Orgins of Expressions (NOT MINE)

>> In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. >> One's image was either >> sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George >> Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back >> while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters >> were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many >> limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are "limbs" therefore >> painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression "Okay, but it'll >> cost you an arm and a leg," >> ****************************************************** >> >> As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths >> only twice a year! (May & October) Women always kept their hair covered >> while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore >> wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs. The wigs couldn't be washed so to >> clean them, they could carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell >> and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, >> hence the term "big wig." Today we often use the term "here comes the >> Big Wig" because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy. >> ****************************************************** >> In the late 1700s many houses consisted of a large room with only one >> chair. Commonly, a long wide board was folded down from the wall and >> used for dining. The "head of the household" always sat in the chair while >> everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Once in a while an invited guest would be offered to sit in this chair during a meal whom was >> almost always a man. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in >> charge. Sitting in the chair, one was called the "chair >> man." Today in business we use the expression/title "Chairman," >> ****************************************************** >> >> Needless to say, personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a >> result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The >> women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their >> complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to >> stare at another woman's face she was told "mind your own bee's wax," >> Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term "crack a >> smile." Also, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt >> and therefore the expression "losing face," >> ****************************************************** >> >> Ladies wore corsets which would lace up in the front. A tightly tied >> lace was worn by a proper and dignified lady as in "straight laced," >> ****************************************************** >> >> Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax >> levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the "ace of >> spades." To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards >> instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people >> were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't "playing with a >> full deck." >> ****************************************************** >> >> Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what >> was considered important to the people. Since there were no telephones, TV's >> or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs >> and bars who were told to "go sip some ale" and listen to people's >> conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at >> different times . "you go sip here" and "you go sip there." The two >> words "go sip" were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion >> and thus, we have the term "gossip." >> ****************************************************** >> >> At local taverns, pubs and bars, people drank from >> pint and quart sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on >> the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention >> and remember who was drinking in "pints" and who was drinking in >> "quarts." Hence the term "minding your "'P's and Q's.

The 70’s What A Great Decade for Movies and Music

Let’s start of in the late 70’s, 1977 for instance. The movie theaters saw such hit movie like Disney’s Pete’s Dragon, Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and George Lucas’s Star Wars. All three of them were spectacular movies with majestic music accompanying them. For Pete’s Dragon it was Helen Ready’s Candle on the Water that not only won her an Oscar (for best song) but also only served as a lighthouse to her already bright career. Close Encounters and Star Wars were both mega hits for legendary composer John Williams they earned him Oscar nods for both. He won for Star Wars. Saturday Night Fever also hit theaters in 1977. This soundtrack was the pinnacle of success for the Bee Gee’s. It is to this date one of the best selling soundtracks of all time. The now seemingly dated hit songs were then fun to dance too and easy to remember. John Travolta was the marquee name in this very dated hit musical. He was the stereotypical macho man, whose hair you didn’t dare touch. Just one year later In 1978 Mr. Travolta returned to the silver screen where he again starred in a musical; named Grease. In this film he actually courted Olivia Newton John and danced around a funhouse singing (Yes singing,) of his love for her. He didn’t sing or dance again until dressing in drag 29 years later for a remake of Hairspray. Both Hairspray and Grease have Broadway and big screen connections. Moviegoers in 1978 also saw a popular pop culture icon soar unto the big screen. Superman is well known as the first comic book charater Superman: The Motion Picture earned John Williams another Oscar nomination for Best Original Score. The longest running film series of al time is The James Bond series. Roger Moore donned the tux of British super spy 007 in 1973. Paul McCartney’s Live and Let Die was the titular theme song for this piece. It won an Oscar for Best Original Score. Only four years later Moore made his third Bond film; The Spy Who Loved Me . This movie had a memorable opening theme song too. Carly Simon entitled the song Nobody Does it Better. This song in many ways became the theme music for the entire series in subsequent 007 tributes. The big screen was not the only venue to see popular music make a big boom in the 70’s. Mike Post legendary Grammy winning composer was known for his many hit TV theme song throughout the decade. He debuted done of his first television theme songs in the 70’s. This theme song was for a TV show called C.Hi.P.’s. C.Hi.P’s was popular in 1977 and it lasted six seasons with this theme music. PBS made TV history as well in his decade. The Electric Company taught many kids to read with a pulsating, reverberating theme song. There was actually two (theme songs) brought to life in this half hour broadcast. Remember the Spiderman comic book skits. Finally let’s talk about music heard on the radio. Billy Joel and Elton John both started their careers in the 70’s. They both released greatest hit albums in the early 70’s. Both Joel and john sing and write their own songs. They both have hit careers lasting over three decades and are well renown in the 21st century.