Reach for the stars

Are you using them correctly? 10 space idioms and their curious origins!

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Outer space has fascinated human beings since ancient times. We have studied and explored it so much over the years that space and everything we know about it has even found their way into our everyday language! Today, we're discovering the origins of 10 famous space-related idioms. Get ready for an astral journey!

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You forgot your wallet, missed your appointment, and left your phone at home. You're totally on another planet today.

When your friends explain that board game five times and you still don't get it, when you're completely unaware of the latest news, or you just can't focus on what you're doing, we could say you're "on another planet."

This expression gained popularity during the era of space exploration when people began contemplating the possibility of life on other planets, with customs, languages, and ideas entirely different from our own.

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He promised me the moon, but I knew it was too good to be true.

Undoubtedly, the moon plays a starring role in our language. It's not only the main character of poems, but it also features in many idioms we use! But be careful: if someone "promises you the moon," you should be a bit suspicious.

Who could bring down the moon? It’s an impossible mission! That’s why the expression "promise the moon," which became widespread in the mid-1800s, refers to promises that are unrealistic or very difficult to fulfill.

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Their love story seemed like it was written in the stars, always meant to be.

In the past, many people believed the position of the stars at the time of one's birth could significantly influence their destiny. Based on this belief, when something is described as "written in the stars," it means it was fated to happen.

A similar concept appears in Shakespeare's famous 16th-century tragedy Romeo and Juliet. In the play, the term "star-crossed lovers" describes Romeo and Juliet, whose tragic end was seen as inevitable, destined by the stars.

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She spaced out during the lecture and didn’t hear a word the professor said.

When you can’t concentrate at work, find yourself daydreaming, or are so tired that you’re just staring blankly, you’re "spaced out." It can also describe moments when you’re simply not paying attention.

Someone is spaced out when they're distracted, disconnected, or mentally absent. This expression is believed to have originated in the 20th century, gaining popularity in the 1960s when space exploration was at its height and sci-fi movies and TV series were booming.

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Don't worry! Assembling this furniture is not rocket science; anyone can do it.

When humans began actively exploring space, organizations like NASA emerged. They not only showed us that reaching the moon was possible but also revealed how incredibly difficult and complex rocket science can be. That’s why the popular idiom "it’s not rocket science" is used to suggest that something is simple, straightforward, or doesn’t require much analysis. You know, tasks like making scrambled eggs or brewing your morning coffee really shouldn’t be rocket science!

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She's absolutely down to earth, despite being a successful CEO.

While being "on another planet" or "lost in space" suggests a detachment from reality, being "down to earth" means the complete opposite: having a practical, grounded perspective.

Someone who is down to earth is rational, pragmatic, and realistic. Much like saying someone has their "feet on the ground," the expression is tied to the idea of staying grounded in reality and being firmly aware of everyday human existence.

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She always encouraged her children to reach for the stars.

The famous and celebrated Aeneid by the Roman poet Virgil features the Latin expression ad astra, which translates to "to the stars." In Virgil's work, the expression is associated with high ambitions, the pursuit of greatness, and elevated desires. This is believed to be the origin of the idiom "reach for the stars," which carries the same meaning. When you set high goals or strive for extraordinary achievements, you’re definitely reaching for the stars!

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I don't usually eat fast food, but once in a blue moon, I'll grab a burger.

Astronomically speaking, each season typically lasts about three months and contains three full moons. However, if a fourth full moon appears within a single season, it’s known as a "Blue Moon."

But here's the thing: a fourth full moon is an extremely rare occurrence! That's why the idiom "once in a blue moon" is used to describe events or situations that happen occasionally, or rather, very rarely.

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She was over the moon when she found out she got the job!

When something happens that fills you with happiness or makes you want to jump for joy, you're said to be "over the moon." The origins of this idiom are believed to stem from the old 16th-century nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle, which goes, "Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such fun and the dish ran away with the spoon." One of the first appearances of the expression in print can be found in Charles Molloy’s 18th-century play The Coquet: "Tis he! I know him now: I shall jump over the Moon for Joy!"

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I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I think I'll stay home and rest.

The position of the Earth relative to the Sun at specific times directly impacts our atmosphere, which in turn drives the seasons and various weather phenomena. The popular idiom "under the weather" is used to describe feeling unwell, whether physically or emotionally.

But what's the origin of this particular expression? It's believed to have arisen in the nautical language in the 19th century: when sailors felt sick or unwell, they were said to be affected by the harsh weather conditions; in other words, they were "under the weather"!

Archaic vocabulary

Discover 10 old and forgotten words that should make a comeback!

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Language is considered a living tissue, so it stands to reason that the words we use as we move through the decades change with us: Since we have no use for some words, they sadly fade from existence and are ultimately forgotten. However, that doesn’t need to be the case: Who says we can’t launch some kind of conservation effort to keep words relevant? With that in mind, we have selected 10 forgotten words that we think should make a well-deserved comeback. We honestly believe that adding these terms to our collective vocabularies would make our lives easier, or at least, more colorful. Enjoy!

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"Balderdash" sounds like the perfect noun for a bold and daring adventurer, someone who doesn’t fret in the face of danger. However, the actual definition of this word can’t be further from these notions: Balderdash is an extremely old expression used to describe a senseless, stupid, or exaggerated way of speaking or writing. Not only that, but it can also be used as an exclamation of disbelief, similar to other old-timey terms like "baloney" or "hogwash."

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For such a silly-sounding word, "donnybrook" has some rather rowdy definitions. While some dictionaries define it as a synonym for fight or brawl, others definitions for these words don’t delve into physical altercations: A donnybrook could be a flashy and public argument, for instance. It would seem that the one quality that any "donnybrook" worth its wacky name should cause some sort of uproar.

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Another funny-sounding word in this article (be ready for many more), the term ballyhoo is as charming as it sounds. This word is used to describe something that tries to get people excited, usually in a flashy or ostentatious manner. For instance, an advertisement campaign might make a lot of "ballyhoo" to get audiences excited about a certain product, movie, or book.

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Now, I know what you are thinking: Although not extremely popular, this word is sometimes used in our modern times. However, we would like to make the case that it is not used nearly enough. As you probably know, "tomfoolery" is a term used to describe playful, silly, or foolish behavior. While it is sometimes used as a pejorative term, especially in formal situations where foolish behavior is looked down upon, the truth is that this term is harmless enough to warrant its promotion in modern vocabularies.

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Let’s start with a small disclaimer: We do not condone physical violence, so please don’t go around throwing fisticuffs with strangers. This old-timey term dates back to at least the 17th century and remained popular until the 1930s. As the name suggests, the word fisticuffs relates to fighting with your fists: However, in some cases, it has also been used to describe an extremely heated or volatile argument between two people.

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Galoot definitively sounds like a term of endearment. You might have heard someone refer to their beloved (and massive) Big Dane as "a big galoot." However, tread lightly if you think about using this word: After all, it describes someone extremely clumsy or awkward. In any case, "galoot" is such a silly-sounding word that bringing it back seems like a good idea, if only for the many adorable dogs that might be called a galoot.

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We live in a world that loves abbreviations: The internet age has given us extremely popular terms like LOL and OMG. In that sense, don’t you think the expression "the day after tomorrow" is a bit of a mouthful? However, the archaic word "overmorrow" might be the answer we are looking for. This term is short, concise, and perfectly summarizes the day after tomorrow in only one word. We hope that this article helps launch this term into popularity.

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Limerence is basically another word for being lovesick: It describes the involuntary obsession and melancholic feelings that come with falling in love with someone. Think of all those soap opera characters longing for the one they can’t have, often staring at a picture on a locket or at the falling rain: Those are, in our opinion, the best examples of limerence.

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If old-timey gangster films have taught us anything, it is that "rat" is not only the name of one of our least favorite rodents but also the term used to describe someone who discloses information to the police. In that sense, the pejorative term "ratfink" applies to not only the act of "snitching", but also to someone utterly unpleasant or obnoxious.

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"Chatoyant" is one of those words that doesn’t really do justice to the gorgeous natural event it describes: This term (which derives from a concept known as "the chatoyancy effect") describes a unique concept on which reflected light appears as well-defined bands on a glossy surface. This gorgeous occurrence, reminiscent of a cat’s eye, doesn’t seem reflected by the clumsiness of the word "chatoyant," but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t bring it to our collective attention.