Results: "Idioms are beautiful but illegitimate children of a language" Where did these phrases come from? Part One ** Here we will look into some well known idioms, their origins and the modern meaning.

Are you familiar with they saying, "Close but no cigar" ? Did you know it originated during Carnivals in the 1800s in the New World, cigars were often the prizes awarded in carnival games?

The idiom, "At the drop of a hat" today people use it to show they would do something very quickly, immediately. Did you know it originated in the early 1800s, instead of a starting gun being shot, to indicate the start of a race, it was customary to drop a hat or wave it, to signal the start of the race?

Before photocopiers were invented, copies were made by using a sheet of carbon paper beneath an original with a blank sheet of paper below. This was used to create a carbon copy on the blank sheet either hand written or by typing in a typewriter. Did you know that the CC in emails means Carbon Copy?

Make every possible effort using every possible option, pull out all the stops. What's the origin of this phrase? The popular belief is that this phrase derives from the manner of construction of pipe organs. These instruments have stops to control the air flow through the pipes and pulling them out increases the musical volume. Were you aware of this origin?

Putting your best foot forward, goes back to the days of nobility. A gentleman would literally put his best foot forward, in extending his leg to bow to the person of higher rank. In today's world it is used in marketing as a good advertising campaign and in business it refers to a resume and a good interview. The key being making every effort to do your best, Were you aware of the origin?

Through the 18th Century, businessmen often kept track of debts owed, (and interest that compounded on loans) by carving nicks on a "tally stick," When someone arrived to pay off their debt, before the next nick was carved, they would save the next day of interest - hence they were in the "nick of time!" In this time most people could not read or write and the tally stick kept a physical record and a receipt of the payment once completed. Are you surprised some are still on display today?