The Early Bird Catches the Worm: the first one there enjoys success. In 1605 William Camden included this phrase in his book of proverbs and it’s become a standard.
Yummy for those who like their early worms
Easier Said Than Done: talking is sometimes more readily done than action. The phrase is also known as sooner or better said than done. The earlier expression appears in the Vulgate Bible and the latter in the 1546 proverbs of John Heywood.
Easy As Rolling Off a Log: not much effort required. Mark Twain gets the credit for this expression from his A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court published in 1889. The expression is similar to Easy as Pie.
James makes log rolling easy
Eat One’s Cake and Have It Too: to have it both ways. Once again John Heywood has this in his collection of proverbs. There is something about how we want to eat our cake but to hang on to it as well. Insert something besides “cake” and it still makes sense.
Every Man for Himself: looking out for oneself. Chaucer coined this expression in The Knight’s Tale indicating if a person didn’t watch out for himself no one else would.
Every Tom, Dick, and Harry: Everyone, especially those in the lower classes. Shakespeare used Tom, Dick, and Francis in Henry IV. The expression can be found in the 1815 Farmer’s Almanac. Even John Adams tried it out in 1818, saying “Tom, Dick, and Harry were not to censure them.”
Moving into the T-section and there are some familiar sayings that have a surprising meaning. Ready?
First off–
How many times have you heard the expression “Well, doesn’t that just take the cake?” as a response to something remarkable or perhaps foolish?
Some have their cake and eat it, too.
Back in the day, in the South, when cakewalks accompanied barbeques, picnics, and box suppers, there was an event in which men showed off their style by “cutting a caper.” The one judged to do the best strutting received the prize of walking off with the choice of the best cake–and maybe the one who baked it.
Getting the third degree brings up connotations of being grilled severely by authorities, usually the police. The background on this term is derived from Freemasonry. A candidate looking to move up to the “third degree” had to pass a rigorous test. This testing process was supposedly so grueling, both physically and emotionally, that the “third degree” became associated with undergoing an arduous experience.
Can I pass on passing this test?
After services are rendered it’s customary to provide a monetary gratuity, known as a “tip.” This practice stems from old English inns and taverns when patrons dropped a coin in the box attached to the wall for the servers. The sign on the box? “To Insure Promptness” or “T.I.P.” for short.
Being called a “toady” is certainly no compliment, as it refers to a person being subservient to another, better known as being the “yes” man. The background on this term goes back to long ago magic acts that featured the magician’s apprentice or helper eating a, umm, ready for this–a toad. Why? Toads were considered poisonous. The magician then proved his magic by “curing” his assistant. Saying “yes” to eating a toad is probably not the best job in the world.
Being loyal or devoted to a cause might conjure up the term “true blue.” Two possible meanings for the expression. One is from when butchers hid the bloody stains of their trade on their deep blue aprons and jackets. Perhaps the blue signified their pride in their chosen trade. The other derived meaning is that blue was the preferred color of the pro-Parliament Scottish Presbyterian Party of the seventeenth century as a contrast to the royal red. Hmm, the blue-red contrast has a deep history.
True Blue can also be a purposed style choice
Few people relish being “turned down”–rejection is tough stuff. The expression has two possible explanations. One being the custom of turning over a drink glass when no more rounds are appreciated (messy if the glass is half full, or is that half empty?). The other explanation is another old custom. This one involves reflection upon rejection due to a mirror being the key to a marriage proposal. A young man would arrive with his “courting mirror,” which held his image. He would place it on the table face up to indicate he was proposing marriage. If accepted, the young lady would smile at the image and all was happiness. If she did not accept his proposal then she would turn the image face down and the “turn down” probably caused the young man to reflect upon his rejection.
Pam Webb 