Explaining the Origin of Ten Common Words, Terms and Phrases

Sometimes I wonder where names come from; how phrases became common; and why we say some of the things the way that we do. Growing up, I was always taught not to use the word "ain't." However, now it is a part of our common way of speaking with its own place in the dictionary.

Not that long ago, English teachers taught that it was incorrect to end a sentence with a preposition. Yet today, people do it all of the time. Instead of asking "do you want to come with me to the mall," the sentence is cut to "do you want to come with?" How in the world did that happen?

In exploring some of these odd little changes, I ran across some interesting explanations about why we say some of the things that we do. I thought it might be fun to share some of that with you.

A lot of states still have something called "blue laws" on the books. Blue laws refer to a group of puritanical laws that were established when our country was new but have never been changed.

Blue was the chosen color of the Presbyterian religion of old England. Since many of America's early leaders came from that religion and were instrumental in the adoption of our country's early laws, they became known as "blue laws." The name stuck and we continue to use it even today.

When I worked as a nurse, I was constantly being "called on the carpet" for getting personally invested in my patients. I was supposed to remain distant and detached; something I was unwilling to do. But where did the term being "called on the carpet" come from?

It refers to the fact that a long time ago, only the boss of a company had carpeting in his office. Anyone called to the boss'' office was usually called there because they were in trouble. Thus "being called on the carpet" meant being called in for a reprimand.

How many times have we heard the saying "the handwriting's on the wall?" But where did that saying come from? It is actually a reference to the Bible, in the book of Daniel, when the words "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Uphasin" appeared on a wall to announce the loss of Belshzzar's kingdom.