History of Words and Phrases

New Year's resolutions:  This custom can be traced to pre-Christian Rome.  The original resolutions were mostly to be good to others. As Rome became Christian, the themes changed to prayer and fasting.

                                                                                   ~

All over but the shouting: The meaning of the phrase is that at a sporting event that is surely won, the only thing left is the crowd cheering the victory. A sportswriter, as early as 1842, used the phrase.

                                                                                   ~

Klutz: The word seems to be from the  German word "clod" or block head and Yiddish for a dull-witted or clumsy person.

Dave scullin

Dave Scullin lives in Westlake.

Read More on Poetry & Prose
Volume 4, Issue 1, Posted 12:16 PM, 01.10.2012