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I’ve always wondered from where certain sayings have originated. For instance, “to send someone to Coventry” as in ostracise them.
“The origins of this phrase are not known, although it is quite probable that events in Coventry in the English Civil War in the 1640s play a part. One hypothesis as to its origin is based upon The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, by Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon.
In this work, Hyde recounts on how Royalist troops that were captured in Birmingham were taken as prisoners to Coventry, which was a Parliamentarian stronghold. These troops were often not received warmly by the locals.”
So what other idioms do you know of, and their explanation?
Bob’s your uncle
Used to describe the means of straightforwardly obtaining a successful result; for example, ‘left over right; right over left, and bob’s your uncle – a reef knot’.
This is one of those phrases that keep etymologists in business in that no one is sure of its origin. As with all such mysteries, there are plenty of suggestions but we will content ourselves here with the most plausible three:
The expression is often said to derive from the supposed nepotism of the British Prime Minister Lord (Robert) Salisbury, who appointed a favourite nephew, Arthur Balfour, to several political posts in the 1880s. Balfour had considerable talents and went on to become Prime Minister himself, but his early political appointments were considered inappropriate as he showed no interest in public work and at the time preoccupied himself with philosophy and an active social life. It is unlikely that Arthur Balfour would ever have become a celebrated politician without the patronage of his influential uncle. Piers Brendon, in Eminent Edwardians, 1979, writes:
“… in 1887, Balfour was unexpectedly promoted to the vital front line post of Chief Secretary for Ireland by his uncle Robert, Lord Salisbury.”
The link here between an uncle Bob who was Prime Minister and a passport to an easy life is easy to make. In fact, that very neatness has the odour of a folk-etymology.
A second interpretation has that it the phrase derives from the slang term ‘all is bob’, meaning ‘all is well’. That term is listed in Captain Francis Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1785:
A shoplifter’s assistant, or one that receives and carries off stolen goods. All is bob; all is safe.
The slang word ‘bob’, with the ‘shoplifter’s assistant’ meaning, had been in circulation for some years at that time and is defined as such in Nathan Bailey’s Dictionary of Canting and Thieving Slang, 1721.
The third potential source is in a music hall song written by John P. Long, and published in 1931 – Follow your Uncle Bob. The lyrics include:
Bob’s your uncle
Follow your Uncle Bob
He knows what to do
He’ll look after youThe song was sung and recorded by Florrie Forde, the celebrated music hall artiste of the early 20th century.
……..anyway wherever it comes from I don’t care……..I use it all the time :D
“Blow your / my own trumpet / horn.”
Apparently, it refers to the practice of heraldry.
It comes from the sense of ‘horn’ as a trumpet, and one who blows his own horn is someone making great fanfare about himself, as is usually more appropriately left to a herald.
it is very funny to see how many idioms are the same in France as in the UK but with a slight difference
For example a swallow does not a summer make in France is a spring does not a spring make
@panda12 wrote:
I’ve always wondered from where certain sayings have originated. For instance, “to send someone to Coventry” as in ostracise them.
You’re unbelievable. :roll:
Cloud Cuckoo Land refers to an unrealistically idealistic state where everything is perfect. (“You’re living in Cloud Cuckoo Land, mate.”) It hints that the person referred to is naïve, unaware of reality or deranged in holding such an optimistic belief.
The reference comes from The Birds, a play by Aristophanes in which Tereus helps Pisthetairos (which can be translated as “Mr. Trusting”) and Euelpides (“Mr. Hopeful”) erect a perfect city in the clouds, to be named Cloud Cuckoo Land.
lol saves Panda the effort
terry and cloud cuckoo land – and to use another idiom – hand in hand
Fine and Dandy
From being well attired: Something good or agreeable.
@terry wrote:
@panda12 wrote:
I’ve always wondered from where certain sayings have originated. For instance, “to send someone to Coventry” as in ostracise them.
You’re unbelievable. :roll:
A good and relevant addition to the thread Terry.
Why did we start using the term “You’re unbelievable” when addressing someone who plainly exists and in all probability has made many statements which can be believed throughout their life time?
@j_in_france wrote:
lol saves Panda the effort
terry and cloud cuckoo land – and to use another idiom – hand in hand
I appreciate that Terry is a commonly used male name or abbreviation in Britain. However what about Cloud cuckoo land? Whence does that come?
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