Why does the phrase Swan Song mean a farewell or goodbye?
The phrase Swan Song refers to ancient legend.
It was thought that the swan, silent throughout its life, sang aloud in its final minutes.
The phrase Swan Song refers to ancient legend.
It was thought that the swan, silent throughout its life, sang aloud in its final minutes.
No, the word shyster did not come from Shakespeare’s Shy-lock. It came from a Mr. Scheuster, an unscrupulous American criminal lawyer in the 1840s.
An aglet. The metal hoop that supports a lampshade? A harp. The indentation at the bottom of a wine bottle? A kick or a punt.
Spelunking is the exploration of caves as a hobby. It is not to be confused with speleology, the scientific study and exploration of caves.
Despite many alternative claims, the first appearance in print links the term O.K. to a political organization that supported the reelection of President Martin Van Buren. The New York New Era of March 23, 1840, carried an article on the Democratic O.K. Club. The initials stood for Old Kinderhook, a Van Buren epithet derived from…
Throughout history, the wolf has been known for its insatiable appetite. This came to represent hunger and need. Thus, the Wolf is a symbol of the troubles that must be kept away.
The phrase “to look a gift horse in the mouth” is as old as the fourth century A.D. and once had a literal meaning. Up to a certain number of years, a horse’s age can be determined by examining its teeth. To perform such an examination on a horse you’ve been given is looking a…