Ten Sayings and Their Strange Origins-- Part 1

From August 15, 2010, Listverse.

10..  ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, NEVER A BRIDE--  Actually a 1920s Listerine ad.  Girls, if you have bad breath, you "ain't" never gonna get married.

9.  BARK UP THE WRONG TREE--  From hunting, especially for raccoons.  When dogs would make a mistake and be barking that the raccoon was up in a wrong tree.

8.  BE ON 'GOOD FOOTING"--  Back in the day, it was the custom of a new apprentice after his first day of work to take out his fellow workers for drinks and foot the bill.

7.  BEAT AROUND THE BUSH--  Another hunting term.  Boars, when hunted, would often hide in heavy brush.  Hunters had beaters to flush them out, but fearing those formidable tusks, they would often just hit the bushes around the outside of the heavy brush.

6.  BEST FOOT FORWARD--  When one is trying to make a good impression.  This comes from the ancient belief that left is sinister and right is good.  So, when meeting someone, best to have your right foot forward.

Five More to Come.  --Cooter