What’s the Word: Popular expressions can have unusual origins
As anyone who reads this column knows, I’ve always been curious as to where some of the phrases we hear in common use today originated. It’s been a while since I’ve ventured into this territory, so I thought I would check out some of these linguistic curiosities.
One I’ve always found amusing is 23-skidoo, which is generally used to get people to move along or get them out of the way, as in “He gave them the old 23-skidoo.”
According to the New York Library’s Book of Answers, this one was begun by New York’s finest in the years prior to World War I. It seems the corner of 23rd St. and Broadway was traditionally the city’s windiest, and men used to stand outside the famous Flatiron Building and try to get a glimpse of women’s ankles as the breeze blew up their skirts. Of course, the police did their duty and asked the voyeuristic fellows to move along, giving rise to the phrase which is still in use today, though not usually for the same reason.
Some phrases actually come from outdated references, like “armed to the teeth.” It seems pirates coined this phrase back when they only had single shot black powder weapons and cutlasses. They would carry as many of these weapons as they could in order to keep up the fight, including a knife carried in their teeth, hence the phrase. Of course with today’s weapons with cartridge clips of seemingly unlimited capacity, at least in the movies, one would rarely need to carry an extra weapon between the teeth, but the phrase is still very much in use.
Another phrase with a somewhat antiquated origin is “can’t hold a candle to.” As in “Ted Danson can’t hold a candle to Tom Hanks in acting ability. (Um, sorry Ted, you were great on “Cheers” but hey, we’re talking “Forrest Gump” quality here.)
In any case, prior to electric lights, anyone trying to do something in the dark needed a helper to hold a candle to aid in the performance of the task, much like someone holding a flashlight today. Of course, holding the candle didn’t take a whole lot of expertise, so to speak. So someone who isn’t even sharp enough to hold the candle is perceived as, shall we say, not very competent. Technically these days we should probably say, “can’t hold a flashlight to,” but it doesn’t have quite the same ring does it? So we seem to be stuck with the outdated candle reference.
Here’s another old-fashioned one I love, “close but no cigar.” This one came about when carnivals still gave out cigars as prizes in games of skill, particularly in shooting games. If you didn’t quite hit the target, you were close, but didn’t get that cigar. The reason cigars were dropped as carnival prizes is pretty obvious, particularly considering today’s attitude toward the proverbial stogie, and smoking in general. But people who don’t quite make it, or miss out on a great opportunity because of some minor mistake are still regaled with the antiquated “close, but no cigar” phrase.
Oh, and here’s one that’s hot stuff, “hold your feet to the fire.” As in, “You told me you would help with the party and I’m going to hold your feet to the fire to make sure you do.”
Now the origin of this one is particularly unpleasant. Seems it stems from a torture used during the Inquisition. To extract a confession of heresy, non-believers were positioned so inquisitors could apply flames to the feet until the accused either confessed or died. Oddly enough, some say there is a modern parallel to this – plea bargaining, where the accused is offered the choice of a reduced sentence for a full confession, or otherwise risk a much worse penalty, even death.
Well, at least they don’t get a hot-foot anymore.