Words

When in a book store, my first move is toward the discount section. I have discovered treasure there at times. Two days ago, while visiting Books-A-Million, I found a cool little book called Why Do We Say It? for 7 bucks. In it there are a series of stories behind hundreds of words, expressions and cliches we use on a daily basis. Most of us have no idea where the words or phrases we are saying come from because of the unusual, convoluted history leading back to their origins. This book, by the way, is probably best qualified as "good bathroom reading".

Nevertheless, my interest in etymology is piqued as I peruse the pages of this little yellow book of facts. For instance, the word "budget" comes from the French word meaning briefcase or leather bag that held the financial papers for the House of Commons in England. "Sour Grapes" comes from an old fable where a fox can't get to the highest grapes on the vine and walks away saying, "Well, they're sour grapes, anyway!" The word, "idiot" hasn't always meant a mentally challenged person. Originally in Greek the term meant a private citizen who held no public office. It morphed over time into the meaning of one who couldn't take part in public affairs (Wow, that's exactly how some elected officials treat us common-folk after they are voted into office...like we're idiots!).

Mixing metaphors is something that is quite common. Taking two or three pithy statements and merging them can bring about embarrassing consequences. We are oblivious to the origin of a saying and look silly when someone brings the resultant error to our attention. I have actually heard someone say, "He kicked a gift horse in the teeth." In the movie Back To the Future, Biff eviscerates a common phrase when speaking to Marty McFly, "Why don't you make like a tree, and get outta here!"

The English language can be so complex with it's multiple rules and laws, making it almost impossible to get through even this blog without the spell/ grammar check lighting up and pointing it's skinny, judgmental finger at my writing inadequacies. I choose to simply ignore the intimidation, make the changes and move on. The next time I use a metaphor, an expression or even a simple word, my little yellow book will remind me that there is probably a deep back-story behind it. I am best served to heed Abraham Lincoln's advice when he said,

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.