17 Common Phrases With Shocking Origins
These everyday expressions have bizarre and sometimes disturbing backstories you probably never knew.
- Chris Graciano
- 4 min read
You say them all the time, but have you ever stopped to wonder where your favorite phrases actually come from? Many popular expressions hide strange, dark, or hilarious origins beneath their casual use. From wartime slang to gruesome punishments, the stories behind these sayings will definitely surprise you.
1. Bite the Bullet
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This phrase came from battlefield surgeries where soldiers had to clench a bullet between their teeth during operations without anesthesia. It wasn’t for bravery — it was pure survival.
2. Mad as a Hatter
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No, it’s not just a line from Alice in Wonderland. Hat makers in the 18th and 19th centuries used mercury in felt production, which led to mercury poisoning.
3. Break the Ice
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Originally, this referred to breaking up ice in harbors to let trade ships through. It later took on a social meaning — clearing awkward tension like ships plowing through frozen waters.
4. Raining Cats and Dogs
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This odd phrase likely dates back to 17th-century England, where heavy rain sometimes washed dead animals through the streets. The sight was so shocking that it became a metaphor for an extreme downpour.
5. Rule of Thumb
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This phrase allegedly comes from an old British law allowing a man to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Though the legal link is debated, the association is grim enough.
6. Butter Someone Up
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An ancient Indian custom involved throwing balls of clarified butter (ghee) at statues of gods as an act of worship. This was seen as a way to gain favor — hence, the modern idea of flattering someone.
7. Cat Got Your Tongue?
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Some believe this came from the use of cat-o’-nine-tails — a whip used by the British Navy — which left sailors speechless from pain. Others say it relates to ancient punishment where tongues were removed for blasphemy.
8. Saved by the Bell
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This didn’t start in boxing. In the 18th century, people feared being buried alive, so safety coffins had bells attached above ground. If the “dead” woke up, they could ring it — literally being saved by the bell.
9. Kick the Bucket
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This one’s as morbid as it sounds. In slaughterhouses, animals would be hung on a beam (sometimes called a bucket), and when they died, they’d often kick as they passed.
10. Cold Turkey
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This phrase likely comes from the goosebumps and cold sweats people get during withdrawal. The skin looks similar to cold, raw turkey.
11. Go the Whole Nine Yards
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This phrase traces back to WWII, when fighter planes carried nine yards of machine-gun ammo. Giving “the whole nine yards” meant firing every last bullet.
12. Under the Weather
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Sailors would rest below deck when feeling ill to avoid rough sea conditions. Being “under the weather” literally meant being beneath the effects of the storm.
13. Bury the Hatchet
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This originates from Native American tribes, who literally buried weapons when making peace agreements. It was a symbolic act of ending the conflict.
14. Pulling Someone’s Leg
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Originally a tactic used by thieves in Victorian England, they’d trip victims and steal from them while they were down. The act of pulling a leg wasn’t just playful — it was part of a robbery.
15. Pass the Buck
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In poker games, a marker called a “buck” indicated whose turn it was to deal. If you didn’t want the responsibility, you’d pass the buck. Eventually, it became shorthand for dodging accountability.
16. Close but No Cigar
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This comes from early 20th-century carnival games where cigars were often the prizes. If you failed to win, you’d hear “close, but no cigar.” A near miss, but still a loss.
17. Let the Cat Out of the Bag
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Market vendors once sold piglets in bags but would sometimes switch them with cats. If someone opened the bag and saw a cat, the scam was exposed.