Do you know of any sayings? (Clean ones plz)

[N.R.Walters]

I have decided to produce a series of short videos looking at the origins (or possible origins) of different sayings or terms. For example the first one i will be covering in the origins of the term "Cup of Joe".

I have decided on doing this as I want to learn about the origins for us-full little facts so that I can recite them of the top of me head. And if I putting my findings in video form I help enlighten people to how they came to be, all the better.

I was wondering if you lot had any terms that I as an English man might be interested in looking in to. (if i use your selection i will credit your Yt talk name or YouTube channel if it is linked to you account.)

Many thanks,

Nathaniel . Walters

 

[SlenderMan]

Cut To The Chase

 

[Crown]

I'm an English teacher so I know quite a few of these.

An interesting one you could do is the the origin of "curfew". Its origin is in fact from the French language - "couvre feu" which means "cover the fire" and refers to the "olden days" when it was time to put out all lights and candles and fires and go to bed. Obviously the modern day meaning has evolved to a non literal meaning and it refers to a ban on leaving the house that the police or government sometimes implement to keep the peace during riots or periods of unrest.

(no need to give me any credit )

 

[babyteeth4]

This is a cool idea, I'm a bit of an armchair etymologist, and a phraseology show sounds like it would be very interesting.
Let's see...
"woolgathering"
"old hat"
"kid gloves"
"tall drink of water"
"fine kettle of fish"
"jump on the bandwagon"
"the cat's pajamas"
"I have a bone to pick with you"
"that goes beyond the pale"
"got the sack" (lost your job)
"long in the tooth"
"it's a dog-eat-dog world" (this one is puzzling, as dogs generally do not eat other dogs--fish would make more sense!)

 

[David Stoll]

There are tons and tons from Shakespeare, but most people don't know he coined them. Here are just a few:

Discretion is the better part of valor.
More honored in the breach than in the observance.
The game is afoot.
This is the short and long of it.
In a pickle.