The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-07-01
FAMILIAR PHRASES.
Curious and Amusing Origin of
Many of Them.
From the Troy Times.

AN VI Sii vi iIoSCo lo Sui lOuo ohO
interesting, and speculations in regard
to their origin are very common
The common phrase, catching Tar
tar" has its origin variously stated
Grose, the antiquarian, says it came
out of story of an Irish soldier in
the imperial service, who, in a battle
against the Turks, called out to hi,
comrade that he had caught a Tartar
"Bring him along, then," was the re.
ply. "He won't come," answered
Paddy. Then come yourself" said
his comrade. TO which the Hiber.
niaD responded: "Ah, but be wont
let me-"
"You cannot say boo to d goose,
How often have persons relieved their
feelings of irritation at the weakness
of others by hurling this phrase
at them! Had the latter only known
its origin they could have been paid
back in their own coin. The origin is
this When Ben JonsOn, the dramat-
ist, was introduced to a nObleman,
the peer was 50 struck with his home
" appearance that he exclaimed:
"What! are you Ben JOnson? Why
you look as if you could not say boo
to a goose" "Boo!" exclaimed the
witty dramatiSt, turning to the peer
and making his bow.
The phrase putting the cart before
the horse" can boast Of great antiqui>
ty, having first been quoted by Lucian,
the great Greek writer, nearly seven
teen hundred years ago. Francis
Babelais, the French satirist and wit,
whose "Gorgantua" was published in
the year 1888, has the phrase "He
placed the carriage before the stee1. !"
No derivation of it can be given, but
the meaning is very obvious and re-
fers to those who begin to do thing at
the wrong end. 81 have a Lone to pick
with you" is a phrase that is uncom-
plimentary to the ladies at starting.
1t means, us is well known, having an
unpleasant matter to settle with you,
aud this is the origin of the phrase:
At tie marriage banquets Of the SiciI-
liam poor, the brides father, after the
meal, used to hand the bridegroom Il
bone, saying, "pick the bone, for you
have taken in hand n harder task"
The well known saying that the
shoemaker should stick to his last,
originated with Appelles, the celebra>
ted Greek painter, who set picture
he had finished in a public place and
concealed himself behind it, in order
to hear the criticism of passers by. 4
shoemaker observed a defect in the
shoe, and the painter forthwith cor
rected it. The cobbler came again
the next day, and encouraged by the
success of his first remark, began to
extend his censure to the leg Of the fig
ure, when the angry painter thrust
out his head from behind the picture
and told the shoemaker to keep to his
trade.
There is a good time coming boys;
A good time coming" was written
thirty years ago Dv DIR. Charlie Mack
ey and sung with great popularity by
Hart Russell, in his concerts through
out the British Islands.
Going the whole hog" This
phrase originated in ireland, where a
British shillinghas been called "a hog"
time out a mind. In Ireland, if a
fellow happened to have shilling
when he met his friends, he would an
nounce that he would stand treat even
if the expense reached the whole
amount-in plain words, that he
would Ego the whole hog to crafty
them.
mine tailors make man" is an old
phrase. 1t is first to be found in a
book called "Democritus in London" p"
published in 1862, in note which
runs thus: Let the following be recor-
ded in honor of the tailors."
There is proverb which has been of old,
And many men have likewise been SO bold.
To the discredit of their taylor trade,
Nine taylors goes to make up a man, they said
But for their credit I'll unriddle it t'yon:
draper once fell into povertie;
Nine taylors joined their pn-ses together then
To set him up and make him a man again.
Another and later account of the
origin of the phrase runs thus. In
1872 an orphan boy applied for aims
in a fashionable shop in London, in
which nine journeymen were employ
ed. His interesting appearance open
ed the hearts of the benevolent gen.
tleman OF the cloth, who Immediately
contributed nine shillings for the re.