Another just for fun topic.
People use a lot of sayings in everyday conversations, and I wonder where they really come from or mean. Some seem like common sense, and have completely different meanings. Others seem to be used only in certain regions.
So, which ones do you use or know about, and what are their origins or real meanings (if you know)?
I'll kick it off with a few of my favorites.
Going Balls Out, or Balls to the Walls - Originated from old steam powered machinery. A spinning governing device sat on top, which was a pair of balls mounted on hinged metal rods. The increased speed caused the balls to pull out, and the term was used to describe this operating level.
The Whole Nine Yards - I was always under the impression that it was coined because of the length of ammunition belts loaded on fighter jets in WWII, and used to describe how hard the pilots fought. "Gave 'em the whole nine yards". Turns out this may be wrong, and might be because of the amount of fabric used in a good suit, similar to "Dressed to the nines".
People use a lot of sayings in everyday conversations, and I wonder where they really come from or mean. Some seem like common sense, and have completely different meanings. Others seem to be used only in certain regions.
So, which ones do you use or know about, and what are their origins or real meanings (if you know)?
I'll kick it off with a few of my favorites.
Going Balls Out, or Balls to the Walls - Originated from old steam powered machinery. A spinning governing device sat on top, which was a pair of balls mounted on hinged metal rods. The increased speed caused the balls to pull out, and the term was used to describe this operating level.
The Whole Nine Yards - I was always under the impression that it was coined because of the length of ammunition belts loaded on fighter jets in WWII, and used to describe how hard the pilots fought. "Gave 'em the whole nine yards". Turns out this may be wrong, and might be because of the amount of fabric used in a good suit, similar to "Dressed to the nines".
Comment