“Magazine” first meant a storehouse, then an ammunition store, and only later a printed collection of articles and images.
Why we say “read the riot act”
“Read the riot act” started as a real legal warning in Britain. Today, it means giving someone a severe verbal warning.
The origin of “bite the bullet” is less certain than many people think
“Bite the bullet” means face something painful bravely, but the popular surgery explanation is not well supported by evidence.
Why alcohol comes from Arabic
Alcohol entered English through Arabic. It first referred to a very fine powder, then widened to mean a purified substance.
What “jam tomorrow” means, and where it comes from
“Jam tomorrow” means a reward kept in the future and never given now. The phrase comes from a memorable scene in Lewis Carroll.
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