All of today's sayings (idioms) are connected to the
mouth in some way.
Frog
in Your Throat – this one is American of origin. It means having difficulty speaking or being
hoarse. Its derivation simply seems to
be that when you are hoarse your voice is croaky – like a frog. An American firm sold Frog in Your Throat
lozenges and after they were exported to the UK, the phrase became common
there.
Wet
your Whistle – If you had a drink of lemonade, you
wouldn't be wetting your whistle – this one refers to alcoholic beverages. There are some rather fanciful theories that
whistles were used to attract a barman's attention. But in my view, you whistle with your lips,
so if you are wetting your lips with a drink, then the phrase works. I'm not a whistler, but apparently it's hard
to do with dry lips.
Bitter
Pill to Swallow – so this means something you have to
accept even though you don't like it and your pride is hurt. But why a pill? Maybe people have always found pills to
swallow – and bitter ones would be even more unpleasant??
By
the Skin of your Teeth – the origin of this one is the Book of
Job in the Bible. It means to have a
very narrow escape. But your teeth
aren't covered in skin… maybe that's the point, the escape was so narrow that
it was like the non existent skin on teeth.
Interesting!
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