Archive for May, 2005

Interesting Words Vol. 5

Published by rodney May 19th, 2005 in Interesting Words. 0 Comments

The Origin of Phrases

I have often wondered where a particular phrase or saying originated. Many of these phrases have been around so long that the original meaning has been lost or misconstrued. I recently heard the phrase, “If I had my druthers” or a variation or it used in conversation. I had a vague idea of what it meant and so did the person using it but we couldn’t pin down an exact meaning. Being curious about these kind of things, I started researching that particular phrase along with “Mind your own bees wax.”

Dictionary sites are good for definitions and word usage. However they are not that useful in finding the origin of phrases. In my searching I found several good sites which list the origins or possible origins of phrases. The first site is The Phrase Finder, and the second is Origins of Phrases. Both have a large supply of idioms and sayings to keep you busy

From my research it looks like “druthers” is a combination of “I’d” and “rather”, meaning if one were free to choose or if one had ones way. The Phrase Finder site has a better explanation of its origin in the discussion forums. The search feature on The Phrase Finder is a very handy when searching for a particular saying of interest.Mind your own bees wax is generally understood to mean “mind your own business” or “keep your opinions to yourself”. It may actually take its origins from smallpox. Survivors of the disease were left with unsightly pock marks on face and body. To help cover this disfigurement bees wax was used to smooth out ones complexion. In warm weather the wax could melt, however it was not proper decorum to point out another’s melting face.

“Do what you do so well that people can't resist telling others about you.”
- Walt Disney

Flickr

ink

Train

Fire Exit

Pigeonholes