1. 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. That's where the phrase, "goodnight, sleep
tight" came from.
2. 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-la
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" or
what we know today as the honeymoon."
3. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old
England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them to
mind their own pints and quarts and settle down. It's where we get the
phrase "mind your P's and Q's".
4. Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked
into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed refill,
they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle," is the
phrase inspired by this practice.
5. In ancient England, a person could not have sex unless you had
consent of the King (unless you were in the Royal Family). When
anyone wanted to have a baby, they got consent of the King, the King
gave them a placard that they hung on their door while they were having
sex. The placard had F.*.*.*. (Fornication Under Consent of the King) on
it. Now you know
where that came from.
6. In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled Gentlemen
Only Ladies
Forbidden....and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
7. The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law which
stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your
thumb.
