Odd sayings we still use that might not make sense...

[M'Sharak]

On the other hand, if we go back a few centuries, spelling wasn't so standardized and prescriptive like it is now, and you would see the same words spelled different ways in different books, or even in the same book when multiple compositors were involved, such as in Shakespeare's first folio. One drama director/coach claims that variant spellings within the same scene such as "he/hee" and "faile/fayle" were actually signals to the actors to pronounce or accentuate the words differently (Source 1 and 2), but I'm not sure how accepted that notion is. Also, Shakespeare's surviving signatures show that he(e) spelled his own name a few different ways.

Kor

True, that. Standardized spelling in English only dates to the later 18th century (Samuel Johnson's dictionary) / early 19th century (Noah Webster's dictionary).

 

[StarCruiser]

^ Yep - definitely an issue. Just checking out this site proves that point:

https://www.pepysdiary.com/

 

[Owain Taggart]

On the other hand, if we go back a few centuries, spelling wasn't so standardized and prescriptive like it is now, and you would see the same words spelled different ways in different books, or even in the same book when multiple compositors were involved, such as in Shakespeare's first folio. One drama director/coach claims that variant spellings within the same scene such as "he/hee" and "faile/fayle" were actually signals to the actors to pronounce or accentuate the words differently (Source 1 and 2), but I'm not sure how accepted that notion is. It's also interesting that Shakespeare's surviving handwritten signatures show that he(e) spelled his own last name a few different ways.

I don't know if you've ever read Bill Bryson, but he wrote a humorous look at the english language that was well worth reading. Well, something tells me you'd like it

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29.The_Mother_Tongue?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=BMBaCMpQuR&rank=2

 

[scotpens]

I cringe every time I see someone render it as "with baited breath". Seriously??? .

Baited breath is when a cat eats cheese and then waits outside a mousehole. (Yeah, it's an old joke.)

. . . See also: "And so, without further ado... "

More than once I've seen that phrase written as "without further adieu." That's fine with me -- I hate long goodbyes!

 

[Owain Taggart]

More than once I've seen that phrase written as "without further adieu." That's fine with me -- I hate long goodbyes!

Yes, this one's been mangled a bit. I think the confusion stems from a similar phrase in Shakespeare, but I think they're supposed to mean the same thing.

 

[scotpens]

Yes, this one's been mangled a bit. I think the confusion stems from a similar phrase in Shakespeare, but I think they're supposed to mean the same thing.

The two words are actually completely different.

Ado, as in the title of Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing, is a contraction of at do, an older variant of the infinitive "to do."

Adieu (literally "to God") is French for "goodbye" or "farewell" in a more final sense than au revoir.

 

[Kor]

So perhaps so many people these days writing "a lot" as "alot" and "a part" as "apart" (which really has a contradictory meaning) actually has some historical weight.

Kor

 

[Owain Taggart]

The two words are actually completely different.

Ado, as in the title of Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing, is a contraction of at do, an older variant of the infinitive "to do."

Adieu (literally "to God") is French for "goodbye" or "farewell" in a more final sense than au revoir.

Ok, I figured there'd be a good explanation for it. Yes, it does make sense given the french word, but I think there also might have been some conflation at some point by some who might not be aware of the word

 

[Imaus]

I love stuff like this because humanity is probably very good at veering something off the rails to make no sense contextually.

For instance, I just saw 'In my bag' today for the first time and just...hrm. It apparently means one is in a bad mood, but when has someone ever gotten into a bag because of that?

 

[CorporalCaptain]

For instance, I just saw 'In my bag' today for the first time and just...hrm. It apparently means one is in a bad mood, but when has someone ever gotten into a bag because of that?

I've never seen or heard of that before, and I cannot Google any citation of it with that meaning.

 

[Imaus]

I've never seen or heard of that before, and I cannot Google any citation of it with that meaning.

It might be related to this;

But I've found it on OSD and UD.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

It might be related to this;

But I've found it on OSD and UD.

I'd heard of feeling bagged before, as in the first link.

As for the second link, the text there says:

"This definition is questionable and is pending deletion. It will be saved from deletion if legitimate citations are found."

But there's a link off that one, with no such notation, which is really what you want, I think:

http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/in-(one's)-bag

Thanks!

 

[Owain Taggart]

For instance, I just saw 'In my bag' today for the first time and just...hrm. It apparently means one is in a bad mood, but when has someone ever gotten into a bag because of that?

Never heard of that one, but it sounds like an animal that's gotten into a bag on the curb, such as birds or a bear, or some such

That's what it reminded me of though. It's a sound one often hears in the morning, "Oh no, something's gotten into the bag!"

 

[rhubarbodendron]

what always gives me the creeps is "killing two birds with a stone". Does that mean that in some barbaric times englishspeaking people actually used to kill cute little birds by throwing stones at them?
In German, we hit 2 flies with one swatter instead. At least we kill invertebrates...

 

[CorporalCaptain]

what always gives me the creeps is "killing two birds with a stone". Does that mean that in some barbaric times englishspeaking people actually used to kill cute little birds by throwing stones at them?
In German, we hit 2 flies with one swatter instead. At least we kill invertebrates...

Or perhaps it came from ancient Greeks in ancient-Greek-speaking times, in the myth of Daedalus and Icarus.

https://www.theidioms.com/kill-two-birds-with-one-stone

 

[Gary Mitchell]

what always gives me the creeps is "killing two birds with a stone". Does that mean that in some barbaric times englishspeaking people actually used to kill cute little birds by throwing stones at them?
In German, we hit 2 flies with one swatter instead. At least we kill invertebrates...

Poor little fly.

 

[Silvercrest]

what always gives me the creeps is "killing two birds with a stone". Does that mean that in some barbaric times englishspeaking people actually used to kill cute little birds by throwing stones at them?

People gotta eat.

 

[scotpens]

what always gives me the creeps is "killing two birds with a stone". Does that mean that in some barbaric times englishspeaking people actually used to kill cute little birds by throwing stones at them?

You think that's creepy? How about "There's more than one way to skin a cat"?

 

[M'Sharak]

what always gives me the creeps is "killing two birds with a stone". Does that mean that in some barbaric times englishspeaking people actually used to kill cute little birds by throwing stones at them?
In German, we hit 2 flies with one swatter instead. At least we kill invertebrates...

Think of hunting with a sling. Ideal stones for sling-casting might be scarce in a particular area, and could not always be retrieved for re-use, so scoring two meals with one cast instead of just one was a plus (more economical of tools and effort.)

 

[Silvercrest]

You think that's creepy? How about "There's more than one way to skin a cat"?

People gotta eat.