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Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 10:41:02 EDT
Subject: Interesting expressions from Colonial times
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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
statement, "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg."
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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
statement "Here comes the Big Wig" because someone appears to be or is
powerful and wealthy.
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In the late 1700's, 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
statement/title "Chairman."
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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
statement "losing face."
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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".
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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."
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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."
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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."
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