Odd facts and where some cliches come from

[willywanker]

1. In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on
bed frames by ropes when you pulled on the ropes the
mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep
on. Hence the phrase "goodnight & sleep tight."

2. It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000
years ago that for a month after the wedding, the
bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all
the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and
because their calendar was lunar based; this period
was called the honey month or what was known today
as the honeymoon.

3. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and
quarts. So in old England, when customers got
unruly, the bartender would yell at them mind their
own pints and quarts and settle down. It's where we
get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's."

4. Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a
whistle baked into the rim or handle of their
ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used
the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle"
is the phrase inspired by this practice.

5. In ancient England a person could not have sex
unless you had consent of the King (unless you were
in the Royal Family). When anyone wanted to have a
baby, they got consent of the King; the King gave
them a placard that they hung on their door while
they were having sex. The placard had F.U.C.K.
(Fornication Under Consent of the King) on it. Now
you know where that came from!

6. In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was
entitled Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden.... and
thus the word GOLF entered into the English
language.

 

[Mensa]

6. In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was
entitled Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden.... and
thus the word GOLF entered into the English
language.

You might be right, but I heard it was from a conversation overheard between two Scotsmen . One looked at the other, shook his head, and said "I dinna knae, Jock, it looks like a God Offa Long Fairway to me!"