of Javanese and Malay warriors who would go on killing sprees for unknown reasons. There was believed to be some sort of mental condition afflicting those peoples.
Captain James Cook wrote about it in 1772: “To run amok is to … sally forth from the house, kill the person or persons supposed to have injured the Amock, and any other person that attempts to impede his passage.”
This phrase is sometimes used when a person falls victim to a scam, like being swindled out of money or sold a subpar product. Its origins stem from offensive stereotypes about Romani people, often referred to as gypsies.
We've all witnessed instances when crowds bum-rush the field after their teams secure a crucial victory. Essentially, it signifies a powerful surge. Its origins? Well, it was employed in the 19th century to describe the eviction or removal of freeloaders from saloons.
William Shakespeare has made substantial contributions to the English language. He's credited with creating numerous phrases and words. "Be-all, end-all" is one of them.
The phrase is used to portray a decisive moment or the most crucial aspect of a situation. The playwright first employed it when Macbeth was about to assassinate the king in his renowned play 'Macbeth.'
Sources: (Reader's Digest) (History)
See also: The original tale behind Sleeping Beauty is not for kids
Discover the dark origins of these common phrases
These expressions have surprisingly disturbing backstories
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
Numerous expressions slip into our daily conversations without us ever wondering about their origins. Admittedly, a few of them are somewhat intuitive and it's pretty obvious. However, certain expressions hide rather disturbing origins, and most of us are totally unaware.
Some of these phrases have strong historical ties, originating from medieval battlegrounds to times of slavery. They have endured for generations to find their way into our everyday vocabulary and we're none the wiser about their grisly etymology.
Browse through the following gallery and learn about the dark origins of these common expressions.