"Before you can say Jack Robinson"

The translation of "Before you can say Jack Robinson," simply means in a very short time; suddenly. This idiom came about in the 1700s. Jack Robinson was known to be very quick when it came to visitying friends and family. In fact, he was so quick visiting, it is said a person had hardly enough time to announce his arrival before he had already left.
Although Jack Robinson was well known back then, we know him as quick visiting. Everything else about this man has mysteriously vanished. Some say Jack Robinson is just an imaginary person. There is however, another Robinson behind

the scene. A sir John Robinson to be exact.
Suggestions have been made that John Robinson was the sould background behind the Jack Robinson idiom. In 1660 John Robinson was constable for the tower of London for several years. He is said to be the reason for this saying, because of the way he quickly chopped off people's heads and the ay he quickly let go of the towers inmates. Although this suggestion could be no way possible due to the hundred year difference.
People have their own thoughts and suggestions as to how this idiom came to be. The idiom "Before you can say Jack Robinson" could be used to say something such as, "I'll write this idiom essay before you can say Jack Robinson." In conclusion I suppose we will never really know the true reason behind this idiom. So all I can say is, if you ever have to get something done in a short period of time, just say to yourself, "I can do this before you can say Jack Robinson," and get motivated.

http://www.answers.com/topic/before-you-can-say-jack-robinson

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/jack-robinson.html

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder ...

Absence makes the heart grow fonder – Does anyone know what this really means? According to learnenglishfeelgood.com it means “our feeling for those we love increases when we are apart from them” or phrases.org says it means “the lack of something increases the desire for it”. In layman’s terms, all this means it that the longer something is gone, the more you will miss it. But some people don’t feel that way, some say “out of sight, out of mind” which means if it’s not there and you don’t see it, you don’t miss it as much.

In origin, Sextus Propertius – a Roman poet – showed us the earliest from of this Idiom in his poem Elegies – “Always toward absent lovers loves tide stronger flow” (phrases.org). The more modern version is the title of an anonymous poem written in 1602 but it wasn’t until Thomas Haynes Bayly’s song, Isle of Beauty, was published in 1850 when it appeared to be more widely used – “Absence makes the heart grow fonder, Isle of Beauty, Fare the well” (phrases.org).

Shakespeare used this saying in the first act of Othello when Desdemona said “I dote upon his very absence” (prideunlimited.com) and the idiom also appeared in the first line of Davison’s “Poetical Rhapsody” written in 1602.

If you are ever missing something, just remember "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" :)

"COCK AND BULL STORY"

Has anyone ever told you a story that was hard to belive? Well i have and they are told more and more every day. It's hard to belive that anybody and everybody tells a cock and bull story at least once in there life time.The meaing of the word come from Buckinghamshire, England back in the 18th and 19th century when there was two hotels known as "The Famous Cock hotel" and "The Innfamous Bull Hotel".The hotels were always competing for the travliers that were coming in and out of the town. So that is how the Idiom "COCK AND BULL STORY" arose.

"Back-Seat Driver"

Has anyone ever told how to drive? We have all encountered this; I am sure, many times.I can’t think of anything that is more aggravating than a great back-seat driver. They talk and criticize reluctantly. It almost makes you want to intentionally drive badly. Have you ever thought about where the phrase “back-seat driver” came from? I say it all the time and I was curious. This is why I chose this idiom; my siblings drive me crazy when I’m driving.

The idiom “back-seat driver” comes from the annoying person who sits anywhere in the car gripping, complaining, nagging, and criticizing your driving. This commonly used phrase emerged in to USA in early 20th century. It became a widespread the more it was used. When people realized what this was, sideline criticizers, they begin to use it. The first reference that could be found when someone used this was in 1914 from the Daily Kennebec Journal. But, could this saying always be negative? Does it always make you think negative?During the 20th century, U.S. fire departments commonly used large articulated ladder trucks, known as tillers. With both front and rear- wheeled steering, it enabled the long vehicles to turn in city streets. Quite often, the back-seat driver would have to take over in order to make the necessary turn. The differences, as you can see, are complete opposite. It was not intended to be explicit, but it’s possible that the phrase could have originated that way, although most people know it as being rude and impolite.So the next time you are driving, and someone tells you how to drive and is criticizing you on how you drive, at least you will know its origin. I have no helpful hints for you other than to block them out. You can focus on the origin of the idiom “back-seat driver” rather than listening to the person and saying what you really wanted to say.

A Day Late And a Dollar Short

You ever get into a fad or a game right as the rest of the world it getting over it. Maybe you're playing a game and the score is xx-0 and right at the end you score, well you were just "A day late and a dollar short."
The phrase is another way of putting too little too late. In other words not enough effort in not enough time. The phrase dastes back to at least the 1930's and was popular in the south. The earliest publishing it's found in is a comic strip "Out Our Way" by James R. Williams.

"A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush"

-----According to Wisegeek.com this idiom may have been established as far back as the 13th century. It’s latin form is Plus valet in manibus avis unica quam dupla silvis. This Greek Proverb was used in some of Aesop fables and the ancient romans continued it in the 1400’s. It was translated into the english language from the sport of hunting birds. Hunters thought that it was better to have one bird in hand than having two that got away. This translation, that a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the woods. What this is trying to express is, we are better off satisfied with what we have, than take a chance and lose everything.

-----Many pubs in England embraced the pub name as The Bird in Hand and there are still many today that use that name, such as a small town in Pennsylvania which is named Bird in Hand. The bird portrayed is said to be the falcon and the two birds in the bush would be the falcon’s prey. It is also thought that this phrase could have came from the biblical term in Ecclesiastes which is “A living dog is better than a dead lion.” People tend to want more than they actually need in life. So this idiom is trying to explain to us is not to be greedy in life, be happy with what we have, it is a sure thing!


References

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/329667/popular_phrases_orgin_and_meaning.ht...

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-bird-in-the-hand.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-bird-in-the-hand-is-better-than-two-in-the-bush-mea...

Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms, Author: Marvin Terban, 1996, Page 163

As Fine As Frog's Hair

Huh? As fine as frog's hair? That's what my mother said when I asked how she was today. "As fine as frog's hair." I laughed and said, "I guess that means you feel pretty good." "Yep," she said. A little research took the meaning a little farther; it can also mean happy or content.

It originated in the United States in the mid 19th century, around 1865, by C. Davis. He wrote in his diary, "I have a better flow of spirits this morning, and, in fact, feel fine as frog's hair, as Potso used to say." It has made its way to every corner of the country.

In different parts of the country, "As fine as frog's hair," is expanded with different endings. One from Texas, "As fine as frog's hair split three [or four] ways," meaning absolutely so, extremely fine, or excellent. From the heart of Dixie, "As fine as frog's hair and twice as hard to see," implies individuals that are hard to track down. "Slippery as frog's hair", also from the South, indicates "new money feels as slippery as frog hair." Whether that means recently received or newly printed is not clear.

Any way you look at it, feeling "as fine as frog's hair" is feeling good indeed!


References

Gary Martin. (2009, Unknown). As fine as frog's hair. Retrieved from http://www.dailywritingtips.com/some-hairy-expressions/
Robert Hruzek (2008, August 7). Some Hairy Expressions. Retrieved from http://www.dailywritingtips.com/some-hairy-expressions/
Unknown (2009, Unknown). Finer than frog hair - Wiktionary. Retrieved from http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/finer_than_frog_hair

Randi Bowen

Variety is the Spice of Life

From our parents, grandparents, and everyone else we've all heard those sayings that stuck in our head and helped us remember what life was all about. They range from one's we've heard a million times to one's that may be new to us. After a while these meanings sink in and we then find ourselves doing something with this thought that's with us the whole time, but let's dig in deeper.
There are so many sayings out there that one can't possibly go over all of them. So let's just cover one of them for today. How about "variety is the spice of life", ah that's one most everyone has heard. What people mean by this is that life can become more exciting with the more experiences you try. For example, a chef may use different spices and flavors to come up with a great meal. The same can be said for life, it can become great by adding different experiences and ideas to your everyday.
The exact phrase was, "Variety's the spice of life, that gives it all its flavor." William Cowper said this in his poem "The Task, written in 1785. He was just trying to get the point across that diversity makes life interesting.

There's method to my madness

There’s Method in my Madness

There are several different ways that “There’s method in my madness” has been said, the British say “method in one’s madness” and Americans say “method to one’s madness or “there is method in my madness”. This idiom came from Hamlet in 1603 by William Shakespeare. The actual line is “Though this be madness yet there is method in it”.
The meaning of the word “method” pertains to the careful, arrangement of something brilliant. “Madness” pertains to an odd, brainless act according to the idiom site.The meaning is what looks like an odd and senseless act is actually the result of a carefully rationalized plan or unusual or insane actions that appear pointless but in the end are done for a valid case. Phrases.org state the meaning as a reason behind an apparent lunacy or disarray.
I have heard this idiom since I was a little girl from my grandparents, but they said it in a question: “Is there method in your madness?” This was when I was being silly or misbehaving. I believe William Shakespeare was one of the best writers of our time and there have been several different verses from his writings that have been interpreted in many different ways.

Give the Devil His Due

Give the Devil His Due

Shakespeare was the first to coin the phrase “give the devil his due” in the late 1500’s when writing King Henry IV. Throughout history a number of authors have also included this idiom in their great works of art. A second version of this phrase is “give the devil her due” when speaking of a woman.
According to thefreedictionary.com the definition for “give the devil his due” is to give your foe proper credit (for something). Wiktionary.org defines this idiom as to acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked. When I hear “give the devil his due” it makes me think of my grandmother. She would always say, “Give the devil his due, your pappaw sucks as a husband but is a wonderful grandfather.” Even though he had faults she gave him credit for what he deserved credit for.

Under Construction

The idiom and wise sayings blog is currently under construction and will be completed and ready for posting soon!!!!