Where Sayings Come From and What They Really Mean

There are several books out there and a few websites that note where some of the famous phrases we often use come from. Phrase Finder is an excellent online resource. As referenced there, 78 common phrases come from the bible. Some of my favorites that still live on today are (with my commentary) as follows. Excuse my blasphemy.

And since this is an advertising related blog, what better then to reference slogans that have stood the test of time.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

A ‘bird,’ an old and still used word for a female in England. I think the male population of England would vehemently disagree with this saying because two in the bush is always better.

A house divided against itself cannot stand

I kinda get it in a conceptual way, but it is pretty hard to divide a house. Unless it is a doublewide or a duplex.

A labour of love

I don’t think the Lenin or Marxists Russians would agree with this one!

A man after his own heart

Sounds like a huge malpractice suit to me.

A multitude of sins

This sounds like a contradiction meant to provide fear. Since in Catholicism, you have the Absolution of Sin under many circumstances, I think we are all free of the multitude referred to here. And after all, we all have a multitude of sins under even the most liberal of rules.

A nest of vipers

Great name for a band. If you use it, I will need some royalties.

A wolf in sheep's clothing

I remember a cartoon like this, wasn’t it Foghorn Leghorn who changed from a sheep to a wolf at time card punch-out time? Memory a little foggy here, so help me out on the cartoon issue. And wouldn't a wolf be a little too warm in wool?

All things must pass

Well, of course they do, unless you believe in the Theory of Relativity and time travel. So all thing do pass, according to the simple principles of science. But the church never liked science back then.

All things to all men

Hey, what about the women?

Am I my brother's keeper?

Sounds a little too incestuous for me.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

Love it. Complete contradiction of the Church’s teachings!

As old as Methuselah

Not sure about this one. The average life expectancy in biblical times was around 30. Christian Mortensen, is listed to have lived the longest till the ripe old age of 115 according to my research. Or was that Al Roker telling me it was Wilma from Tulsa? I guess these don’t have the same ominous sound as Methuselah, so let’s keep this one.

As old as the hills

Unless the hill is man made, technically impossible.

As you sow so shall you reap

Depends totally on the weather each year.

Ashes to ashes dust to dust Unofficial meaning: We come from dust, we return to dust.

We came from our mother’s wombs. I believe not many of them were filled with ashes or dust.

Bite the dust

Let’s give Freddy Mercury credit for this one.

Born again

Damn, I wish.

By the skin of your teeth

Think this should have been enamel.

Can a leopard change its spots?

Yes, if he gets vitiligo.

Cast the first stone

Sounds a tad violent to me.

Don't cast your pearls before swine

Why would you want to? And when are you dressed up in pearls and at a pig farm?

Eat drink and be merry

Gotta love those drinkers in the Bible. I mean, turning water to wine, my kinda God. Also sounds a little Roman Empire like, and after a few years, that didn’t work out so well.

Faith will move mountains

Technically impossible. Hasn’t been one example of telekinesis in history.

Fall from grace

Sounds like a bad night in the backseat of a Pontiac, and poor Grace.

Fight the good fight

Insightful. Yeah, much better than fighting a bad one.

 
Get thee behind me Satan

Extremely confused by this one. Is he your running back? Someone you want to watch your back? Or if you are lined up at school and your name is Sam, shouldn't Satan be behind you?

In the beginning was the word

I actually think there was less talking and much more caveman clubbing at the time.

It's better to give than to receive

Yeah, if you’re stupid.

Man does not live by bread alone

Of course not, that is why we have McDonalds.

My cup runneth over

Use a friggin coaster stupid.

No rest for the wicked

Not fair. Equal treatment under the law. Rest for everyone! And wouldn’t we want them rested so they weren’t wicked 24/7?

The apple of his eye

Well Adam, you kinda screwed up there for everyone. Why weren’t you looking at the naked girl instead of the stupid fruit?

The fruits of your loins

If you have any sort of something fruitlike growing down there, get thee to a doctor!

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

Actually, spirit is ambiguous at best. Flesh doesn’t think, our minds do. I think this needs a little copywork.

The writing is on the wall

Because they had no paper!

Shakespeare – Has a library of his own. Will address this one in a future blog. But as a teaser, my favorite…

 

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.

Shakespeare’s Meaning: Life is like a play - we merely go through the stages of our life acting it out.

Mine: If we never passed the age of 6, we would still be performing in front of any audience we could find.

 

 

Some Random Ones …

Crème brûlée - literally means 'Burnt cream' - baked custard with a caramelized crust

 I don’t think I would order Burnt cream.

Laissez-faire - The principle that government should not interfere with the action of individuals. Also, more generally, a policy of indulgence towards the actions of others. Literally, 'let (people) do (as they think best)'.

I know it’s French, but many people think and interpret this one incorrectly as ‘lazy-people.’

Every Rose has its Thorn

No it wasn’t Poison that coined this phrase. Some contribute it to Shakespeare, who we all plagiarize at some point, knowingly or unknowingly. And every cowboy doesn’t sing the same sad song, albeit, many sound very similar.

And finally, my challenge to you: Who said…

“The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.”


And my quote for the day, "If I was dumber, how would I know?"


Smile. The Ad Guy