Did you know

“Close, But No Cigar”
Back in the 1800s, you’d hear this phrase if you were a loser at the carnival. Common prizes back then were cigars, so a smug carnie would use the phrase on you if you were close to winning but still lost and won’t be getting a prize.

“Burning the Midnight Oil”
This phrase means that you’re staying up late and working hard on something. Back before electricity, candlelight or lamp oil was used to light up a room. When you stayed up late for work, you were literally burning the oil at midnight.

“Jumping On the Bandwagon”
You would use this phrase to describe someone who is only doing something because everyone else is doing it. In the mid-1800s, circuses would go around town before setting up. Bandwagons would lead the parade and politicians rented them to talk to voters as they passed by. Back then, the phrase was “don’t jump on the opponent’s bandwagon,” meaning you shouldn’t go along with whatever is popular at the time.

“Get Off Your High Horse”
Cars weren’t always around and horses used to be the best form of transportation. Owning a horse was a sign that you were part of the upper class. The phrase “get off your high horse” is asking the uppity horse owner to jump off their horse, humble themselves, and lose the entitlement.

“As Mad as a Hatter”
You remember the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland, right? He’s based on a real issue that was common with hatters in the 17th and 18th centuries. A side-effect of making felt hats was often mercury poisoning, which can cause issues that lead you to go insane (or mad).

“Take It With a Grain of Salt”
This phrase has one of the oldest origin stories on the list. Originally seen in 77 A.D., this phrase wasn't made popular until the 17th century. It was thought that a grain of salt would help with digestion and could also be an effective antidote for poison. Nowadays, the phrase means to avoid taking things literally or approach things with skepticism.

“Dressed to the Nines”
In the 18th century, if you wanted a suit then you had to have one made. “Dressed to the nines” refers to the nine yards of fabric it took to make a whole suit, including the vest and jacket. Today, it just means someone is dressed really fancy.

“Time to Face the Music”
This is actually an old military term. Back in the early American colonial era (think the early 1600s), disgraced military officers had to face a drumline when they were discharged. While the bad officers were literally facing the music, today it means to face the consequences of our actions.

“Carbon Copy”
Technology has made a lot of these phrases seem old fashioned. “Carbon copy” refers to a time before copier machines. Copies used to be made by sliding carbon paper between the original document and blank paper, which transferred the contents. Today, it means “exact copy.” Fun fact: the little “cc” in e-mails stands for “carbon copy.”

“Blackballed”
You’d recognize this phrase when it’s used to describe someone who got “blackballed” from Hollywood. It means there was a secret, unanimous vote to reject a particular person from the space. In 18th century social clubs, a committee voted on who could be a member. An anonymous vote using colored balls were used for ballots, so being “blackballed” meant you were completely rejected.

“At the Drop of a Hat”
If you do something at the drop of a hat, it means you acted “without delay or good reason.” However, in the 1800s, it was to signal the start of a race. A hat was thrown in the hair and when it dropped to the ground, that was the sign to take off.

“Pulling Out All the Stops”
This phrase means you’re trying everything you can and giving your best effort. It became popular in the late 19th century after organ players would remove the stops from every pipe on an organ. This would allow the organist to play at the highest possible volume.

“Straight From the Horse’s Mouth”
When someone says this phrase in today’s time, it means that you’re getting information from a reliable source. The original definition isn’t too far off, either. It comes from the early 1900s and describes the practice of examining a horse’s teeth to find out its general age and health. If someone trying to sell you a horse was lying about the quality, you could just look in its mouth and see for yourself.