Healthy talk

How many apples do you eat a day? 10 health idioms everyone should know!

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Do you keep up with the latest health news? What daily habit do you think is your healthiest, and which one do you feel you should try to change? Health is an important issue for everyone, and our language is proof of that! English offers us many health-related idioms with very interesting origins. Some of them will give you valuable tips, others will teach you a lesson, and others will make you laugh out loud. If you want to discover the meaning and roots of 10 popular health idioms, read on!

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Let's start with a classic. You were probably just a child the first time you heard that "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." We have nothing against doctors; it's just that we'd rather not have to visit their office!

While it's not entirely true that eating an apple keeps you from getting sick, this idiom highlights the importance of maintaining a balanced and healthy diet.

This popular saying is believed to have originated in Wales in the 19th century. The earliest surviving written version is from 1866 and reads, "Eat an apple on going to bed, and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread." It became popular in our country during the 20th century, and it changed its format several times until it reached the current version.

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Do you have a slight headache? Do you feel like you need some rest? Is your stomach giving you a hard time? If you want to express that you're not feeling well, you can say you're "under the weather."

This expression, so famous today, is believed to have originated among sailors. When someone felt seasick or affected by the weather conditions, this phrase was used. It first appeared in written records in the 19th century and became more and more popular over time.

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Here's a truth everyone should hear: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Hand in hand with the apple that keeps the doctor away, this idiom reminds you how important it is to take care of your body and mind. The use of "ounce" and "pound" emphasizes the idea that small preventive steps can help you avoid big problems in the future. You know, it's better to stop ailments before they start, so you don't have to deal with them later. The expression is often used in different contexts and situations beyond health.

Did you know that this phrase is attributed to Benjamin Franklin? That's right! The Founding Father included it in his "Poor Richard's Almanack" of 1736.

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If a friend tells you they are "in the pink," you should celebrate! This idiom is used to indicate that someone is in excellent health. But what does wellness have to do with the color pink? Well, there are a couple of theories about this expression's origins.

The first indicates that it dates back to the 1500s when the color pink was used to describe or represent perfection. Other scholars claim the idiom is the result of a modification of the word "pinnacle," indicating that something or someone was at the top or in the best possible situation.

It was not until the 17th century that the idiom began to be especially linked to a person's state of health.

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Do you remember when you were very young and took a pill for the first time? Hard to swallow, right? Some medications are more "swallowable" than others, and the tough ones can be a problem.

In this popular idiom, the pill serves as a metaphor to represent a big problem or a difficult truth to accept. But the thing is, even if some medicines don't taste good or some pills are too big to swallow, we must take them to make the pain go away or help us heal. What do you think?

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An idiom often used in fiction, especially when dealing with villains, is "A taste of your own medicine." While it's not limited to the medical field and is used in different contexts every day, the expression actually originates from a story about a doctor.

We're talking about the Quack Doctor, one of Aesop's fables. In the story, a swindler deceives people into believing he has a cure for every illness. Later, this "doctor" is tricked into tasting his own fake medicine, which ends up causing him harm.

This popular expression has survived to this day and often indicates that someone received the same treatment they gave, usually negative. Some medications may taste bad, but when it's about your own medicine, it's definitely a hard pill to swallow!

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If your doctor says you have a "clean bill of health," congratulations! It's time to celebrate, as the expression implies that something or someone is in excellent condition, whether it's about a person's health, a computer's performance, or a company's accounts. In other words, people say it when things (or our bodies) are working optimally, so there's no reason to worry.

The idiom is believed to have originated in shipping during the 17th century. The captain of a ship was often required to provide a health certificate indicating that the entire crew was free from infectious diseases. That was commonly known as a "bill of health."

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The '70s and '80s were golden years for many of us, and during that time, there was a particular expression that took on a lot of popularity.

Okay, it seems that pills take up a lot of space in this article. But this one is not hard to swallow; in fact, it's quite the opposite: a "chill pill!" While not real medicine, if someone tells you to take the famous chill pill, it doesn't mean you should run to the pharmacy; they're suggesting that maybe it's time to take a deep breath and focus on nice things.

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The expression "fit as a fiddle" is used to describe someone in excellent shape or health, but the meaning of this phrase was not always the same.

From the beautiful sound they produce to their detailed and fine design, violins, also called fiddles, are symbols of elegance and sophistication. The saying dates back to 17th-century British English, when "fit" meant something closer to "suitable," "proper," or "seemly." Over time, both the term "fit" and the whole expression slightly changed their meaning to the one we know today, associated with athletic and healthy people.

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Anyone who has seen or been around a horse will understand what this phrase refers to. Strong, muscular, fast, tough, and smart, horses have always been considered symbols of health and endurance.

"Healthy as a horse" means that someone is fit and full of energy. A person described this way not only possesses good health but also has a vigorous and resistant appearance.

While the precise origin of the expression isn't known, it's believed to have come into use in the 19th century or even earlier, as horses have been associated with different types of endurance work since ancient times.

The shock factor

You’ve seen these 12 things, but you had no idea they had names!

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Ever notice how some everyday objects or sensations seem to lack a name? You use them, experience them, and see them all the time—yet you never stop to think about what they’re actually called. And when you have to talk about them, you end up using a bunch of words to describe them rather than the specific word. Well, prepare to be amazed: here are twelve things you never knew had their own official names!

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That amazing earthy smell after a fresh rainfall? It’s called petrichor. The scent is produced when rain interacts with dry soil, releasing aromatic compounds into the air.

The term was coined by Australian scientists in 1964, combining the Greek words petra (stone) and ichor (the fluid said to run through the veins of the gods). It’s so distinct that some companies have even tried to bottle it as a fragrance. Would you buy one?

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Your kids or grandkids will love this fact—because they all love this little thing! Do you know that small plastic table in the center of a pizza box? It’s officially called a tent, and its job is to prevent the box lid from collapsing onto your delicious pizza.

Introduced in the 1980s, this small invention has saved countless pizzas from disaster, keeping the cheese intact for your enjoyment. Now, once it’s removed, that’s a kid’s toy for sure!

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That little strip of tissue separating your nostrils? It has a fancy name: columella nasi. It’s crucial for maintaining the shape of your nose and is often involved in rhinoplasty procedures.

The term originates from Latin, where columella means "little column"—which makes perfect sense since it's the little column keeping your nose upright!

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If you find it nearly impossible to get out of bed in the morning (pretty much like everyone else), you might have dysania. While this is not strictly a medical condition, the term perfectly captures that all-too-familiar feeling of wanting to stay under the covers forever.

It comes from Greek, with dys- meaning "difficulty" and -ania referring to a state of mind or struggle. It really is a struggle sometimes!

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If your handwriting looks like a doctor’s prescription, you might be guilty of griffonage.

This word refers to scrawled, unreadable handwriting—the kind that leaves people squinting and guessing. It comes from French, where griffonner means "to scribble." So… are you guilty of it?

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Look at your hand—your nails, specifically. Do you notice that little white, half-moon shape at the base of your nail? That part is called a lunule.

It’s actually part of the nail’s root and is most visible on the thumbs. The name comes from the Latin word luna, meaning "moon," because of its crescent shape. A healthy lunule is a sign of good nail growth!

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The smooth patch of skin between your eyebrows has a name: the glabella. It’s the area where frown lines often form and is a frequent target of Botox treatments.

The word comes from the Latin glabellus, meaning "smooth." Next time someone wrinkles their forehead, impress them by pointing out their glabella in action!

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That deep indentation at the base of your wine bottle? It’s called a punt. While its exact purpose is debated, it’s believed to add structural integrity and aid in pouring.

Some say it also makes the bottle look more expensive! The origin of the word is uncertain, but it has been used in glassmaking for centuries. Pour that wine—now that you know all about it!

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The beautiful, never-ending figure-eight symbol that represents infinity is officially called a lemniscate.

It has been used in mathematics, philosophy, and even tattoos as a symbol of endless possibilities. The name comes from the Latin lemniscus, meaning "ribbon"—a perfect description of its flowing shape.

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Have you ever had "butterflies" in your stomach before a big event? You know, that nervous, fluttery sensation is actually called the collywobbles. It’s your body’s way of responding to excitement, anxiety, or nervous anticipation.

The term dates back to the 19th century and is believed to be a playful alteration of "colic," a word used for stomach pain—naturally.

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We’ve all been to the eye doctor, hoping we wouldn’t need glasses. Yet the eye test chart is right there, waiting to issue its verdict. That chart you stare at during an eye exam—with rows of letters that get progressively smaller—is called a Snellen chart.

It was developed in 1862 by Dutch ophthalmologist Dr. Herman Snellen and remains a standard tool for testing vision to this day.

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Ever wondered why "knight" has a silent ‘k’ or "what" has a silent ‘h’? Those unpronounced letters are called aphthongs. The word comes from Greek, where "aphthongos" means "voiceless" or "speechless." Quite accurate, right?

English is full of them, and they make spelling just a little trickier—especially if it’s not your first language!