We throw idioms around all the time, without realising just how odd (and brilliant) they actually are. These quirky little phrases spice up our chats, confuse toddlers, and make us sound way more poetic than we actually are. But ever wondered where they come from? Let’s time-travel through language and decode some of the strangest sayings we still use today.
Bite the bullet
These days, to ‘bite the bullet’ means to face something unpleasant head-on, like finally going to the dentist or opening your bank app after payday spending. But back in the day? It was way more hardcore.
The origin dates back to the days before anaesthesia, when soldiers were told to literally bite on a bullet during surgery to cope with the pain. The logic? You couldn’t scream if your teeth were clamped around cold metal. (Ouch!)
Moral of the story: Sometimes life is painful, but it’s better when you’re prepared.
Cost an arm and a leg
Used to describe anything wildly expensive, this gem possibly comes from old-school portrait painters, who charged extra to paint limbs. Want your arms and legs in the picture? That’ll cost you.
These days, it refers to anything from artisan almond milk to Taylor Swift concert tickets. (We see you, Swifties.)
Mad as a hatter
This oddball phrase was popularised by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, but the real madness started in eighteenth-century hat factories. You see, hatters used mercury to treat felt, which led to hallucinations, tremors, and erratic behaviour.
Today, it’s how we describe people who are delightfully odd, slightly chaotic, or just vibing at their own frequency.
Burning the midnight oil
If you’ve stayed up late working, you’ve probably muttered this idiom while yawning into your keyboard. Before electricity, people literally used oil lamps to work or read at night. So, if you were ‘burning the midnight oil’, you were hustling after hours.
Whether it’s studying for exams, finishing that deadline, or binge-watching series (no judgment), this idiom still rings true today.
Spill the beans
No one wants to be the 1 who ruins a surprise, but if you’ve ever accidentally blurted out a secret, you’ve ‘spilled the beans’.
This idiom likely comes from ancient Greece, where votes were cast using beans (white for yes, black for no). If someone knocked over the container before counting, the results were exposed, and the secret was out.
Every idiom tells a story… And so does your insurance
From ancient voting beans to hat-induced madness, idioms remind us that life’s messy, unpredictable, and often a little bizarre. Much like car trouble on a Monday morning. Thankfully, King Price’s insurance solutions are designed for all life’s unexpected plot twists!
Our car insurance premiums decrease monthly… Because if your car’s value continues to drop every month (which it does) we don’t believe you should pay an arm and a leg (hey, we couldn’t resist!) to insure it.
Keen to see how much you could save? WhatsApp 0860 50 50 50 or click here for a commitment-free quote today. (Trust us, you’ll be grinning like a Cheshire cat.)
FAQs
What are idioms and why do we use them?
Idioms are expressions whose meanings aren’t literal. We use them to make conversations more colourful, funny, or dramatic. Think of them as language spice!
Where does the phrase ‘bite the bullet’ come from?
‘Bite the bullet’ harks back to pre-anaesthesia surgeries, where soldiers bit down on bullets to cope with pain. Nowadays, it means bravely tackling something unpleasant.
What’s the origin of ‘cost an arm and a leg’?
This idiom may have come from portrait painters who charged more for including limbs in their artwork. Today, it’s used for anything wildly expensive.
Why do we say ‘mad as a hatter’?
Hatters once used mercury in hat-making, which caused hallucinations and erratic behaviour. The phrase lives on to describe people who are delightfully eccentric.
How can I protect myself from life’s unexpected twists?
While idioms make chaos sound poetic, real-life surprises (like car trouble or burst geysers) need practical solutions. That’s where King Price’s smart, affordable insurance comes in! Tap here or WhatsApp 0860 50 50 50 to learn more.