Tuesday, July 17, 2012

"Mind your Ps and Qs"

I'm like most writers - always wondering where words or terms came from. A relative in Ontario sent me the following and I thought I'd share...


The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma Flintstone





In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.  Hence we have 'the rule of thumb'

Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented.
It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only....Ladies Forbidden'.. .
And thus, the word GOLF entered into the English language.

Coca-Cola was originally green.

It is impossible to lick your elbow.

The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.


Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar


111,111,111 x
111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987, 654,321

 



Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey



If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle.
If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle.
If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.


 
In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts....
So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle
down. It's where we get the phrase:  'mind your P's and Q's'
Many years ago in England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service.    ...'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.


Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter 'A'?
A. One thousand


Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common?
A. All were invented by women.

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes.
When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on.
Hence the phrase...'Goodnight , sleep tight'

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.


Hope you enjoyed...and stop trying to lick your elbow!!

1 comment:

  1. I love learning new stuff! Had no idea about the park statues. Thanks, Mona. That could make its way into a book one day.

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