The dark history behind four common expressions
History is about more than just dates and places . . . it’s storytelling at its finest.
While visiting Boston and the city’s historic sites this summer, I was captivated by the stories and storytellers I met there. Tied closely to the history of Plimouth, the Freedom Trail, and the Boston Tea Party is the language used to tell those stories. And as it turns out, the language has a history of its own.
Many of our everyday idioms and expressions have dark origins that date back to colonial times. Think about the history of these terms the next time you use them.
Riot act
Have you ever been in so much trouble that someone “read you the riot act”?
In 18th century England, the Riot Act was a law used to control unruly crowds. If a magistrate determined that a group of 12 or more people formed a “riotous and tumultuous assembly,” the magistrate would read them the Riot Act. If the group did not disperse within an hour of the reading, they could be arrested. (Source: The Phrase Finder)
Raise your right hand
Ever wonder why witnesses are asked to raise their right hands before they testify? This practice dates back to 17th century England when criminals were often branded on the inside of their right hands to permanently mark the crimes they had committed. “T” was for theft. “M” for murder. “F” for felon.
By raising their right hand if they appeared in court again, the judge and jury would know what crimes the witnesses had previously committed.
(Source: Proceedings of the Old Bailey)
Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye
How many of you remember saying “cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye” to solidify a promise you were making?
Though no one is certain exactly where this expression came from, many believe it originated from times of plague and contagion. Centuries ago, infectious diseases often swept through communities quickly, sickening and killing people en masse. In trying to contain and treat the disease, those who died of infection were often buried in mass graves or were buried quickly after death. This sometimes led to an unconscious or comatose patient being mistakenly pronounced dead and buried. To avoid this, caregivers were said to stick a needle in the eye of the patient to ensure his or her death.
To say “cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye” was to seek assurance that you would not be buried alive.
Saved by the bell
Another way to avoid being buried alive was to attach a bell to the outside of your coffin that could be rung from inside the coffin. If you woke up while interred, you simply had to pull the rope to be “saved by the bell.”
Several designs for these “safety coffins” were patented in the U.S. in the 19th century. However, there are no credible references of anyone using these coffins or being saved by them.
The more likely origin of the idiom comes from boxing. A boxer who is down for a count of 10 seconds can be saved from defeat if the bell rings and marks the end of a round before the 10-second countdown is over.
(Source: The Phrase Finder)
How about it readers? Do you have any idioms to share?
This post was first published on Ragan Communication’s PR Daily.
