Beech Tree News Network

I’ll unofficially call this week’s piece “Origins”. There are some phrases we either all say or have heard that might make us think “where did that come from”? For instance, searching something “with a fine-tooth comb.  It appears to have been around the latter part of the 1800’s that fine-toothed comb stopped being a literal object that you ran through hair and became a figurative phrase meaning to search for anything with great care.  

Another phrase heard quite a bit in conversation is “the writing is on the wall”.  What writing? Where is this wall? The writing is on the wall is an idiom that suggests a portent of doom or misfortune, based on the story of Belshazzar’s feast in the book of Daniel, specifically Daniel 5:5-31, in which the prophet interprets some mysterious writing that a disembodied hand has inscribed on the palace wall, telling King Belshazzar that he will be overthrown.  What were the words written on the wall? “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Uparsin”.  This is what the words mean: Mene: God has counted the days until your kingdom will end.  Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found not good enough.  Uparsin: Your kingdom is being taken from you. 

When pigs fly: There have been many mentions of flying pigs throughout history, and there’s arguments about theirorigins.  The idiom is apparently derived from a centuries-old Scottish proverb, though some other references to pigs flying or pigs with wings are more famous.  If you say the phrase, you are emphasizing that you think it’s very unlikely that a certain thing will happen.  

That brings an end to my column this week. 

Here is the link to the debut episode of my vlog from last week in case you missed it.  Catch you right back here next week! 

 https://youtu.be/2FxpnuHeRXo?si=CY7MxzcDGdXomO-u