This phrase dates back to the 16th century when ships had to break through ice to navigate frozen waters. It was later adopted metaphorically to describe the act of easing tension in social situations.
1 -Break the Ice
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During wartime, soldiers had to bite on a bullet during surgery to endure pain without anesthetics. Today, it means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage.
2 - Bite the Bullet
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In maritime terminology, sailors used this phrase to describe someone who was ill and had to stay below deck due to rough weather. It now commonly refers to feeling unwell.
3 - Under the Weather
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This expression comes from tennis, where the ball being in a player's court means it’s their turn to make a move. It now signifies that it’s someone’s turn to take action or respond.
4 - The Ball is in Your Court
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In ancient Greece, voting involved beans, with white beans indicating a positive vote and black beans a negative one. Spilling the beans meant revealing confidential information before the official count.
5 - Spill the Beans
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This phrase may have originated from the method of slaughtering pigs, where a bucket was placed beneath the animal, which would kick it during its final moments. It is now a euphemism for dying.
6 - Kick the Bucket
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In medieval markets, farmers would sometimes cheat buyers by substituting a cat for a pig in a sack. The phrase refers to the secret being exposed once the cat was let out.