Origins

[Sharky]

A saying I've often heard and used "as mad as a hatter", but never knew what it meant or came from. Well today I learned during a visit to the light house on the White Cliffs of Dover. The guide explained that the light rotated on a bed of mercury, but was quite safe. Unlike hat makers, who used to work with heated mercury in their process, which used to give rise to poisonous vapours which would affect the brain and make them insane. Hence "as mad as a hatter".

Obvious when you know!

 

[classic33]

"Balls to the wall"
It derives from aviation. The ‘balls’ sat on top of the levers controlling the throttle and fuel mixtures. Pushing them forward toward the front wall of the cockpit made the plane go faster.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Unlike hat makers, who used to work with heated mercury in their process, which used to give rise to poisonous vapours which would affect the brain and make them insane. Hence "as mad as a hatter".

Obvious when you know!

And attributed to Stanley Royd, an Asylum that was built on the north side of Wakefield
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Riding_Pauper_Lunatic_Asylum

The phrase 'Around the bend', also directly refers to Asylums, as some (like High Royds/Menston) were laid out with a sweeping drive, hiding the buildings from the prying eye, hence, the patients were...................

 

[Sbudge]

As I recall "Daft as a brush" refers to the behaviour of young foxes (brushes) in Spring. At least so my gamekeeper Dad used to tell me. His memory has gone now so I spend my time telling him interesting snippets that he'd told me. Recycling in action!

 

[Tin Pot]

"To shoot one's bolt"

 

[classic33]

"To shoot one's bolt"

800 years old and you remember the start of its use!

 

[classic33]

And attributed to Stanley Royd, an Asylum that was built on the north side of Wakefield
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Riding_Pauper_Lunatic_Asylum

The phrase 'Around the bend', also directly refers to Asylums, as some (like High Royds/Menston) were laid out with a sweeping drive, hiding the buildings from the prying eye, hence, the patients were...................

That's local to this area!

 

[Sharky]

Another one "money for old rope". There are a few definitions on Google, but none that is the one I was told a while back.

In the days of public hangings, following the hanging of notorious villains (e.g. Dick Turpin etc), the hangman used to sell pieces of the rope as souvenirs to the crowds. And as you can probably guess, the lengths of all the souvenirs sold far exceeded the length of the rope used for the actual hanging.

 

[classic33]

Another one "money for old rope". There are a few definitions on Google, but none that is the one I was told a while back.

In the days of public hangings, following the hanging of notorious villains (e.g. Dick Turpin etc), the hangman used to sell pieces of the rope as souvenirs to the crowds. And as you can probably guess, the lengths of all the souvenirs sold far exceeded the length of the rope used for the actual hanging.

Possible nautical explanation as well

 

[classic33]

"Goodbye" a contradiction in words.

 

[Moon bunny]

Possible nautical explanation as well

CANOE
(Campaign to Ascribe a Nautical Origin to Everything)

 

[classic33]

CANOE
(Campaign to Ascribe a Nautical Origin to Everything)

Longer lengths required at sea than on land. The smaller pieces not used on ship, were sold on land.

 

[andytheflyer]

Another one "money for old rope". There are a few definitions on Google, but none that is the one I was told a while back.

In the days of public hangings, following the hanging of notorious villains (e.g. Dick Turpin etc), the hangman used to sell pieces of the rope as souvenirs to the crowds. And as you can probably guess, the lengths of all the souvenirs sold far exceeded the length of the rope used for the actual hanging.

I think it's about getting paid for unravelling old rope to make oakum for stuffing into the gaps in the hulls of planked boats to make them watertight - hence getting money for old rope.

 

[welsh dragon]

Blood is thicker than water is said to originate from ancient times, when warriors shared blood on the battlefield. Because they shed and shared blood they felt that they were closer to their comrades than their families.

 

[biggs682]

Short walk on a long pier