| Commentary and Philosophy Non-Fiction posted November 18, 2021 | Chapters: |
...8 9 -10- 11... 
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Some of the many Idioms I've used.
A chapter in the book Idioms Explained
Three Favorites
by BethShelby
Airing my dirty laundry in public
I use these idioms constantly, without even thinking about it. I just used one a few minutes ago when someone mentioned, when reviewing my latest story, that I'd left out the "good stuff" by not telling all the secrets my son revealed about his siblings. My reply was, I think I've aired quite a bit of my dirty laundry in public.
I've heard that one started in France, and Napoleon was quoted as using it. It referred to hanging clothes outside for the public to see, particularly the frilly underwear the French ladies liked to wear. In my case, I think you know that often I tell some family secrets that might be embarassing to some of my family members. Shame on me, but I strive to be truthful.
Seeing the handwriting on the wall
Many of these sayings have their origin in the Bible. Another of my favorites is seeing the handwriting on the Wall. This one comes from the Book of Daniel when King Belshazzar held a drunken feast. He had been warned, but God's final warning informed him that he had waited too long to repent. His fate was sealed, and even then the enemy was about to take his kingdom. A mysterious hand appeared on the castle wall and wrote out his fate. The written words meant "You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting." To this day when we say this, we mean that it is too late, and the thing we dread will surely happen.
It is cold enough to freeze the balls off of a brass monkey
This one sounds a bit dirty, but it was one I'd wondered how it came to be. It wasn't anything dirty after all. This one was explained by saying a brass monkey is a brass tray used in naval ships during the Napoleonic Wars for the storage of cannonballs (piled up in a pyramid). The theory goes that the tray would contract in cold weather, causing the balls to fall off. Some say this has been discredited as to the origin, but I like the explaination. I would say that is pretty darn cold.
Airing my dirty laundry in public
I use these idioms constantly, without even thinking about it. I just used one a few minutes ago when someone mentioned, when reviewing my latest story, that I'd left out the "good stuff" by not telling all the secrets my son revealed about his siblings. My reply was, I think I've aired quite a bit of my dirty laundry in public.
I've heard that one started in France, and Napoleon was quoted as using it. It referred to hanging clothes outside for the public to see, particularly the frilly underwear the French ladies liked to wear. In my case, I think you know that often I tell some family secrets that might be embarassing to some of my family members. Shame on me, but I strive to be truthful.
Seeing the handwriting on the wall
Many of these sayings have their origin in the Bible. Another of my favorites is seeing the handwriting on the Wall. This one comes from the Book of Daniel when King Belshazzar held a drunken feast. He had been warned, but God's final warning informed him that he had waited too long to repent. His fate was sealed, and even then the enemy was about to take his kingdom. A mysterious hand appeared on the castle wall and wrote out his fate. The written words meant "You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting." To this day when we say this, we mean that it is too late, and the thing we dread will surely happen.
It is cold enough to freeze the balls off of a brass monkey
This one sounds a bit dirty, but it was one I'd wondered how it came to be. It wasn't anything dirty after all. This one was explained by saying a brass monkey is a brass tray used in naval ships during the Napoleonic Wars for the storage of cannonballs (piled up in a pyramid). The theory goes that the tray would contract in cold weather, causing the balls to fall off. Some say this has been discredited as to the origin, but I like the explaination. I would say that is pretty darn cold.
I use these idioms constantly, without even thinking about it. I just used one a few minutes ago when someone mentioned, when reviewing my latest story, that I'd left out the "good stuff" by not telling all the secrets my son revealed about his siblings. My reply was, I think I've aired quite a bit of my dirty laundry in public.
I've heard that one started in France, and Napoleon was quoted as using it. It referred to hanging clothes outside for the public to see, particularly the frilly underwear the French ladies liked to wear. In my case, I think you know that often I tell some family secrets that might be embarassing to some of my family members. Shame on me, but I strive to be truthful.
Seeing the handwriting on the wall
Many of these sayings have their origin in the Bible. Another of my favorites is seeing the handwriting on the Wall. This one comes from the Book of Daniel when King Belshazzar held a drunken feast. He had been warned, but God's final warning informed him that he had waited too long to repent. His fate was sealed, and even then the enemy was about to take his kingdom. A mysterious hand appeared on the castle wall and wrote out his fate. The written words meant "You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting." To this day when we say this, we mean that it is too late, and the thing we dread will surely happen.
It is cold enough to freeze the balls off of a brass monkey
This one sounds a bit dirty, but it was one I'd wondered how it came to be. It wasn't anything dirty after all. This one was explained by saying a brass monkey is a brass tray used in naval ships during the Napoleonic Wars for the storage of cannonballs (piled up in a pyramid). The theory goes that the tray would contract in cold weather, causing the balls to fall off. Some say this has been discredited as to the origin, but I like the explaination. I would say that is pretty darn cold.
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