Run-of-the-Mill Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Idioms are a colourful part of our language, and how they developed is as individual as each of them seem to be. Some origins are lost in time, but generally, there is a visual or physical connection that helps to make sense of them.

'Bread and butter' represents a person's main source of income or livelihood. It is speculated that this idiom began in medieval times, when bread and butter was the staple food for the peasantry... and usually not much else.

Related is the phrase 'bringing home the bacon', which is about earning a living. The saying became popular in the early 1900s. One theory traces it to an old English custom where bacon was awarded to couples who lived peacefully for a year, later evolving into a metaphor for earning money.

To be 'as cool as a cucumber' is to remain calm and composed. The origin of the phrase is unclear, but it has been around for centuries (in England). Cucumbers manage to naturally stay cool inside, even in warm weather. This trait makes it a good comparison to maintaining emotional composure even when the 'temperature' changes.

'To spill the beans', meaning to reveal a secret, likely came from ancient voting practices where beans were used as ballots. If beans were spilled, the results were exposed too soon. The phrase entered English in the 20th century.

You can be skeptical about this explanation, or 'take it with a grain of salt' if you like, but it is believed that this idea dates back to Roman times, when salt was considered a remedy against poison. Later, it became a figurative way of saying 'don't take it too seriously.'

The phrase, 'in a pickle' has morphed over time. Shakespeare's use was related to drunkenness - and still can when someone is 'pickled' - but changed to mean 'being in a difficult situation'. One thought is that this derived from the Dutch phrase 'in de pekel zitten,' meaning 'to sit in the pickle brine', which would be an unpleasant place to sit.

To have 'egg on your face' is to be embarrassed or to look foolish. It has its origin in the theatre and vaudeville, where poor performances might result in being pelted with rotten eggs.

Describing an important person, the term 'the big cheese' has been around for a couple of hundred years. In 19th-century British slang, 'cheese' meant something excellent, and over time, 'big cheese' came to describe someone influential or high-ranking.

The phrase 'to cry over spilled milk' was first seen in the 1600s. Milk was valuable, and spilling it was wasteful - but lamenting it wouldn't change the outcome. The meaning of the idiom today is basically the same, but now can refer to any outcome that is irreversible.

The phrase 'apple of my eye' first appears in a figurative sense in the Bible. In the Old Testament, it was a common way to describe something - or more often, someone - held in the highest regard. Its roots lie in a Hebrew expression meaning 'little man of the eye.' This refers to the tiny reflection of yourself visible in another person's pupil. To be called the apple of someone's eye suggests that you are at the very center of their attention and affection, someone they watch closely and value deeply.

Meaning something very easy to do, the phrase 'a piece of cake' became common in the early 20th century. It is thought to have roots in cakewalk contests, where winning was simple and the prize was cake.

The exact origin and earliest use of the phrase 'that's the way the cookie crumbles' - implying that that's just the way things happen - remains uncertain. While its first appearance hasn't been clearly documented, the expression seems to have gained popularity around the 1950s. However, given the lack of definitive evidence, it's possible that the saying existed in spoken language well before that time.

Another phrase with no clear origin, 'to go bananas', meaning to go crazy or act irrationally, first appeared in U.S. slang in the mid-20th century, likely linked to monkeys' love for bananas, symbolizing playful or crazy behaviour.

'Not one's cup of tea' is something that someone doesn't enjoy or wouldn't prefer. It began as a British phrase from the early 1900s (which might seem obvious). Tea was (and is) a beloved drink, so saying something wasn't your 'cup of tea' meant it wasn't to your liking.

'Walking on eggshells' means to carefully avoid upsetting someone. Moving carefully to avoid upsetting someone. Based on the literal image of stepping on fragile eggshells, the figurative sense of extreme caution first appeared in the 19th century.