25 Origins of Everyday Sayings 

It feels so good to see new List25 videos again

25 ~ "Hold Your Horses" Actually goes way WAY back further than that. Not only do horses tend to spook at some of the weirdest things, but they're very much herd-oriented - in brief, horses are prone to bolt without warning when there's a lot of activity going on nearby. To ensure that the horse doesn't take off before you're ready, you draw back slightly on the reins just enough to eliminate slack - this is referred to as "holding". 16 ~ "Straight from the Horse's Mouth" This one is actually a three-fer. Those familiar with horses can judge a great deal about a horse simply by looking inside its mouth - it's age, how well it has been cared for, general health, and (to a degree) even its diet and how it is sheltered. Regardless of what someone else might claim about the horse, one can always get the absolute truth straight from the horse's mouth. And when someone gives you a horse, you are expected to accept the horse in the spirit in which it is given. Looking into the horse's mouth is essentially like opening a present then immediately pulling out your phone and searching the web to see how much it probably cost - it's exceptionally rude to look a gift horse in the mouth. (Later, after you get it home, is a different story.) Additionally, a horse's gums tend to recede as it ages. This exposes more of the enamel, making the teeth appear longer - aka, "long in the tooth". 3 ~ "Going Bananas" This one needs further research. A century ago, in the 'Roaring Twenties', someone who was promoting something outlandish was said to be "selling banana oil". Banana oil itself is isoamyl acetate (made from bananas, retaining the scent of bananas) and commonly used to treat the fabric used too make early aircraft (aka "airplane dope") - I'm sure you're aware of the effects of 'huffing dope'. Similar to hatters and mercury, those who used isoamyl acetate extensively were prone to (usually momentary) unpredictable outbursts.

Here’s where I gave up: Number #25. You talked about the building of the Erie Canal in 1865. The canal was completed in 1825. It was kind of a big deal and it was a big reason the north grew si much stronger than the south before the Civil War. Telling us the Erie Canal canal was built after the Civil War would be like telling us Thomas Edison invented motion pictures after watching “Gone With the Wind”.

Also, Straight from the Horse's Mouth has to do with checking a horse's teeth for their age. Tooth wear occurs starting with maturity for horses. sometimes a horse looks good and acted frisky, but when the horse was bought and taken home, it was discovered that the horse was much older than you wanted it to be, and maybe was artificially excited to act spirited. So checking the Horse's Mouth was also a way to be certain of the truth about the horse you wanted to buy. The horses age was truthful, straight from the Horses Mouth! I am full of trivia. No one plays trivia games with me anymore.

So happy to see Mike and List 25 back 🥰

I'm so glad that you're back :). My favorite saying is " running around like a chicken with it's head cut off.". My oldest niece thought it was hilarious every time I told her to stop doing that.

Funniest thing is that a bull in a china shop was debunked by mythbusters who set up a china shop in a bull pen, then let the bulls in, expecting chaos, but instead found the bulls to be surprisingly graceful to the point that the china was all still intact

One of my favorites is “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” BUT, you absolutely can have cake and eat it too. The original is, “You can’t eat your cake and have it too.” Which is true. Can’t be done. I love saying it correctly and people look at me like I’m crazy until they think about it. Great list!

Researching origins of words and phrases is one of my favorite pastimes. I knew most of these, but some were slightly different from what I had understood previously. I thought belly up referred specifically to dead fish, and had believed straight from the horse's mouth referred to the practice of inspecting a horse's teeth when looking to buy one.

Rightful host. Missed you Mike!

I just love the way you do your commentary and these videos you were missed welcome back Mike🌹🌹

My favorite is "can't hold a candle to him" referring to someone who is inferior to another person. The origin is that a servant would carry a candle to light his master's path, thereby holding the candle for the master. Someone who wasn't "good" enough to do even that was quite inferior.

I need to say this again, it's so good to have you back Mike. Watching you on patreon see what you've been going through, this fills me with such immense happiness seeing you back on you.

Yay! y'all are back! we've missed you.

Holy sh*t. Mike is back. Been awhile. Since I watched this channel.

Glad to see you guys back.

Oh my gosh, you're back! Yay, love your vids. You look well, hope all is well with you ☺

Yay for you Mike! You are so loved! We’re all coming back to List25 because you’re back!

I’m happy List 25 makes new videos again. I missed them.

This is my favorite story about an idiomatic expression: my dad came to the US as a young adult and English was sbout his 5th language, so idioms often flew over his head. Before he and my mom got married, her friends decided to throw her a wedding shower. My dad was so confused. He asked my mom, "Why do you all need to take a shower together?" Yikes!

The saying "Your call is very important to us" is a mystery to me, as it obviously isn't that important to them.😁

Glad to see you back Mike!

I thought for sure "fly in the ointment" would be included. Or "every excuse in the book." Wonderful list and their origins, all the same. Thank you, I learned a few things tonight.

Yaay! List 25 uploaded! Great to watch with my morning coffee. Greetings from Down Under. Keep up the excellent work. Love you guys. ❤

Letting the cat out of the bag. I heard a long time ago that the origin was the British navy. The cat-o-nine tails was kept in a bag and was only taken out when some one was to be punished, and yes it was truly brutal.

The ones I have used before and still use on occasion that weren't mentioned in the video are: Kill two birds with one stone; When push comes to shove; You made your own bed...now you have lie in it (only I usually leave out the last part, assuming the person already knows it). Thanks for providing the origins of these idioms.

Its awesome to have you back, great video, its nice to smile again. Thank you

I'm so happy I'm still subscribed to these guys

Wow. Haven’t watched this channel since you and Tristan left. Don’t know what happened but I’m glad you’re back!

I missed you and list 25 so much! Thanks for coming back

Hay hay now!! Long time no see!! Happy to see ya all again!

I’m so happy you guys are back. I’ve been on a List25 rabbit hole for like 2 hours now. 🤘🏻

welcome back! I'm so glad you're back and I love your little reactions in the video. keep it up!

I haven’t watched in a few years. I’m playing catch up like mad. I’m so glad I’ve found ya again.

I’m so Happy to have found your site again!!!

Saying "see you in 25" is not dumb! I thought I was creative. And welcome back! Now you're even better looking!

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth " from 1546 is one I thought you'd mention. Old horses have longer teeth. Which also leads to saying someone is "getting long in the teeth" because they're getting old.

MIKE!!! So glad to see you and L25 back. One of my fav channels.

Never heard of List 25 until this popped up in my suggestions today. I LOVE this kind of stuff. I will be checking out more of your vids

It's this guy again! Feels so good to be 2012 again!

Love these type of videos, thanks Mike

First time I've ever been compelled to re- subscribe to a channel

"letting the cat out of the bag" is only one of three terms [that I know of] for this practice, which must have been fairly common: "buying a pig in a poke", and "being sold a pup", pups often being substituted for the cat that was supposed to be a pig.

fun fact the reason songs and rhymes get stuck in your head is because your brain considers them incomplete information so it constantly goes over it again and again this is is more prevalent when you only hear a part of songs and rhymes

WELCOME BACK!!! Missed you guys!!!

The Erie Canal was built long before the Civil War (1861-65). Without doing a search, 1825 would be much closer than 1865. The existence of the Erie Canal, and the canal connecting the Illinois River through the Chicago area to Lake Michigan, is in fact a big reason why the Great Lakes states identified with the North rather than the South, since they could export directly through New York rather than New Orleans.

Very enjoyable video. Great to see you back Mike

I've heard in the old westerns "Boys belly up to the bar", it is great to have this channel back

This is very informative thank you . I've heard all of these

I’m glad List 25 is back! It’s one of my favorite channels!

Welcome back, Mike, and List 25!

Last night (October 15, 2022) is a perfect example of people "going bananas". I live an hour from Knoxville, home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers. For the first time in 16 years the Vols beat Alabama with a last seconds field goal. The stadium erupted. The city was in chaos, but unbelievably there was no violence. The fans went bananas, hell, I went bananas and I'm not a fan. Watch any fan videos on RU-vid of the final minutes of the game and the aftermath and you will see the definition of "going bananas".

Mike great to have you back. I was just thinking the other day I miss list 25.

I'm stuck on the Bull in a china shop. I've never heard the origin story coming from the 1700s. I've only heard it coming from "Jacob Faithful” (1834) by Fred Marryat. Myth Busters did an experiment and found Bulls are actually very careful. You'd be amazed how well a horse, cow, and even bull can move through tight spaces and not disturb anything.

I have just gotten one step closer to being the smartest man on Earth, Thanks for the video

Thanks again for sharing

Love the new List 25! Mike is looking good too!

Enjoyed this!

Thx, Mike. I love this stuff.

My week was made ty for coming back to the old content

Mike? MIKE?! OMG!!!! it's absofriggenlootly AWESOME to see you here again! I was devastated when I saw your farewell episode woe those many years ago (allow me poetic license) and I almost gave up on you tube all together ! I was so pissed they would treat a fellow fanboy and floridian that way! So glad your back! Now I'm going back to binge watch all the new episodes I've missed!

Great job. More please.

I appreciate wholesome content. Thanks Al and Family

Glad your back…your channel was the first or second I actually subscribe to. Way way back lol.

Welcome back really missed you . Glad you are back

Love this stuff!

My grandfather got an earworm in his ear once. Literally. It needed to be removed by a doctor and it was an exceptionally traumatic experience. I don't think it was only about corn.

Love the content love the channel!

Sooo glad to see Mike back! ♥♥♥

Love this! 😄

Idk how I just found this channel, but here we are

Love you lists…and you, Mike! You are very interesting.

I was told "hold your horses" was used by old military leaders as a warning to not use your cavalry prematurely. Guess I was ill informed

Glad you're back

See if you can find this one: As a kid, I would come downstairs dressed for church but (for example) with my socks falling down. (No spandex in the 60s.) My mother would say “Pull your socks up. You look like who come first.” Her family was long established in Eastern VA. White, Protestant, British Isles descent. Hope that helps.

I was literally just talking about you guys, glad to see you're back!

This is one of my favorite list 25’s. I do this all of the time. I was surprised I only knew 4 of the 25.

Love your vids, Mike.

Don't EVER FEEL Dum MIKE!! As a newbie to tech, and no one to teach me you make it so easy to relate when the rest leaves us lost even(65) we are so much smarter to real life so thanks for the respect in your presentation❤❤ and know from us dinosaur gen. GOD LOVE YOU!!! 😅 YOU Have NO Way of knowing how you BREAK UP The Isolation We Feel. GOD BLESS YOU PRECIOUS !!!❤❤🎉

I've missed you. Welcome back

You're one of my heros!

I'm glad to see you back!!! Mike...have you been hitting the gym? You're looking mighty thin. Keep up the great work!!

The Mythbusters tested bull in a china shop. They ran several bills through their ad hoc china shop, and the shelves came out unscathed!

So glad y’all are back to it! I got unsubscribed somehow, so I have been out of the loop. Where’s the rest of Mike? Lookin good, Mike! Can’t wait to see all of y’all’s new videos! ❤

Welcome back!

Haven’t seen this channel for about a year. You look great. Well done on losing the weight although it never looked bad on you.❤️

Welcome back Mike!

Good to see you again.

Interesting video!

You're back!!!!!!

I thought you were gone for good. Good to see you back

These are soooo interesting…I love learning new things.

Somebody has been living the "Fit" life, looking good bro!!

Wow! It's been years since I've watched you! 🥰

Knew the mad as a hatter one. The rest were enlightening. Thanks!

Under an hour! Some of the sayings used make me wonder sometimes. I'm excited to see where some of them came from.

I would think “beating around the bush” doesn’t mean “beating the bush”. Or they’d say “beating the bush”, no? By beating around the bush rather than the bush itself, a bush-beater would be avoiding the disturbance of the actual birds, which I would think be a more apt analogy.

I love you list 25! ❤❤ Simon Whistler needs some competition.

I heard that a Cat of Nine tails, that whip, was kept in a bag. If it were brought from the bag, it had to be used. And I always say "Running around like a chicken with its legs cut off" because I'm going thru the motions and getting nowhere.

Welcome back Mike