Ever wonder where those weird phrases we use come from or how certain words evolved into swear words? I think about it often, and some of them, when you stop and think about it, make no sense whatsoever. Take this one…
It’s raining cats and dogs
Eww. Can you imagine if this was real? A falling dog would put your neck out for sure! There are several competing origin stories, but the most plausible dates back to 17th century England, when poor drainage systems would cause streets to flood during heavy storms. Sadly, stray animals would sometimes drown in these floods, and their bodies would appear in the streets afterwards, making it look as though they had fallen from the sky.
In every nook and cranny
To me, it means I’ve looked everywhere, and then I thought, what the hell is a cranny? It’s a phrase that combines two words meaning essentially the same thing. ‘Nook’ refers to a corner or recess, while ‘cranny’ means a small narrow opening or crack. It’s an example of what linguists call a ‘binomial pair’ – two words joined by ‘and’ that reinforce each other. Similar examples include ‘odds and ends’ and ‘safe and sound’.
Showing their true colours
I use this when someone I thought might’ve been nice reveals the mean person they truly are (or vice versa). But this one has nautical roots. Ships would fly various flags (colours) to identify themselves, but pirates would often sail under false colours to approach potential victims. When they got close enough to attack, they would reveal their true colours—the Jolly Roger or other pirate flags.
Sticks and stones may break my bones
This defensive childhood rhyme (“…but words will never hurt me”) first appeared in print in 1862, though it was likely in oral circulation earlier. It was meant to teach children to ignore verbal taunts, suggesting that physical harm is worse than emotional harm.
Research now strongly supports what many have intuitively known: words carry tremendous psychological impact, with studies showing verbal abuse can trigger the same neurological pain pathways as physical injuries and negative words can elevate stress hormones by 30% or more. The innocent childhood rhyme, it seems, got it fundamentally wrong.
Saved by the bell: Before modern medicine, people feared being buried alive. Some coffins were designed with bells attached to strings placed in the deceased’s hand, allowing them to ring for help if they woke up after being declared dead. While this makes for a compelling story, the phrase actually comes from boxing, where a fighter about to lose could be ‘saved’ by the bell marking the end of a round.
Turn a blind eye: This expression comes from British Admiral Horatio Nelson, who, during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, deliberately held his telescope to his blind eye when signalled to withdraw. By claiming he couldn’t see the order, he continued the attack and won the battle.
Bite the bullet: Before anaesthesia, patients undergoing surgery would bite on a bullet to cope with pain. The lead helped prevent them from biting through their tongues or breaking their teeth while enduring excruciating procedures.
Tickle your fancy: This expression dates back to the 1800s. In this context, the word ‘fancy’ refers to a person’s imagination or personal taste rather than anything elaborate. Earlier uses of ‘fancy’ related to someone’s desires, whims, or inclinations. The ‘tickle’ part is a playful way of suggesting something lightly stimulates or excites your interest, similar to how a physical tickle might provoke a reaction. The imagery is of something gently provoking your imagination or desire.
When regular words turn taboo
Language is constantly evolving, and sometimes ordinary words transform into taboo expressions.
Bastard: Originally a neutral legal term referring to a child born to unmarried parents. In records from the 13th century, you might find entries like ‘John, bastard son of William,’ with no particular moral judgment attached. As social stigma around birth status increased in the Middle Ages, the word took on negative connotations. Today, its original meaning is largely outdated, but it remains an insult.
Bugger: Derived from “Bulgar,” a reference to Bulgarian religious heretics in medieval times who were accused (falsely) of unorthodox sexual practices. In medieval legal texts, you might find ‘buggery’ listed among crimes with no particular shock value attached to the word itself. It evolved into a term for a specific sexual act before becoming a general-purpose mild expletive in British English.
The Toyota ‘Bugger’ advertisement is a classic example of how regional language norms can create memorable marketing moments. Aired in the late 1990s, this commercial shows a series of mishaps on a farm with a Toyota Hilux, with each unfortunate event followed by the farmer’s understated exclamation of ‘Bugger!’
What made this advertisement remarkable was its use of a word that would have been considered inappropriate for television in many English-speaking countries, including the UK, but was acceptable in New Zealand, where ‘bugger’ was more commonly used as a mild expression of frustration. The commercial became a cultural phenomenon in New Zealand, achieving the rare marketing triumph of becoming part of the national lexicon and identity.
Despite some initial complaints to New Zealand’s Advertising Standards Authority, the ad was allowed to continue airing and has since become one of the most beloved commercials in New Zealand’s history.
Knackered: This British term for ‘exhausted’ originally referred to old, worn-out horses sent to the knacker’s yard (where they would be slaughtered). A 19th-century advertisement might read “Old horses wanted by the knacker” without any offensive connotation. It later expanded to describe anything worn out or exhausted. However, both I and Kelly thought it derived from a dog or a sheep having its testicles removed – perhaps an Aussie Kiwi derivation?
Vagina: Now in itself, it’s not a taboo word, but funny how we’ve created so many words so that we don’t say it. Why do you think that is?
Female genitalia, private parts, intimate area, lady parts, down there, feminine area, nether regions, privates, “V”, flower, cookie, kitty, vajayjay, lady bits, front bottom, pussy, womanhood, cooch/coochie, muff, punani/punanny, yoni, beaver, box, honey pot, minge, fanny, twat, snatch, bits, foo-foo, hoo-ha/hoo-hah, vag, and I’m sure there’s more.
And just so I don’t leave the men out. Penis, male genitalia, phallus, private parts, manhood, member, genitals, package, junk, organ, tool, appendage, rod, shaft, johnson, wiener/weiner, willy, dong, schlong, dick, cock, pecker, nudger, twig and berries, family jewels, meat, unit, John Thomas, pocket rocket, woody, junior, banana, wang, dingus, joystick, little guy, and again, am sure there’s ones I haven’t heard of.
Bitch: Simply meant ‘female dog’ for centuries. A medieval hunting manual might include passages like ‘The bitch should be kept separate when in heat’ with no offensive intent whatsoever. By the 15th century it began to be applied to women as an insult. Its meaning and level of offence have shifted repeatedly over time, sometimes being reclaimed and other times becoming more taboo.
The linguistic journey of taboo words
What’s particularly interesting is how words considered extremely offensive today often started as perfectly innocent terms:
- The F-word: Likely derived from Germanic roots related to ‘to strike’ or ‘to move back and forth.’ Early usage appears in a coded form in a late 15th-century manuscript. In certain Germanic dialects, it would have been used in agricultural contexts to describe the act of planting seeds (literally ‘to strike the soil’). It was considered unprintable for centuries after acquiring its sexual meaning.
- Sh*t: Comes from Old English ‘scītan’, meaning to defecate, and was a perfectly acceptable technical term before becoming taboo. Old medical texts might contain phrases equivalent to ‘The patient has not been able to shit for three days’ as a clinical observation.
- The C-word: One of the most taboo words in English today, it appears in medical texts and place names in medieval England without any shock value. Chaucer used it in ‘The Canterbury Tales’ as simply the anatomical term for female genitalia. Street names in England, such as ‘Gropecunt Lane’ existed in the Middle Ages, describing areas known for prostitution.
Even seemingly innocent words have faced censorship:
- Bloody: In British English, this was once considered highly offensive. Its use in the play ‘Pygmalion’ (‘Not bloody likely!’) caused a scandal in 1914.
- Damn: Once considered shocking enough to generate controversy when used in ‘Gone with the Wind’ (‘Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn’).
It’s interesting to notice how I treated different ‘bad words’ in this article. Words like ‘bastard and ‘bugger’ are written out completely, even though they once had offensive meanings. But other words like f***, s***, and c*** are censored or not fully spelt out.
This shows how we rank swear words in our minds without really thinking about them. The words we censor tend to be about sex or bodily functions, while words that have become less shocking over time are written normally.
This difference isn’t based on logic – it’s based on what society has taught us to consider ‘really bad’ versus just ‘a bit rude.’ It’s funny how some words keep their power to shock us while others that meant equally offensive things in the past have become acceptable enough to spell out in full.
Why words change their status
Several factors influence how words move from neutral to taboo (or occasionally back):
- Social attitudes: Changes in what society considers acceptable or unacceptable.
- Euphemistic treadmill: When a term becomes associated with something uncomfortable, a new euphemism replaces it, and the old term becomes increasingly taboo.
- Reclamation: Sometimes, marginalised groups reclaim slurs, changing their power dynamics.
- Generational shifts: Different generations often have different taboo thresholds.
- Cross-cultural exchange: Words may carry different weight in different cultures or regions.
Interestingly, having taboo words serves important social functions:
- They provide emotional release (hence their use when we stub our little toe on the coffee table)
- They mark social boundaries and group identity
- They allow the expression of strong emotions
- They create linguistic emphasis unlike any other words
When ‘bastard’ loses its sting as society becomes less concerned with marital status at birth, we see changing social values at work. When words for body functions become taboo, we glimpse our complex relationship with physical existence.
Next time you use an expression or avoid a taboo term, remember you’re participating in a centuries-old linguistic dance—one that continues to evolve with each generation. It’s a living record of our collective history, attitudes, and social development. And that’s something worth exploring in every nook and cranny.