Here's the Story Behind the World's Oldest and Weirdest Sayings Straight From the Horse's Mouth

[MULTIZ321]

Here's the Story Behind the. World's Oldest and
Weirdest Sayings Straight From the Horse's
Mouth

The Historical Origins of 7 Idioms You Say All the Time

Certain parts of the English language are plain bizarre. Learn about the origins of idioms you say on a regular basis.

www.womansworld.com

Richard.

 

[WalnutBaron]

Ever wonder what the etymology of "the whole nine yards" is? During World War II, fighter pilots used a clip of bullets that was 27 feet long. When they emptied it, they were giving the enemy the whole nine yards.

The etymology of "a good, stiff drink" is more than a bit macabre. In the 1700s, colonial Americans would request that their remains be buried in their ancestral homeland, often in England or Ireland. However, transporting a body by ship had its own set of challenges. To address this, undertakers would stuff the bodies in whiskey barrels where the alcohol would preserve the bodies for proper burial. Enterprising recipients would then sell the whiskey to unsuspecting customers who were unwittingly enjoying "a stiff drink".

 

[geist1223]

A cement truck holds 9 cubic yards of cement. So if you buy the whole truck you bought the whole 9 yards.