{"product_id":"sayings-we-forgot-were-strange-250-curious-origins-of-everyday-phrases-idioms-insults-proverbs-and-old-expressions-paperback","title":"Sayings We Forgot Were Strange: 250 Curious Origins of Everyday Phrases, Idioms, Insults, Proverbs, and Old Expressions - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eArthur Bellamy\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy do we say someone has \"let the cat out of the bag\"? Why is a false clue called a \"red herring\"? What does it mean to be \"caught red-handed,\" \"beyond the pale,\" or \"worth your salt\"?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMost people use these phrases every day without giving them a second thought. Hidden inside them are forgotten worlds. Ancient rituals. Medieval markets. Public punishments. Sailing ships. Taverns. Theatres. Battlefields. Trades that vanished centuries ago but somehow left their fingerprints all over the English language.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cstrong\u003eSayings We Forgot Were Strange\u003c\/strong\u003e, Arthur Bellamy uncovers the fascinating origins of \u003cstrong\u003e250 everyday phrases, idioms, insults, proverbs, and old expressions\u003c\/strong\u003e, revealing where they came from, what they originally meant, and how their meanings changed across the centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTravel through the strange history behind familiar sayings and discover: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- The real stories behind some of the most common expressions in English\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- Forgotten customs, beliefs, trades, punishments, and superstitions preserved in language\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- Animal sayings, food phrases, legal expressions, nautical terms, theatrical language, religious sayings, and much more\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- Popular origin myths that sound convincing but collapse under scrutiny\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- Surprising facts, curious histories, and linguistic mysteries that continue to puzzle scholars\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach entry includes an evidence rating that separates established history from speculation, helping readers distinguish between documented origins and stories that have simply been repeated for generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePacked with history, folklore, language, trivia, and remarkable true stories, this is a book for anyone who has ever wondered why we say the things we say.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe phrases survived.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe worlds that created them almost disappeared.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis book brings them back to life.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 196\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.45 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e June 10, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67869754851486,"sku":"9798235881020","price":31.46,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7748\/8030\/files\/sEhSlBXi1J9798235881020.webp?v=1793314658","url":"https:\/\/theword.com\/products\/sayings-we-forgot-were-strange-250-curious-origins-of-everyday-phrases-idioms-insults-proverbs-and-old-expressions-paperback","provider":"TheWord.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}