Call a spade a spade?

Example: “He always speaks plainly. He’s not afraid to call a spade a spade.”
When you call a spade a spade, you speak bluntly and without delicacy or tact. The expression originates from the Greek biographer and essayist Plutarch (c.46-c.120 A.D.) although not as we know it today. In fact, the phrase used by Plutarch was ‘to call a bowl a bowl’. The Renaissance scholar Desiderius Erasmus (1467-1536) translated Plutarch’s works, and made a mistake when he came to this phrase. Apparently, the Greek words for ‘bowl’ and ‘shovel’ are very similar, as they come from the same root. Erasmus’ error was then translated into English by Nicholas Udall in 1542!

Jeans (and Denim)?

Example: “The restaurant doesn’t allow its customers to wear denim.”
Blue jeans may always be associated with America, but neither the word ‘jeans’ nor the word ‘denim’ come from there. In fact, both words derive from place names. The word ‘jeans’ comes from Italy – Genoa in particular. It originates from the French phrase ‘jene fustian’, meaning a type of cotton cloth from Genoa, and the word wasn’t actually used to mean the denim trousers that we all know and love until much later. Similarly, ‘denim’ also comes from a place name; this time ‘Nimes’ – a town in Southern France. The French phrase ‘serge de nimes’ – meaning serge (a woolen fabric) from Nimes – was eventually shortened into the modern ‘denim’.

Worth One’s Salt?

Example: “Every company worth its salt has a good website.”
If someone is described as ‘worth their salt’, it means that they are effective and efficient, and, more specifically, deserving of their pay. Salt is essential for human life and was instrumental in preserving food long before canning and refrigeration were invented. Needless to say, salt has always been considered valuable. In fact, the word ’salary’ comes from the word ’sal’ – the Latin word for salt. The word ’salarium’ used to refer to the money given to Roman soldiers for the purchase of salt. Therefore, if you are ‘worth your salt’, you are worth your pay!

Make My Day?

Example: “Keep pushing me. Go on, make my day!”
A slightly more modern saying than the one above, the line ‘make my day’ was made famous by Clint Eastwood in the film Dirty Harry. It is basically a request for the person it’s aimed at to carry on doing whatever he is doing, as it will give the speaker an excuse to behave badly. In the film, Eastwood’s character would ask criminals to break the law so that he would have reason to shoot them!

Can’t Hold A Candle To…?

Example: “In my opinion, the last Spiderman film can’t hold a candle to the first .”
If something can’t hold a candle to something else, it means that it compares badly to it. The origin of this expression comes from the fact that apprentices used to be expected to hold a candle so that the more experienced workmen could see what they were doing. Anyone unable to do even this simple task would be deemed as inferior indeed. The expression is first recorded in William Norris’s ‘No New Thing’ from 1883, where he writes “Edith is pretty, very pretty; but she can’t hold a candle to Nellie”.

To Have An Inkling?

Example: “She must’ve had an inkling about what was happening.”
If you have an inkling of something, it means you have slight knowledge of it. As for the origin of this saying, I suppose we need to know first what the word ‘inkling’ means, since it only ever appears as part of this expression, and the only thing you can actually do with an inkling is have one! The word comes from the thirteenth century, and it is basically the indistinct sound of your own name being used. Therefore, if you heard an inkling, you would start paying attention, and it is from this idea that the expression derives.