- Some figures of speech can take you back in history and all around the world
- Have you ever wondered why people say ‘pardon my French’ when using profanity or why you shouldn’t bring owls to Athens?
What’s something you would refuse to do no matter what, not even for all the tea in China? Photo: ShutterstockAs the world tries to leave the Covid-19 pandemic behind, the phenomenon of “revenge travel” has emerged to describe the return of tourism. Even if you can’t go on holiday yet, these English idioms can take you on a trip around the world – read on to learn more about how these sayings came to be.
1. Pardon my French
Meaning: an apology for the use of profanity. This phrase originates from a time when the wealthy in England used French to show off and would say “pardon my French” when speaking to people who did not understand the language. Now, it is an apology for swearing or foul language.
Example: Pardon his French – my friend is just expressing his anger over how long we’ve had to wait for our food.
2. Fiddle while Rome burns
Meaning: to do something trivial or irrelevant while ignoring the actual serious or disastrous events going on. Legend has it that Rome’s 5th emperor Nero played the fiddle while a massive fire incinerated the city for six days.
Example: During the height of the pandemic, some people ignored the social-distancing rules to attend a party, fiddling while Rome burned.
3. Bring owls to Athens
Meaning: to put effort into doing something unproductive and unnecessary. The origin of the idiom goes back to ancient Greece, where Athens was known for having many owls, so bringing owls to the city would be unnecessary.
Example: Trying to advise an experienced Chinese chef on how to prepare dim sum is like bringing owls to Athens.
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4. French leave
Meaning: to leave an event or gathering without saying goodbye or asking permission. The expression may have originally been an insult to the French, though it now is a neutral term. It also has another variation, the “Irish goodbye”.
Example: During the boring presentation, Mary took French leave and slipped out of the conference room unnoticed.
5. An Englishman’s home is his castle
Meaning: your home is a place where you can feel safe and have the right to do what you want. The phrase can be traced back to English common law from the 1600s. In 1628, legal scholar Sir Edward Coke wrote in The Institutes of the Laws of England: “For a man’s house is his castle, and each man’s home is his safest refuge.”
Example: An Englishman’s home is his castle – you have no right to come in here and tell me what to do.
6. Slow boat to China
Meaning: describes something that is taking an extremely long time.
The phrase originates from the game of poker to refer to a player who lost slowly. The journey to China by ship from the United States was known for how long it took, and the American composer, Frank Loesser, used the phrase as the title and the first line of his 1948 romantic ballad.
Example: Calvin sometimes takes more than a month to complete a task, and it feels like he’s on a slow boat to China.
7. Send (someone) to Coventry
Meaning: to ignore or refuse to talk to someone, usually as a punishment. The phrase likely originated during the English Civil War in the 17th century. Edward Hyde’s The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England describes how soldiers from the opposing side were captured and sent to the town of Coventry, where they would be ignored by the locals and excluded from events.
Example: After experiencing a heartbreaking betrayal, Amy sent her ex-boyfriend to Coventry, cutting off all communication.
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8. Not for all the tea in China
Meaning: refusal to do a task for any price or reward; cannot be persuaded to do something. The idiom is said to have originated in Australia during the late 1800s. China was known to produce huge quantities of tea which would command a high value in the market. Therefore, to decline to do something for all the tea in China means not to do it, whatever inducement is offered.
Example: I would not change my career – not for all the tea in China. It has always been my dream to become a chef, so I will stick to it despite the challenges.