'Strange' sayings & their derivations ?

[Techno]

Inspired by a comment in a recent thread.

What sayings do we all think we know the origins of ?
But which are myths ?
Which sayings would we like to know the origins of ?

For example.
"Freeze the balls off a brass monkey."
A naval expression from the times when ships has brass trays (monkeys) on the deck to hold a small pyramid of cannon balls. (?)
I'm now told this explanation is a load of b*lls itself ! 

"The whole nine yards."
After believing for years that this had origins in an American Football commentary.....
I was told 'for definite'.....This referred to the length of some machine gun belts. (A Spitfire ?)
But is the 'definitive' answer correct ? There seems to be some debate.

Offers, Gents ?

Cheers - Phil.

[OldenBUA]

Ah, the wonderful and respectable study of etymology!

You could have a look here: http://www.phrases.org.uk/index.html

- http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cold%20enough%20to%20freeze%20the%20balls%20off%20a%20brass%20monkey.html

- http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the-whole-nine-yards.html

I like the idea that it's all due to CANOE (the Committee to Ascribe a Naval Origin to Everything) 

[FierceKitty]

Nine yards = sailing ship with all sails set, using three yard(arm)s each on three masts. Sounds plausible to me.

[OldenBUA]

Nine yards = sailing ship with all sails set, using three yard(arm)s each on three masts. Sounds plausible to me.

Really. Maybe you should write to the guy that maintains these pages:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the-whole-whole-nine-yards-enchilida.html

[Fenton]

Nine yards = sailing ship with all sails set, using three yard(arm)s each on three masts. Sounds plausible to me.

I always thought it came from the average  length in pages that some of the  discussions on the TMP Napoleonic thread have about  how important Blucher was at Waterloo

[Hertsblue]

The term "cock up" was always supposed to be derived from the days of sail when yards that were not parallel to the deck were said to be "cocked". Personally, I've always subscribed to the general view that it means something rather more basic. 

[Fenton]

So nothing to do with chickens escaping then?

[FierceKitty]

But the literal phallic elevation wouldn't suggest a malfunction, surely?

[Techno]

I always thought it came from the average  length in pages that some of the  discussions on the TMP Napoleonic thread have about  how important Blucher was at Waterloo

I LIKE that one !
Cheers - Phil.

[SV52]

How about these from two different sources...

"'The term 'cock up' originates to medieval archery. One of the three feathers on an arrow is a cock's feather. If the arrow was incorrectly placed on the bow for drawing and release, the arrow would go off course because of the cock's feather being up and therefore the arrow positioned wrongly on the bow. This was then known as a 'cock up'."

"The arrows of traditional English long bows had three feathers. One of these, named the "cock" feather, had to be positioned away from the line of the bow string, otherwise it would hit the string and affect the flight of the arrow to produce a "cock up"."

Any experts on medieval archery?  I'm sure there must be 

[Steve J]

"The arrows of traditional English long bows had three feathers. One of these, named the "cock" feather, had to be positioned away from the line of the bow string, otherwise it would hit the string and affect the flight of the arrow to produce a "cock up"."

Yep, that's right and the correct origin for the term.

[Techno]

The stuff you learn here !
Now I'm going to have a rant in a new thread.
Cheers - Phil.

[barbarian]

Another explanation implying a beaver.
"http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cock-up.html

[Hertsblue]

But the literal phallic elevation wouldn't suggest a malfunction, surely?

No more so than "balls up".

[FierceKitty]

No more so than "balls up".

A great deal less. Some of these things should be up in the optimum circumstances.