The Origin of Words and Phrases: Volume 1

Break a Leg

The phrase 'break a leg' is commonly used in the theater community to wish someone good luck by ironically wishing them bad luck. Gary Arndt explains that its origin might be traced back to the German phrase 'hals und beinbruch,' which translates to 'neck and leg fracture.' This phrase was adopted by German aviators and eventually made its way into English through German Jewish performers who immigrated to the US and England after World War I 1.

The first written examples of the term 'break a leg' being used in the context of theater only date back to the 1930s.

--- Gary Arndt

A common misconception is that the phrase originated from John Wilkes Booth, who broke his leg after assassinating Abraham Lincoln, but this is not true 1.

   

Throwing the Baby

The phrase 'throwing the baby out with the bath water' warns against discarding something valuable while trying to get rid of something unwanted. Gary Arndt notes that this phrase has German origins, first appearing in a 1512 illustration and later used by Johannes Kepler in the 17th century 1. The phrase was introduced to English by Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle in the 19th century 1.

The literal root of the phrase probably comes from the practice in the Middle Ages of taking a bath, where the last person to use the bath water would be the baby.

--- Gary Arndt

This historical context helps explain the vivid imagery of the phrase 2.

   

Raining Cats and Dogs

'Raining cats and dogs' is a phrase with obscure origins, often used to describe heavy rainfall. Gary Arndt suggests one possible origin is from the drainage systems of cities in the Middle Ages, where heavy storms would dislodge dead animals 2. Another theory is that it derives from the Greek word 'catadupi,' meaning waterfall, which was also used in Old French and Old English 2.

In Jonathan Swift's 1710 poem, he describes drowned puppies and dead cats tumbling down the flood, which could be an explanation for the phrase.

--- Gary Arndt

However, it's also possible that the phrase is simply a nonsensical expression 2.

   

Devil's Advocate

The term 'devil's advocate' refers to someone who argues a contrary position for the sake of debate. Gary Arndt explains that this was an actual role in the Catholic Church, established in 1587 by Pope Sixtus V to rigorously test the validity of candidates for sainthood 2.

A devil's advocate was to serve as a counter to those advocating for sainthood.

--- Gary Arndt

This adversarial process ensured that only those who could withstand scrutiny were declared saints 2.