“Throwing Soup on the Sofa” and nine other common phrases explained
Here are nine phrases explained so you aren’t so confused when your Aunt from the Old Country starts ripping these out during her visit.
1. “Throwing Soup on the Sofa”
– Origin: In medieval England, it was customary to serve soup on large chunks of bread, which were laid across the lap. If someone sloshed their soup onto the lord’s luxurious sofa (a rare and prized item back then), it signaled that things were getting way out of hand. Now, it’s used to describe any situation that’s escalated into chaos.
2. “Not Enough Cobwebs in the Corner”
– Origin: In Victorian times, cobwebs were considered a sign of luck and good fortune, and overly clean rooms were thought to scare away household spirits. If someone’s home was too pristine, they’d mutter, “Not enough cobwebs in the corner,” suggesting the place needed a bit more warmth and luck.
3. “Like Herding Squirrels”
– Origin: In early American logging camps, loggers would keep squirrels as makeshift “security” to nibble on any stray food or supplies left out by bears. However, trying to manage the chaos of hungry squirrels became a euphemism for any futile task. Today, it’s used when describing impossible projects involving a chaotic crew.
4. “Painting the Chicken”
– Origin: French nobility would sometimes dye their pet chickens with vibrant colors to show off their wealth and eccentricity. But the chickens hated it, causing them to flee or make a mess. This phrase means adding something unnecessary or ridiculous to an already completed project, often ruining it in the process.
5. “Whistling at the Moon”
– Origin: According to a 17th-century superstition, whistling at the moon would ward off evil spirits. When people noticed it didn’t seem to work, it became a phrase to mock people doing something pointless or ineffective.
6. “Counting Ladders”
– Origin: This phrase was popular In 19th-century Scotland — ladder counting was an actual profession! Superstitious builders hired “ladder counters” to ensure an odd number of ladders were used to prevent bad luck. Now, the phrase is used to describe pointless rituals that people insist on doing just for luck.
7. “Hot Sauce in the Garden”
– Origin: During Prohibition, people would bury bottles of bootleg hot sauce in their gardens, code for hiding real liquor. When authorities came snooping, they’d say, “Just hot sauce in the garden!” Today, it means concealing the truth or hiding one thing with something innocent.
8. “Lemon on a Sunday”
– Origin: In early 20th-century America, it was illegal to sell lemons on Sundays in some states (it was rumored that lemon sellers disrupted church services by shouting “Fresh lemons!”). This phrase now means something refreshingly unexpected or mildly rebellious.
9. “Teaching Chickens to Dance”
– Origin: There was once a circus in France known for its dancing chickens (trained using treats), but it was expensive, time-consuming, and absurdly difficult. Now, it’s used for teaching or attempting to show someone an impossible skill.
10. “Holding Candles for the Frogs”
– Origin: Derived from a folk belief in Transylvania that lighting candles for frogs would bring good luck in spring planting. In modern times, this phrase describes anyone doing something weird or trivial in hopes of fortune—usually to little effect.
