Exploring the History Behind Three Common English Sayings

As writers, we love to play with words. We twirl them around on our tongues and pop them out in various ways. Sometimes we cajole; other times we inspire or inform. We create jokes to entertain or puns that bring on groans.

Occasionally, we use phrases we learned as children, even though we might be uncertain about their meanings or origins. Often, the phrases were first used centuries or even millennia ago. These idioms frequently contain accepted truisms that have survived through the ages. But understanding their meaning, and when they became commonplace, is essential to creating fiction that can keep your readers immersed. In part one of this ongoing series, we're exploring the origins of a few recognizable idioms you may be tempted to use in your writing. Whether you want to ensure your creative turn of phrase truly means what you intend or your historical novel's dialogue is keeping with the times, the list below is a great lesson in what many everyday English sayings actually mean.

‘Once in a Blue Moon’

Example: The woman, doubtful that her husband will clean the garage as promised, scornfully notes, “That will happen only once in a blue moon.”

Often used to show a rare occurrence, the phrase “once in a blue moon” is sometimes misleading as a true “blue moon,” or a full moon that occurs twice in the same month, will happen about every two and a half years. The moon itself rarely appears blue; that only happens when atmospheric conditions are just right.

“Blue moon” has been a popular phrase in music across generations, starting with Ella Fitzgerald singing the song “Blue Moon” in the 1930s. The popularly attributed authors, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Milton Hart, were sued for not being the original composers of the song, and they eventually settled with the original author so they could use the music.

Since then, several artists have recorded their versions of the song, including Elvis, Dylan, and Sinatra, along with country singers Roseanne Cash and Toby Keith. Each put their personal touch on the phrase, giving it either a rare or lonely connotation.

‘All that Glitters is Not Gold’

Example: The girl quickly learns that all that glitters is not gold when she finds out that her handsome boyfriend is cheating on her.

Meaning that not everything is truly as wonderful as it may appear on the surface, this phrase shows up in French medieval literature, The Canterbury Tales, and eventually Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice, where he used the word “glister” instead of the now popular word “glitter.”

People sometimes used the phrase literally in nineteenth-century searches for the precious metal when prospectors or miners were misdirected by finding mica, or “fool’s gold.” Also, in the mid-nineteenth century, writers Theodore Heaton and Welford Vawn used the phrase for the title of a song that became popular then.

In the late twentieth century, the phrase was turned around and used by the rock band Led Zeppelin in their song “Stairway to Heaven,” still covered today, when they say “All that glitters is gold.” Even more recently than that, the movie Fool’s Gold starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, released in 2008.

‘Face the Music’

Example: The student, who was caught cheating on his exam, had to face the music and accept a failing grade on the test.

To “face the music” is to own up to one’s actions by addressing the consequences. Although the origins of this phrase are murky, we find it as an American phrase in the nineteenth century in a military context, according to Grammarist. A soldier who had not followed orders could be forced to leave his unit by walking past his comrades to a drumbeat. Other references describe actors who receive their first critiques after a live performance by looking at the orchestra pit they face before seeing the audience.

In the 1930s, Irving Berlin used the phrase “Let’s face the music and dance” in a song in the movie Follow the Fleet with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The 1980s saw a TV show of that same name, while more recently, The New Kids on the Block released an album titled Face the Music.

Remember, in writing, as in life, there can be too much of a good thing. When overused, idioms can lose their punch—and possibly your reader. Just as you moderate slang and your own overused phrases, do the same with idioms. Then they can be appreciated for the unique zing they bring to your story.

What idioms, phrases, or sayings should we explore next? Email us at [email protected]!

Sharon Kay Dooley