Idioms

Todays idiom: Blood is thicker than water

Today's meaning: relationships and loyalties within a family are the strongest and most important ones.

Actual idiom: Blood of the covenant is thicker than water of the womb.

Actual meaning: The term "covenant" refers to a serious and binding agreement, often formed in life-and-death situations like battle. The word "womb" represents familial ties or blood relations.

Essentially, the original saying posits that the bonds you form by choice, often by deap and lasting friendships or under strenuous conditions such as battle, can be even more potent and enduring than the ones you are born into.

The "blood" shed in forming those covenants is considered more significant than the "water" that surrounds us before birth in the womb.

Todays idiom: Jack of All Trades

Today's meaning: Today it's often used to describe someone who is mediocre at everything.

Actual idiom: A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.

Actual meaning: The original usage was far more complimentary. Being a "Jack of all trades" was seen as a positive quality, indicating a person's versatility and competence across multiple tasks or fields.

Over time, the phrase has been somewhat distorted, often followed by "master of none," overshadowing the initial respect associated with being skillfully versatile.

Todays idiom: Exception that Proves the Rule

Today's meaning: Nowadays, this phrase is often used to indicate that an exception confirms a rule is generally true.

Actual meaning: The original meaning was different: "prove" once meant "to test." In its original context, an exception tests the validity of a rule rather than affirming it. Essentially, if you encounter an exception, it prompts you to question how universally applicable the rule really is, rather than confirming its general truth.

Todays idiom: Rule of Thumb

Today's meaning: Widely used to indicate a general guideline

Actual meaning: Originally referred to an old English law allowing a man to beat his wife with a stick no wider than his thumb.

Todays idiom: Pull Yourself Up by Your Bootstraps

Today's meaning: Today, it suggests that you can improve your life situation solely through your efforts.

Actual meaning: Originally, it was used sarcastically to imply that the task was impossible, as one can't literally lift oneself by their bootstraps.

Todays idiom: Point blank range

Today's meaning: Used today to describe a shot taken at very close distance, implying a near-guaranteed hit

Actual meaning: The original meaning is derived from the French phrase "pointé à blanc," which refers to aiming at a white target.

In its original context, "point-blank" was more about aiming at a specific target rather than the proximity of the shooter to the target. The term was used in artillery to denote the distance at which a cannonball would hit the target without adjusting for elevation.

For some muskets or early firearms, point-blank range might have been around 100 to 150 yards. For larger artillery, it could be much further, extending to several hundred yards. Keep in mind that these are general figures and could vary significantly based on the weapon, ammunition, and other factors. Over time, the term evolved to signify close range in general conversation.

Todays idiom: The whole nine yards

Today's meaning: Commonly used today to mean "everything; the whole lot" or "going all the way."

Actual meaning: It referred to the length of a machine-gun belt in World War II aircraft, which was approximately 27 feet, or nine yards. Using the "whole nine yards" would imply using all the ammunition at once.

Todays idiom: Curiosity killed the cat

Today's meaning: Don't stick your nose in other people's business

Actual idiom: Care kills the cat

Actual meaning: Worrying too much will kill you.

Todays idiom: Justice is blind

Today's meaning: Justice is unbiased

Actual meaning: Justice is so corrupt that it cannot see right from wrong. The blindfolded Lady Justice used to have a gag in comics

Todays idiom: The proof is in the pudding

Today's meaning: The final results are the bast judgement

Actual idiom: The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Actual meaning: Judgement can only be reached by experience.