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Uh This is Lee Habib with Our American Stories, and we tell stories about everything here on this show, including your stories. Send them to Our American Stories, they're some of our favorites. Up next, We continue with our recurring series about the curious origins of everyday sayings. To join us again is Andrew Thompson as he continues to share another slice from his ultimate guide to understanding these many mysteries. of the language we all speak.
In the lap of the gods means a situation whose outcome is unclear and can't be influenced.
Some say the expression began with the practice of leaving gifts of thanks with statues of gods. And whilst this has occurred for centuries, the phrase actually derives from the Iliad, Homer's text from the 8th century BC. In this story Achilles battles the Trojans and kills Hector's brother Polydorus. Hector sees this and challenges Achilles, brandishing a spear in his face. Hector says to Achilles, I know you are brave and stronger than me by far, But these things lie in the lap of the gods.
Though I'm the weaker man, I'll take your life. Achilles survives, and the Trojans are defeated. A last-ditch attempt is a final effort to solve a problem or avoid defeat, and it's a military term that dates to the late 17th century. King William Third of England is credited with the expression during the Anglo French war with the Dutch Republic. William was offered to be made sovereign prince of Holland if he would capitulate.
But he refused. and an envoy of the Dutch king threatened that William would witness the end of his fate. William replied. There is one way to avoid this, to die defending it in the last ditch. The phrase was then picked up by the citizens of Westmoreland in the American War of Independence.
when in 1798 they said In war, we know but one additional obligation. to die in the last ditch or uphold our nation. By the early 1800s the figure was being used figuratively. If someone's a laughing stock, they're an object of ridicule or humiliation. and that originated from the medieval form of punishment in England.
Most villages had stocks set up in the public square, and the stocks comprised two sliding boards with holes in them that were secured on a wooden frame. The hands and feet of the victim were placed in the holes, rendering him unable to escape or move freely. Petty criminals were put in the stocks so the town people could gather around, laughing and humiliating the person, even throwing rotten vegetables at them. The phrase laughing stock had developed into its current use by the early 1500s. To lead someone up the garden path means to deceive them.
and it's also sometimes sent us down the garden path. and its origins started in the early nineteen hundreds in England. Country estates at the time usually had acres of gardens that contained trees, hedges, and paths that would wind throughout. it was in the romantic parts of these gardens that gentlemen would traditionally propose to their sweetheart. Women knew this.
So, to be invited on a walk by a suitor was a positive sign, and one they were often keen to accept. Mm. But it also wasn't uncommon for some men to lead a woman up the garden path, not to propose marriage, but merely to try to seduce her. Or To leave high and dry means to be stranded without hope of recovery, and not surprisingly, this expression. relates to the world of sailing.
It dates from the early 1800s and originally referred to a ship being run aground and unable to move. This left the ship exposed and vulnerable to attack, and the captain was rendered helpless until the tide came in. Its first written usage was in the Times newspaper in London in 1796, where it was said that a ship had gone aground. when the tide had ebbed. left her nearly high and dry.
To be left in the lurch means to be abandoned in an awkward or difficult situation. and its origins are with an old French board game called L'Orge. It was played with dice and was similar to backgammon. If a player was left in a position from which they couldn't win, he suffered a launch, which was a disadvantage. This concept was then brought into the card game of cribbage, where if a player is trailing by a certain margin, he is said to be left in the lurch.
To let the cat out of a bag means to give away a secret, and it dates from the early sixteenth century and derives from a time when unscrupulous market vendors sold false goods. One of their common deceptions was to substitute a worthless cat for a valuable pig. After showing a buyer the sought-after suckling pig, Negotiations on price would begin and the pig would be placed in a carry bag. At some point when the buyer was distracted, the pig would be replaced for a cat. It was only when the duped buyer got home that the fraud was revealed, when he let the cat out of the bag.
The expression lick it into shape means to mould something or someone to suit a situation. and it derives from the ancient Roman belief that animals were born formless and that their mothers had to lick them into the required shape. This belief is likely to have arisen because all mammals are born covered with a thick afterbirth, which can make them unrecognizable. The mother then licks that off, and the properly formed animal appears. Bear cubs in particular are born in a seemingly shapeless form and receive a lot of attention from their mothers.
So this would have also lent weight to the Romans' belief. If you say that someone is lily-lived, it means that you think they are cowardly. It's often heard in Western movies. and it's an expression that we owe to the ancient Greeks. like many others.
They believed that the liver was the organ that created blood and that a poorly functioning liver resulted in physical and mental weakness. In line with this belief, they thought that a pale, lily coloured complexion indicated a cowardly person, while rosy cheeks would be found on a strong man in good health. The Greeks also had the custom of sacrificing an animal before each battle. They looked to the animal's liver as an omen. A liver full of blood was a good sign.
but a pale liver did not auger well. It was the great bard Shakespeare that brought the phrase into the mainstream when he used it in his 1606 play Macbeth. The lion's share is the largest part of something. and it derives from one of Aesop's fables. which now bears that name.
It tells the story of a lion, a wolf and a fox, as well as an ass who kill a stag to eat. The bounty is divided into quarters to share equally, but before they start eating, the lion claims the first portion because he is the king of the jungle. He then claims the second portion because he is the strongest, and then the third portion because he is the most courageous. The other animals are left with the last quarter to eat, but they are too afraid to claim it with the lion standing over them.
So depending on the version of the story, the lion's share is either three quarters or everything. And great job as always to Greg on the production, and a special thanks to Andrew Thompson. Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red is the book. Go to Amazon.com and the usual suspects to buy it. Andrew Thompson.
the stories of how our language came to be. Here on Our American Stories. Lee Habib here, the host of Our American Stories. Every day on this show, we're bringing inspiring stories from across this great country. Stories from our big cities and small towns.
But we truly can't do this show without you. Our stories are free to listen to, but they're not free to make. If you love what you hear, go to ouramericanstories.com and click the donate button. Give a little, give a lot. Go to ouramericanstories.com and give.
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And one thing I've always respected is how seriously he takes up standing up to hate. As a Jewish athlete my identity is something I am proud of. But I also know what it feels like to be singled out for it. That's why this new commercial for the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate. That aired during the big game really hit home.
It's about showing up for someone when they're targeted, even if you don't have the perfect words. And sometimes standing next to someone is enough. And you can show support by sharing the blue square. At CVS, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night.
And we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CBS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and yeah, healthy snack. At CVS, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters.
So visit us at cvs.com or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location. This is Sarah Spain from Good Game with Sarah Spain, brought to you in part by Vital Farms. Let me tell you why Vital Farms pasture-raised eggs are the only eggs I have in my fridge.
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Visit lifelock.com slash iHeart. Terms apply. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human. Mm-hmm.
