Reader Opinions
Anonymous – (idle hands are the devil’s tools) July 1, 2021
We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
2 Thessalonians 3:11,12 (NIV)
Keri H – (the devil is beating his wife) July 1, 2021
Grew up in South Carolina hearing this from school kids, but my parents are from the north, so they never used this phrase. I live in Tennessee now and have for the past 30 years. I haven’t ever heard this said in Tennessee. Just now, at my home, we had a sun shower, and the phrase came back to me. I told my kids about it, and they said, “WHAT?”… so obviously, they have never heard it before either, and all 3 of my kids were born in Tennessee. It’s funny how things become exclusive to certain regions. I’ve personally lived in six states, but South Carolina is the only place I’ve heard this said.
Graeme Cheadle – (chip on shoulder) June 30, 2021
There’s no evidence the phrase dates back before the 19th century, hence the American etymology is probably the correct one here.
John Alexios – (chime in) June 28, 2021
The word chimes comes from the Greek word “kiamos”
I discovered it in an old , two volume comprehensive dictionary which traced back the origins of words.
Mary – (the devil is beating his wife) June 27, 2021
My grandmother, a first generation American of German parents, who was born in 1886 in Biloxi, used the expression. It wasn’t used during a thunderstorm, but light rain with sun shining. My mother, born in 1906 explained the expression to me when I was growing up in Tampa, Florida. I’m 75 now (6/26/2021)
We were having light rain and sunshine just now and I Googled to see if the expression was still used and hoping to find the origin.
David Silva – (go the extra mile) June 24, 2021
Soldiers could not require or order more than a mile. But if someone offered to do an extra mile, were they not allowed to accept it? It seems to me that the real message is that even if it’s not required of you, unjust system or not, you should put an extra effort on everything that you do.
Steve Durfee – (bite the dust) June 24, 2021
It’s in Homer’s Iliad, more than once. “The ground rose up to meet him and he bit the dust,” or words to that effect, if I remember correctly.
Anonymous – (throw the baby out with the bathwater) June 24, 2021
There wasn’t a shortage of water in medieval times
Anonymous – (once in a blue moon) June 24, 2021
It is obviously made out of yellow cheese, if anything.
Anonymous – (by the skin of your teeth) June 23, 2021
The origin of the phrase comes from Job who was afflicted with a skin disease on his entire body – except his gums. he refers to his gums by calling them the ‘skin of his teeth’ – which is the only part of his body that escaped the affliction.
