Where do these sayings come from?

Question

Inspired by someones earlier answer on my questions.

What are the strangest sayings you have ever heard, what do they mean and where do they come from?

ie:
Put wood in hole! means close the door (I think) & I have no clue where it comes from originally.

Answer 1

My great gran used to say 'don't stand there like Piffy on a cough drop' when she meant 'get on with it'.
If she was feeling more refined it was ' Venus on a pedestal'.

Answer 2

Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

A bit of an odd phrase but it's origins date back to the days before running tap water and when families had to share bath tubs. The eldest in the family would bathe first and ultimately work their way down the ladder to the children. By the time the kids got bathed, the water was a bit...um...let's say opaque :-)

The use of this phrase tends to imply that you keep an eye on the "big picture" and don't get rid of important items when overhauling or restarting a project.

My personal favourite (similar) is "Don't be afraid to tell them that their baby is ugly..."

Not sure of the origin, but I use it regularly. It's intent is to say - call something exactly what it is, for better or worse. To be fair, I've not been in a position to judge someones baby recently, so I don't know if I would tell a parent their baby was repugnant. Curious if anyone else has...:-)

Cheers!

Answer 3

I don't know where the phrase 'wood in the hole' comes from, but surely it's about putting the wood (the door) in the hole (the doorway). However, I've never heard this phrase used before, but am going to use it now, although (sorry to be crude!) I will use it as a reference to 'getting it on' with my boyfriend!! ; )

Answer 4

I've never heard that saying.
The ones I use a lot are:-
When folk come to my door trying to get me to change your gas electric or phone etc just say I Never fix whats Not broken. In other words don't change anything that doesn't need changed.
Another one is
Its not a bargain if you wont use it. Don't go spending your money on so called bargains if the things will only lie in a cupboard or on a shelf gathering dust.
and I also like the old saying
Never wash your dirty laundry in public meaning keep yourself to yourself.

Answer 5

My Grandad from Glasgow always used to say " Och,yer bums oot the windie"- meaning you're talking a load of rubbish.

Answer 6

You're nearly right.
"Put wud int'ole" is a famous Yorkshire saying by anon. It can only be said proper like be a Tyke, tha' 'nose.
Other sayings....."Yalattagerroff", you will have to dismount,
"Worartyevin", would you care for a drink, and "Gizzitngerrahtnit", give it me and go.

Answer 7

hello, i'm sure the correct terminology would be, put wood in'th hoil , meaning close the door, it's from yorkshire,

Answer 8

I worked with an older guy in the 60s. His comment about somebody he thought lacking:
Who him? He couldn't sh*t into his hand and punch it!

Answer 9

i think of my Grandmother invented spare the rod and smash the baby, ha. only kidding. i think maximum of those do come from the bible aside from to thine ownself be real. i think of that could have been Shakespeare And the bible under no circumstances suggested funds replace into the muse of all evil; it suggested love of money replace into the muse of all evil.

Answer 10

it is exactly what you say.

Another.... you make a better door than a window....when someone is in the way and blocks your view.