Reader Opinions
Charles B Davis – (like a hole in the head) January 31, 2025
Trepanation is a logical answer. The Andean Incans drilled holes into the skulls of warriors who had suffered head trauma due to combat injuries. Some skulls feature multiple holes, which may have been due to recurring hydrocephalus. Bone regrowth shows that trepanation was not always fatal. Ironically, the modern treatment for hydrocephalus is shunt placement, a procedure pioneered by the Columbian neurosurgeon Salomon Hakim in 1957.
Iain Duffy – (get the sack (boot, axe)) January 30, 2025
There are two ( or maybe more ) thoughts on the origins of:
(A) Ancient Roman punishments were brutal, with crucifixion topping the list. However, killing one’s relatives led to an even more bizarre penalty—being sewn into a sack with wild animals, highlighting Rome’s extreme measures for parricide. The ‘Punishment of the Sack’ involved sealing the perpetrator in a sack with a venomous snake, monkey, rooster, and dog, then tossing them into the water to meet a dreadful end through drowning—a chilling testament to Roman cruelty.
(B) It was common for workers to travel from job to job, and rather than joining a group or team, tradesmen, craftsmen and labourers would move around on their own, carrying their own sets of tools and supplies with them, and find work where they could get it.
The easiest and cheapest way to lug their tools around was in a sack, which they would then leave with their latest employer for safe keeping. Before any thoughts of unions or the like, there was obviously no job security. There were no contracts, all the workers had was a verbal agreement, so workers could be discharged at a moment’s notice. Therefore when their services were no longer required, and they were dismissed, they were literally given their sack, to pack it up and leave.
Ec – (the calm before the storm) January 25, 2025
I might have thought it was ‘the calm before the storm’ represented in the Book of Revelation in the Bible before God comes back Wrathfully to eradicate evil.
Anonymous – (more than meets the eye) January 22, 2025
So when the doctors say it, they mean to investigate further about the condition. Thanks, good to know. Be blessed.
Marion – (beat around the bush) January 19, 2025
How about examples of beating about the bush, not an explanation of the meaning.
John D Crofts – (take it up/down a notch) January 13, 2025
I suspect that referring to taking something up or down a notch comes from the control of locomotives, both steam and diesel.
Winston – (crack the whip) January 13, 2025
Informal phrase has been used since the mid 1600 and comes from the literal crack of a whip on a Africans back to get them to pick more cotton.
CL – (that’s the way the cookie crumbles) January 5, 2025
It’s older than 1960, but here’s a single from that year by the same name:
https://www.discogs.com/release/27727107-Billy-Lillie-Thats-The-Way-The-Cookie-Crumbles-Ah-So
SMEA – (sleeper cell) January 2, 2025
There will be a major increase in the planting of sleeper cells into the USA after the incredible opening of the borders during the Biden administration. Track it back to Obama in his desire to bring down this country. it’s unfortunate that they all can’t be tried for treason.
Niek (from The Netherlands) – (vim and vigor) January 1, 2025
May I suggest that also vis comes from Latin? Vis means force, and in Latin vim is the accusative of vis. That leaves me with a missing explanation of the accusative; if the word is used in the meaning with force one would expect the ablative vi.
