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Etymology: a branch of linguistics that studies the origins of words or expressions




Face the Music

After you are caught doing something wrong, you must 'face the music.' In other words, you must accept the punishment for your actions.

As with many English expressions, there is more than one theory of the origin of 'face the music.' Here are two.
  • Soldiers, dismissed for dishonorable conduct, were literally drummed out of their army. Thus for dishonorable deeds, they had to face the music.

  • Nervous actors, comedians or singers would often use this expression to describe their feelings of facing an audience, since the musicians would often be be the "pit" area between the actor and the audience.

Sour Grapes

To pretend that you do not want something after you have tried to get it and failed is known as 'sour grapes.' In other words, you are hiding your disappointment.

The origin of 'sour grapes' is from Aesop's ancient Greek fable of a fox trying desperately to get some grapes from a tree. After several attempts, the fox walks away saying, "They are probably sour, anyway!"



Chip on Someone's Shoulder

A man who is angry or in the mood for an argument can be said to have a 'chip on his shoulder.' (a woman would have a 'chip on her shoulder.')

The origin of 'chip on someone's shoulder' is from an early American schoolboy ritual before fights. One boy would place a woodchip on his shoulder and dare the other boy to knock it off. If the other boy knocked the chip of wood off of the first boy's shoulder then a fight would occur.



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