Prompt Cast
The Origins and Meanings of Common Phrases
TLDR The origins of the phrases "take it with a grain of salt" and "close but no cigar" are unclear, while "South Paw" is associated with boxing and left-handed pitchers.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The phrase "take it with a grain of salt" means to be skeptical of information, and its origin is believed to come from Pliny the Elder.
01:49
The phrase "take it with a grain of salt" originated from Pliny the Elder's recipe that included a grain of salt and claimed to protect against poisons, but its metaphorical meaning of being skeptical didn't come until much later.
04:00
The origin of the phrase "grain of salt" is unclear and there is no real clarification as to where it came from or why it started being used metaphorically.
05:51
The origin of the phrase "close but no cigar" is from carnival barkers who would say it when someone missed a ring toss game, and it is a clear and undisputed origin unlike the phrase "grain of salt."
08:55
The phrase "South Paw" is associated with boxing and baseball, specifically with left-handed pitchers, and its origin can be traced back to an 1848 political cartoon.
10:46
The phrase "South Paw" was associated with boxing and left-handed pitchers as early as 1848, but there is also evidence of its use in reference to left-handed first basemen and ballparks oriented with home plate facing west.
12:50
The true origin of the phrase "South Paw" is still unknown, but there are multiple theories to choose from.
Categories:
Society & Culture
