The Strange Stories Behind Everyday Idioms
English is packed with idioms — colorful phrases that mean something completely different from their literal words. But ever stop to wonder why we tell people to “hold their horses” or “bite the bullet”?
Let’s unpack the quirky origins of some common sayings.
Why Do We Say “Hold Your Horses”?
Back in the days of wagons and cavalry, horses were the main engines of daily life. Telling someone to “hold their horses” literally meant “stop your team from charging off.”
By the 1800s, it became a playful way to say “be patient,” especially in America.
Where Did “Kick the Bucket” Come From?
This cheerful phrase actually has grim roots. In old England, when animals were slaughtered, they were often hung from a wooden beam called a “bucket.” They’d kick it as they died.
Alternatively, it may come from people standing on a bucket with a noose — and when the bucket got kicked away… you can fill in the rest. Either way: dark.
What About “Bite the Bullet”?
Before modern anesthesia, soldiers in battle or patients in makeshift surgeries would literally bite on a bullet to endure pain. Better to crack a tooth than scream or choke.
Today it simply means to face something unpleasant with courage.
“Saved by the Bell” Isn’t About Boxing
Most people think of a boxing bell saving a fighter. But some claim it goes back to safety coffins. In the 18th–19th centuries, fear of being buried alive led to coffins rigged with strings tied to bells above ground. If someone was mistakenly buried, they could ring for rescue. (Creepy? Absolutely.)
“Cost an Arm and a Leg”
Portrait painters in the 1700s charged by how much of the subject’s body was included. A painting with just the head was cheaper than one showing arms and legs.
So wanting your full body in the painting could literally “cost an arm and a leg.”
Why We Love Idioms
Idioms are little time capsules. They tie us to our past, give color to language, and often share universal experiences like pain, waiting, or risk.
