3 Idioms and Their Origins

Have you heard the idiom, “cat got your tongue?” There are so many we use nowadays that have you ever wondered where they came from? Here are 3 idioms and where they came from:

Bite the bullet. First recorded in 1891, this saying came from the days when doctors were short on anesthesia or time during battle. Doctors would have the patient bite down on a bullet to distract from the pain.

Turn a blind eye. This idiom comes from the British Naval hero, Admiral Horatio Nelson, who had one blind eye. Rumor has it, when British forces signaled to him to stop attacking Danish ships, he held his telescope to his blind eye and said, “I do not see the signal.” He continued his attack and was victorious.

Give a cold shoulder. During the medieval ages, giving a cold piece of meat to a guest was the polite way to let them know it was time for them to leave.

To read more idioms and their origins, read the full article here.