Some of our favorite idioms were born out of necessity – like “put a sock in it” in order to stop someone from talking incessantly. Others, however, have interesting and amusing origins story. Here are ten of the most popular idioms and their curious origins!
1. 'Borrowing trouble' is a phrase that originated in old English law. If someone was accused of a crime and had no money to pay for bail, the judge would let them "borrow" the trouble (and risk being incarcerated) by pledging trustworthy friends or family members as sureties. This saying is based on this old law because borrowing trouble has essentially become synonymous with taking a risk without preparing for it.
2. 'Lost in translation' is an expression that comes from the literal truth: when people travel to different countries, they can sometimes find themselves struggling to understand each other due to the languages barrier. This phrase reflects that feeling – particularly when trying to