Do you have any idea what you’re sayin'?…..

[JimmyJet]

We use terms and clichés frequently in our daily communications with others without knowing or thinking about the origin of what we are saying…. or its original meaning….

That said, how many of you know….where the term 'Caddie' came from in golf?

When Mary Queen of Scots went to France as a young girl, Louis, King of France, learned that she loved the Scots game 'golf.' He had the first course outside of Scotland built for her enjoyment. To make sure she was properly chaperoned (and guarded) while she played, Louis hired cadets from a military school to accompany her.
Mary liked this a lot and when she returned to Scotland (not a very good idea in the long run), she took the practice with her. In French, the word cadet is pronounced 'ca-day' and the Scots changed it into caddie.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[cskiles]

I actually like looking up the origin of commonly used phrases, like "it's cold enough to freeze the balls off of a brass monkey". The "monkey" was a piece of metal used to store cannon balls on ships, when it would get very cold, the brass would shrink causing the balls to roll off...

 

[rockyfatcat]

Most folks will use the expression ‘rule of thumb’ without actually knowing what it means or where it comes from.

In old English common law allowed a man to beat his wife and kids with a stick no thicker than his thumb.

 

[mrauditor]

For many years I would not repeat the phrase "If the Lord's willing and the creek don't rise" because it was bad grammar. Then I learned it was not referring to a body of water [creek] but the Creeque Indians, therefore if the Lord's willing and the Creeque Indians do not go on the warpath [uprising], I will be there. Thanks.

 

[mrauditor]

"It's raining cats and dogs." In some poorer areas of third world towns in times past house pets were kept on the thatched roofs of their owner's houses and when a very heavy rain came, it would often collapse the roofs with the pets and send them into the living area of the houses. Thanks.

 

[Fatal_Bert]

******: The traditional term for a bundle of sticks or brushwood, especially for use as fuel.

 

[mrauditor]

"Don't throw the baby out with the water". In early pioneer times, the order of takng a bath in the same tub of water was husband, wife, oldest child down to youngest child [usually a baby]. By the time the baby was placed into the tub of water, it was filthy and dark brown, thus the parents had to be careful not to forget it. Thanks.

 

[CAD Jedi]

Going "Balls Out" is a reference to the steam governor on a steam engine. The faster the engine went the farther the balls would spread out.

 

[cskiles]

"Three-fiddy", this term originated on the ODT as a bargaining tool, i.e., I'll give ya three-fiddy for that Glock! Commonly used by the 'poors' in an effort to low-ball an unsuspecting seller.

 

[rockyfatcat]

Going "Balls Out" is a reference to the steam governor on a steam engine. The faster the engine went the farther the balls would spread out.

View attachment 9774907

The term was balls to the wall meaning the stops