Bizarre Sayings and Their Origins

5. Stumped

Lost for an answer? Let me help. The term, like a few other figures of speech now part of the English language, owes its existence to cricket. In the game the wicket is also called a ‘stump’. This alternative name goes back to the original wicket, which was a convenient stump in the field, the part of a tree trunk left standing after the tree had been felled or decayed naturally. A bowler who has hit the wicket, or stump, has

outwitted the batsman – he has stumped him. Back to the pavilion with you!

4. Gone for a Burton

In English slang ‘gone for a Burton’ means that someone is lost/missing, or has died. The township of Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire, in medieval times was already renowned as the centre of brewing. In the 19th century Lord Burton carried on the tradition. Soon his beer, called by his name, was promoted all over Britain. A special advertising campaign employed a series of large posters showing a workman asking ‘Where is George?’. This went on for a number of months and people started wondering what it was all about, who was this George and why was he missing. At long last the public was given the answer on another poster. This explained that George was absent and not doing his job because he had ‘gone for a Burton’ at his local pub.

3. Born with a Silver Spoon

A spoon was once commonly a godparent’s gift to a child on the occasion of its christening. Customarily, the spoon was dedicated to a patron saint whose image was embossed on it. The spoon, therefore, not only served a practical purpose, but was also believed to invoke the saint’s protection for the child. At a time when everything was still hand-carved, and ordinary people’s spoons were made of wood or horn, to be given a silver spoon was especially appreciated. It was not only a useful gift, but a precious one as well. Wealthy people really had no need for such a present. Metaphorically speaking, their offspring was born ‘with a silver spoon in its mouth’ already.

2. Toe the Line

Anyone expected to conform to rules has to toe the line. Used figuratively now, originally the expression was meant literally. It comes from sport, where it was first applied in foot-races. To make sure that none of the runners started ahead of the others, each of the contestants had to place his toes against a line marked on the ground.

1. Stuffed Shirt

Someone who is pompous and conceited is called a ‘stuffed shirt’. Their description goes back to American women’s fashion in the early 1900’s. At that time, women wore ‘shirtwaists’. These were dresses or blouses tailored like shirts. As dummies were not yet in existence, stores, to display the garments in their show windows, stuffed them with tissue paper. They may have looked good from afar but on closer inspection they proved to be flimsy, without substance.