Do you use any of these?

Why do we say ‘kick the bucket’? Discover 12 idioms with morbid origins

We use a lot of strange phrases without thinking twice, but some have surprisingly grim origins. Ever say someone "kicked the bucket" or "bit the dust"? These everyday expressions sound harmless, but have more somber roots. Take a look at 12 of these idioms. Do you use any of these?

In 13th-century Britain, bakers risked losing a hand if they sold underweight bread, according to the Assize of Bread and Ale under Henry III. To avoid punishment, they often added a little extra to each order.

When selling 12 loaves, bakers would include a 13th—called a "vantage" loaf. This became what is now known as "a baker’s dozen."

Saying you're "as pleased as punch" sounds cheerful, but it has dark roots. The phrase comes from Punch from the Punch and Judy puppet shows, who gleefully committed violent acts.

Popular in 17th-century England, these shows featured Punch killing his family and others with a slapstick, laughing after each act.

The phrase "meet a deadline" might sound stressful today, but its origins are far darker. During the Civil War, the "deadline" referred to a boundary at Andersonville Prison, where Union soldiers were held.

This line, 20 feet inside the outer wall, was meant to prevent escapes. Any prisoner who crossed it was shot by guards in pigeon roosts. The term came from this deadly boundary, where crossing meant certain death.

Today, a "blockbuster" refers to a huge commercial hit, but the term originally described powerful bombs from World War II.

The British Royal Air Force used blockbusters, massive cylinders filled with explosives, capable of destroying entire streets. It wasn’t until 1957, nearly a decade after the war, that the term shifted to describe big entertainment successes.

The phrase "to bulldoze" someone means to force or bully them, but its origins are much harsher. First used in 1876, "bull dose" referred to brutally whipping or beating someone, similar to how a bull might be punished.

By 1880, "bulldoze" became a verb, and eventually, the heavy machinery designed to push through obstacles was named a bulldozer.

The word "sinister" comes from the Latin sinister, meaning "left" or "on the left side." By the 15th century, left-handedness was associated with evil, often linked to witches and the devil.

Because of this stigma, left-handed people were forced to use their right hands. Today, however, we know that being left-handed doesn’t make anyone sinister, and many renowned thinkers, like Leonardo da Vinci and Benjamin Franklin, were left-handed.

The Mad Hatter from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is famous for his colorful personality, but his madness has historical roots. In the 18th and 19th centuries, hat-makers, known as "hatters," often suffered from mercury poisoning due to their work with the chemical.

This poisoning led to mental deterioration, giving rise to the idea of the "mad" hatter, a term that Carroll cleverly incorporated into his character.

Today, "pulling your leg" means joking or fooling around, but it once had a much darker meaning: in 19th-century London, thieves would pull people’s legs to drag them down before stealing their belongings.

This tactic was commonly used by robbers, turning what is now a lighthearted phrase into a serious crime.

In the world of films, we often see characters drinking whiskey before a quick surgery or amputation. But in real battlefields, soldiers didn’t have that option.

One theory about the origin of the expression "to bite the bullet" suggests that, during painful medical procedures, wounded soldiers would literally bite down on a bullet—taken from the ground or from their own weapon—to help endure the agony without crying out.

The phrase "God bless you" after a sneeze has several theories behind it. One theory links it to preventing the plague, while another suggests it’s a way of ensuring the soul stays in the body during a sneeze.

The phrase "kick the bucket" means to die and has been used since the 18th century. One theory connects it to the Catholic tradition of placing a bucket of holy water by the feet of the deceased for mourners to sprinkle.

Another theory suggests the term comes from 16th-century England, where "bucket" referred to a beam. When animals were hanged for slaughter, they would kick the beam as they died, giving rise to the idiom.

The phrase "bite the dust" likely originated in the 19th-century Old West, referring to gunfights and battles. It paints a vivid picture of someone falling to the ground and biting the dust after being struck by a fatal wound.

Over time, the expression broadened, and now it simply signifies someone’s death or defeat, no longer tied specifically to gunfights.

Avoid awkward moments

Are you saying it wrong? Learn the correct pronunciation of foreign words

Image: Freepik

English speakers borrow many words from other languages and pronounce them as best they can. Sometimes, those pronunciations are correct, but that’s not always the case. The following 12 examples are foreign words that we use daily but often mispronounce.

Image: Margarita Zueva

Those slices of toasted Italian bread drenched in olive oil, with garlic and tomatoes on top, are a common sight in restaurants around the world, but most of us can’t seem to pronounce their name correctly and say "bru-shetta" instead.

In its native Italian, the "ch" is always pronounced like a K. So it’s "bru-SKET-ta."

Image: Atikh Bana

This French word is often used in the fashion world, but since there is no "tch" sound in the French language—except in foreign words and names—it is pronounced like "sh." So the correct pronunciation is "sheek."

Image: Pierre Bamin

A popular ingredient among people seeking a healthier diet, quinoa originated in South America and is often pronounced "kee-no-ah," when the correct pronunciation is "keen-wah."

Image: Max Nayman

As you can see, the world of food offers plenty of opportunities for mispronouncing words, and this one comes courtesy of Italy. The exact origin of the word gnocchi is unknown, but many believe it derives from the Italian word nocchio, meaning "a knot in wood." If you want to get the pronunciation of this foreign food correctly, you should say "nok-ee."

Image: Phillip Larking

A fun word to pronounce, indeed! These hot chili peppers come from Mexico. And, as the "j" sound in Spanish is pronounced like a strong "h" in English, you don’t say jall-ap-ee-no. Instead, it’s "halla-pen-yo."

Image: Anna Pelzer

The name of this tasty French salad has the letter c with the hook ç, which is called c-cedilla, which is pronounced like an "s." The proper pronunciation for this dish is "nee-swahz."

Image: Bermix Studio

The second South American food product on our list, the superfood known as açaí, is a type of berry found in rainforests. Its pronunciation can be tricky for native English speakers, partly because of the unfamiliar Latin letters. If you want to get it right, it’s "ah-sigh-ee."

Image: Harry Knight

Chorizo is a spicy pork sausage often used in Spanish and South American cuisine. The correct pronunciation for this exotic word is "choh-ree-soh."

Image: Farhad Ibrahimzade

This household expression, often directed at someone about to enjoy a particularly tasty meal, is frequently mispronounced. Many English speakers pronounce the "t" at the end of this expression when it is, in fact, silent: bon-appétit is pronounced "bon-apetee."

Image: Hunters Race

This French word, used to describe someone who is an expert in a particular subject, is often mispronounced as "con-nah-sewer," but that’s not correct. The proper pronunciation is "con-ah-see-er."

Image: Lāsma Artmane

This architectural and aesthetic style from the early 20th century has a French name, often mispronounced as "no vew." But the most accurate pronunciation is "new-voh."

Image: Alizée Baudez

The last word on our list is also a French one, used to describe a special occupation. Many English speakers mispronounce it to sound like "nitch," but the correct pronunciation is closer to "neesh."