The post Say What? The Historical Origins of Common English Sayings appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Some believe this common saying to originate in big ships plowing through Arctic waters, but that’s actually false. The real deal dates back to the 17th century when Samuel Butler first used it in his poem “Hudibras.” He made the connection between figuratively broken silence and literally broken ice.
Literary genius Rudyard Kipling was the one to popularize this gem in his 1891 novel The Light that Failed. However, some people claim it goes way back to a time when people physically bit down on bullets to dull the pain during surgeries.
This one comes from medieval marketplaces, where farmers used to sell little piggies in bags. Sneaky sellers would sometimes swap them out for the less valuable cats, and if a wise buyer would spot the scam, the cat was literally out of the bag.
This saying dates back to 15th century Scotland, where blood on one’s hands was considered a one-way ticket to guilt town. Being “caught red-handed” meant you were definitely guilty, no questions asked.
Last but not least, let’s dig into “saved by the bell”, an expression driven from the tough world of 19th-century boxing. When someone was in the ring and things were looking bleak, that bell ringing at the end of the round was their lifeline.
The post Say What? The Historical Origins of Common English Sayings appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Top 4 Facts About Alexander the Great That Might Surprise You appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>While Alexander the Great was still a young boy, his father, Philip II, King of Macedon, hired the Greek philosopher Aristotle to be his mentor. Historians believe Aristotle spent three years tutoring Alexander.
It is widely known that Alexander had a habit of establishing cities during his conquests and then naming them after himself. However, he once also named a city after his favorite horse Bucephala, honoring his death in battle.
Despite being at the center of each battle and suffering many wounds, Alexander the Great always managed to find a way to avoid death. This included surviving being hit in the chest with an arrow during his conquests in India.
Alexander the Great died at age 32 from a mysterious illness. Historians believe that his body was submerged in honey to preserve it shortly afterward. To this day, the location of Alexander’s tomb remains a mystery.
The post Top 4 Facts About Alexander the Great That Might Surprise You appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Say What? The Historical Origins of Common English Sayings appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>Some believe this common saying to originate in big ships plowing through Arctic waters, but that’s actually false. The real deal dates back to the 17th century when Samuel Butler first used it in his poem “Hudibras.” He made the connection between figuratively broken silence and literally broken ice.
Literary genius Rudyard Kipling was the one to popularize this gem in his 1891 novel The Light that Failed. However, some people claim it goes way back to a time when people physically bit down on bullets to dull the pain during surgeries.
This one comes from medieval marketplaces, where farmers used to sell little piggies in bags. Sneaky sellers would sometimes swap them out for the less valuable cats, and if a wise buyer would spot the scam, the cat was literally out of the bag.
This saying dates back to 15th century Scotland, where blood on one’s hands was considered a one-way ticket to guilt town. Being “caught red-handed” meant you were definitely guilty, no questions asked.
Last but not least, let’s dig into “saved by the bell”, an expression driven from the tough world of 19th-century boxing. When someone was in the ring and things were looking bleak, that bell ringing at the end of the round was their lifeline.
The post Say What? The Historical Origins of Common English Sayings appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>The post Top 4 Facts About Alexander the Great That Might Surprise You appeared first on History Chronicle.
]]>While Alexander the Great was still a young boy, his father, Philip II, King of Macedon, hired the Greek philosopher Aristotle to be his mentor. Historians believe Aristotle spent three years tutoring Alexander.
It is widely known that Alexander had a habit of establishing cities during his conquests and then naming them after himself. However, he once also named a city after his favorite horse Bucephala, honoring his death in battle.
Despite being at the center of each battle and suffering many wounds, Alexander the Great always managed to find a way to avoid death. This included surviving being hit in the chest with an arrow during his conquests in India.
Alexander the Great died at age 32 from a mysterious illness. Historians believe that his body was submerged in honey to preserve it shortly afterward. To this day, the location of Alexander’s tomb remains a mystery.
The post Top 4 Facts About Alexander the Great That Might Surprise You appeared first on History Chronicle.
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