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Have You Heard?

   Written by on May 12, 2016 at 11:21 am

logo- community news & viewsThis reporter came across some interesting sayings recently and how they came to be.  Readers, see if you think that these are true:

A SHOT OF WHISKEY:  In the old west a .45 cartridge for a six-gun cost 12 cents and so did a glass of whiskey. If a cowhand was low on cash, he would often give the bartender a cartridge in exchange for a drink.  This became known as a “shot” of whiskey.

BUYING THE FARM:  This is synonymous with dying.  During WWI, soldiers were given life insurance policies worth $5,000.  This was about the price of an average farm so if you died, you “bought the farm” for your survivors!

IRON CLAD CONTRACT:  This came about from the ironclad ships of the Civil War. It meant something so strong that it could not be broken.

OVER A BARREL:  In the days before CPR, a drowning victim would be placed face down over a barrel and the barrel would be rolled back and forth in an effort to empty the lungs of water.  It was rarely effective.  If you are over a barrel, it means that you are in deep trouble.

RIFF RAFF:  The Mississippi River was the main way of traveling from north to south.  Riverboats carried passengers and freight but they were expensive, so most people used rafts.  Everything had the right of way over rafts which were considered “cheap.”  The steering oar on the rafts was called a “riff” and this transposed into riff-raff, meaning low class.

SLEEP TIGHT:  Early beds were made with a wooden frame. Ropes were tied across the frame in a criss-cross pattern. A straw mattress was then put on top of the ropes.  Over time the ropes stretched, causing the bed to sag. The owner would then tighten the ropes to get a better night’s sleep. (Enjoy those comfy mattresses of today!)

COBWEB:  The Old English word for “spider” was “cob.” Thus, those lovely things made by spiders in the corners of your rooms are called cobwebs.

BARGE IN:  Heavy freight was moved along the Mississippi in large barges pushed by steamboats. These were hard to control and would sometimes swing into piers or other boats. People would say they “barged in” as people sometimes do now, when they interrupt someone’s conversation!

HOGWASH:  Steamboats carried both people and animals.  Since pigs smelled so bad, they would be washed before being put on board.  The mud and other filth that was washed off were considered useless “hog wash.”  How many older folks do you hear still using this term?

HOT OFF THE PRESS:  As the paper goes through the rotary printing press, friction causes it to heat up. Therefore, if you grab the paper right off the press, it was hot. The expression means to get immediate information. So there you have it, my information is “hot off the press!”

AND, for your information, did you know that you burn more calories sleeping than you do when watching TV?  That’s why one keeps reading articles that urge you to go to bed early – you might lose a few pounds!

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