17 Widely Known Idioms With the Most Unexpected Origins

Idioms are a part of our written and spoken English. Each expression has its own definition that cannot be understood by interpreting the meaning and sense literally. They exist in every language and have various origins, including historical events, important figures, cultural traditions, a certain population (like native Americans), and everyday experiences. Idiomatic phrases make our speech more engaging and add depth to communication.

Many English idioms originate from literature, folklore, or specific professions, preserving historical and cultural knowledge. For college students, mastering these sayings can help improve both their written and spoken communication as well as their academic performance because it can help them sound more natural, expressive, and culturally aware.

If you are working on your essay and want to sound engaging, we have gathered a list of sayings, each with its own meaning, to help you write creatively.

The importance of sayings for students

If you are wondering how these phrases can help you succeed academically, here are some ways that mastering their use will benefit you on your academic journey.

Writing skills. Make your writing more engaging and expressive with the help of sayings and convey your ideas creatively.

Vocabulary. These phrases will make you learn new words and improve your language skills, helping you sound more like native Americans if the receiving country you study in is the USA.

Cultural awareness. Most statements reflect history and culture. Thus, these are your chance to connect with the language on a deeper level.

Learning. Studying sayings can add fun to the learning process. Make memorization easier through unique meanings and idiom origins.

Proficiency. Using these phrases appropriately in academic discussions or papers can demonstrate strong language proficiency and a good writing style.

Exam preparation. Many academic tests and language exams include idiomatic English expressions, and you may be asked to explain them or at least consider their meanings in order to find solutions and offer quality performance.

Critical thinking. Of course, these sayings will require you to think beyond literal meanings in order to avoid understanding them the wrong way. You will learn to sharpen your analytical skills, which can also come in handy in academic research.

17 sayings in different fields with the most unexpected origins

In the English language, we can find tons of statements in various spheres. Some of them are pretty general and can be used in practically any field of our lives, but some sayings are quite narrow and thus only appropriate for certain topics or disciplines; this makes them specific and a bit more complicated to understand and leads to many people interpreting them the wrong way.

In this section, we will take a look at some examples of sayings in different fields that students may face and provide you with some background knowledge concerning their origins as well as usage ideas so that you can help present yourself better on the academic scene.

4 commonly used sayings

Well, these are some commonly used idiomatic statements that you might hear from different people in your life, from peers to professors at college. As we mentioned earlier, we will present sayings with the most interesting origins, in our opinion.

Bite the bullet: To endure a painful or difficult situation with courage.

This origin traces back to the English Navy in the 19th century. During that period, sailors, under the command of Admiral Horatio Nelson, were often forced to bite the bullet to endure surgical procedures without anesthesia. This is a customary religious act, which symbolizes the acceptance of unavoidable pain.

• Use it to describe difficult assignments, exams, or personal challenges you face daily, which are like trade ships that are too massive to be handled easily.

The whole nine yards: The full extent of something.

A widely-known origin of the saying comes from World War II. Fighter pilots are said to have carried nine yards of ammunition, and once they had used the full supply, they had given the whole nine yards in battle.

Another theory suggests that the phrase has its origin in ancient India, where nine yards of cloth were needed to create a full sari. Anyway, the idiom says that you have to use all the resources at your disposal.

• Do you put maximum effort into your academic projects? Well, this saying is just for you!

Cry over spilled milk: To be upset over something that can’t be undone.

The origins of this idiom are from ancient Egypt and colonial times, where the loss of milk was considered an irreversible mistake. The idea was that once spilled, the milk couldn’t be fixed.

Currently, the meaning relates to shedding unnecessary tears over something that cannot be changed. The statement encourages us to move forward rather than worry about past mistakes.

• Students often discuss the mistakes they’ve made during an exam, but it is essential to remember that while they can’t be fixed, you can still learn from them.

Raining cats and dogs: Heavy rainfall.

One theory says that torrential rains would wash dead animals from rooftops, making it look like it had “rained” cats and dogs.

Another theory says that storm gods were associated with animals like dogs and cats.

• This is a great idea for creative writing.

5 metaphorical phrases

If you are seeking some interesting metaphors, these deserve your attention.

Burning the midnight oil: To stay up late working on something, often studying or completing a task.

The definition of this saying has its origin in the 18th century when people used oil lamps to work or read at night. The idea is that the oil burned during the night represents extra effort.

• These words can be used to describe your long study sessions or prolonged work on assignments.

A leopard can’t change its spots: A person cannot change their inherent nature or character.

The phrase originated from ancient texts and biblical references, particularly in the Old Testament, where it was said that a person cannot change their fundamental traits.

• When talking about yourself, you can use this statement to say that like any other person in this world, you have behavior or traits that are hard to change, even with effort.

Barking up the wrong tree: Following a mistaken belief or making misguided accusations.

This idiom refers to hunting dogs that would sometimes bark at the wrong tree, believing their prey was there when it had escaped elsewhere.

• Use this saying to describe incorrect reasoning or misguided thoughts in problem-solving.

Spill the beans: To accidentally reveal a secret or piece of confidential information.

One theory traces this idiom to Ancient Greece, where voting was done using colored beans; the white one was for approval, and the black one was for disapproval.

• You can use this idiom when discussing leaked information in politics, business, or personal matters.

The ball is in your court: The responsibility for making a decision or taking action is yours.

The saying’s definition comes from the game of tennis. It presents the situation when the ball physically lands on a player’s side of the court and indicates that it’s their turn to act. The statement means that a person has control over the next step in a given situation.

• Use the idiom to show when you are taking responsibility for decisions in group work or on a particular college project.

4 common expressions with historical roots

For history students (or if you are to perform in front of a history audience), these phrases can come in handy for staying on the same wavelength as your listeners or readers.

Turn one blind eye: To ignore something deliberately or pretend not to notice.

The ‘turn a blind eye’ definition takes its origin from Admiral Horatio Nelson, a British naval hero (British forces) during the Napoleonic Wars. Legend says that Nelson did turn a blind eye, during a battle, to a signal from his superior to stop beating, instead continuing to fight.

• When you choose to disregard relevant information, the “blind eye” saying will suit you to the fullest.

Read the Riot Act: To give a strict warning or reprimand to prevent further misbehavior.

The origin of the saying is in Old English law, specifically the Riot Act of 1714, which was enacted to prevent unruly assemblies. Authorities would read the act aloud to warn groups to disperse, or they would be arrested.

• This statement can help you describe legal history or a situation where someone is disciplined.

Cold shoulder: To treat someone with indifference or deliberately ignore them.

The origin of this expression is medieval times, when people gave the cold shoulder, a piece of meat, to unwanted guests. This symbolized a less-than-warm reception. Lately, the cold shoulder has become a sign of dismissal or rejection.

• When you feel ignored or that you aren’t receiving sufficient attention from a peer or professor, you can express your emotions with the help of this particular saying.

Crying wolf: To raise a false alarm, often to seek attention, or to warn about something that isn’t there.

This saying’s origin is in Greek mythology, the fable of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”, in particular. In the story, the boy falsely alerts villagers about a wolf attacking his sheep, only to have them ignore him when the real threat appears.

The moral of the saying is that it is important not to cry wolf unless there’s a real danger.

• If you want to say that a particular person exaggerates an issue or complains about something minor in a way that makes it hard for others to take them seriously, this is your way of communicating the idea best.

3 literary sayings

The same goes for the literature audience. If you want to show your expertise, you should pay close attention to the phrases related to this field.

Wild goose chase: A hopeless pursuit.

This idiom has its origin in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595), where wild goose chases were mentioned as a metaphor for pointless pursuits.

In medieval times, a wild goose chase referred to a type of horse race where riders had to follow a goose that could fly away. This was an unpredictable and difficult task.

• Use the idiom to, for example, describe efforts that are less likely to lead to success or chasing after impossible goals.

Mad as a hatter: Extremely irrational, unpredictable, or insane.

This idiom is linked to hat makers who suffered from mercury poisoning due to prolonged exposure while making hat felt. The condition, often called Mad Hatter Disease, caused tremors, hallucinations, and erratic behavior.

The phrase became widely recognized through “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, where the Mad Hatter displays eccentric behavior.

• This is a great way to describe someone acting irrationally, whether in a debate or during an exam panic.

A catch-22: A no-win situation or a paradox where a solution is impossible due to contradictory rules.

The meaning comes from Joseph Heller’s novel Catch-22 (1961), which describes a rule in World War II where airmen who were deemed insane could be grounded if they requested to be grounded. However, if they requested it, they were considered sane because only a sane person would want to avoid dangerous missions.

• Use this idiom to discuss a certain situation where the solution is pretty contradictory. Well, the most suitable example for a student is when you are trying to balance a heavy workload with limited time.

A financial expression that hooks

For business students, we have gathered some typical phrases in this particular field that can help you make your academic performance in this direction more focused and discipline-relevant.

Break even: To reach a point where neither a profit nor a loss is made, usually referring to a financial balance.

The term has been in use since the early 19th century. In business, the idiom refers to a situation where revenue equals expenses. The meaning may have been used in the context of gambling or trading, where participants aimed to reach a point of equilibrium between winnings and losses.

• If you are studying economics or finance, you can use this idiom to describe scenarios where costs and revenues balance out.

If you want to add some creativity, just browse thematic phrases, and rest assured that it will definitely impress your peers and professors. Good luck!

When aiming to enhance your language with vivid expressions, consider utilizing idioms, which can add depth and emotion to your speech or writing, a strategy often employed by professional essay writers for hire.