During library lessons last week, one of the students questioned where did last names originate from?
We delved into the origins of last names linked to tribes, houses, occupations or villages; such as “blacksmith” or “from the village of Bethany”.
This got me thinking over the weekend questioning commonly used phrases, such as “at the end of my tether” or “break a leg” or “once in a blue moon”.
Once again diving into books, answers appeared. At the end of my tether links to the training of falcons for hunting purposes. Falcons were tethered to the hunter by rope until they were trained to return with their catch.
Break a leg links to the days of seafaring sailors where it was bad luck to use the term rope as this linked to the hangman’s rope and also rope was measured in legs. To break a leg was when a theater production was so successful that the curtain had to be open multiple times for applause, that it broke the leg of rope. Once in a blue moon links to a full moon that appears in a subdivision of a year: the third of four full moons in a season.
Growing up I often heard the phrase ‘”they have the patience of Job”, “they have the strength of Samson” or “that’s a David vs Goliath battle”.
Delving further into commonly used phrases was a myriad of Biblical quotes, from “they have fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4), “by the sweat of your brow” (Genesis 3:19), “my brother’s keeper” (Genesis 4:9), “eye for eye” (Leviticus 24:19-20), “he’s the scapegoat” (Old Testament ritual performed by priests), “oh how the mighty have fallen” (when king Saul was killed in battle), “to put words into someone’s mouth” (2 Samuel 14:3), “the writings on the wall” (Daniel 5:5-6), and “at my wit’s end” (Psalm 107:27).
It’s very common that many turns of phrases used today originated from quotes from the Bible.
At PCS students each week delve into the amazing Biblical quotes by learning fortnightly bible verses, as well as reading and exploring Bible parables and stories in Biblical studies. So the next time you are conversing with someone, consider the phrases they are using as they may be surprised to know they are actually quoting the Bible!
Liz