Historical Facts

[Sheneval]

I recently received an email a list of above and thought I might share them with others so here is the first:

There is an old Hotel/Pub in Marble Arch, London , which used to have a gallows adjacent to it. Prisoners were taken to the gallows, (after a fair trial of course) to be hung.

The horse drawn dray, carting the prisoner, was accompanied by an armed guard, who would stop the dray outside the pub and ask the prisoner if he would like ''ONE LAST DRINK''.
If he said YES, it was referred to as "ONE FOR THE ROAD"
If he declined, that prisoner was "ON THE WAGON"

Will make me think twice the next time somebody in the GR asks me if 'I want one for the road'

[julesapple]

I suppose, in modern terms, 'one for the road' could be deemed your last drink ever, if'n you're drink driving and have fatal accident.

The origins of proverbs and slang saying are fascinating. I have a brilliant book about it by Nigel Rees, called A Word in Your Shell-Like.

[Jeanied]

I had fun before christmas with one of the youngsters I know - demonstrating the proper use of a pen-knife! Using some big pigeon feathers found in the park we made quill pens and wrote with them!

[Sheneval]

Here is the second:

The next time you are washing your hands and complain, because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be:

Here are some facts about the 1500's:

Most people got married in June, because they took their yearly bath in May and they still smelled pretty good by June.
However, since they were starting to smell, brides carried a bouquet of flowers, to hide the body odour. Hence the custom today, of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!"

[julesapple]

More Than You Can Shake a Stick At

Shepherds controlled their sheep by shaking their staffs to indicate where the animals should go. When the shepherds had more sheep than they could control, it was said they had “more than you can shake a stick at.”

[Rocketron]

A "Cock & Bull" story apparently had it's origins somewhere on the old road to London from the North.
This particular place had 2 inns, you can guess the names, and the patrons of each would swap tales of what to expect further on the jouney.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Rule of Thumb.

In the 17th century Judge Francis Buller ruled that is was lawful for a husband to beat his wife with a stick, providing the stick was no thicker than his thumb.

Potty

[Sheneval]

Rule of Thumb.

In the 17th century Judge Francis Buller ruled that is was lawful for a husband to beat his wife with a stick, providing the stick was no thicker than his thumb.

Potty

Potty - the first of the bleeding heart liberals

[Bill HH]

Rule of Thumb.

In the 17th century Judge Francis Buller ruled that is was lawful for a husband to beat his wife with a stick, providing the stick was no thicker than his thumb.

Potty

And the moral to that is always marry a man with thin thumbs.

[Tripmeup]

Don't know the origin....but know a few victims of this saying
"If a woman doesn't get the man she wants, woe betide the man she gets"

[WilliamD]

Until the middle of the 20th century hat manufacturers used mercury to help separate the fur from animal skins, in order to make felt. Many workers suffered severe mercury poisoning and the associated brain damage and mental instability. From there came the phrase 'mad as a hatter'.

[Sheneval]

Here's another:

Houses had thatched roofs, thick straw piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

[Thelma Sanders]

I thought 'rule of thumb' was the miller checking how fine the flour grind was.

That's what Ruth Goodman was told when she did the mill scene - was it this series (Tudor) ?

[RedThorn]

I too have heard both explanations for rule of thumb

Rooms not big enough to swing a cat in

Comes from cat of nine tails and it was a particularly nasty whip. And required a fair bit of space to swing to create havoc on the poor victim

[ancee]

And the moral to that is always marry a man with thin thumbs.

Or no thumbs - then he can't even hold a stick!