Which one do you use?

Calling someone a “basket case” is far darker than you think. Slang 101

Image: Nick Fewings

A lot of slang terms and everyday words have surprisingly rich backstories tied to real historical events and practices. From dire situations to the flicker of oil lamps, these expressions once described literal experiences before turning into figures of speech. You probably use quite a few of these, but did you know what they really mean?

Image: Oleksandr Voloshchenko

"Run-of-the-mill" these days means something ordinary or unremarkable, like in the sentence: The film on television last night was very run-of-the-mill.

Originally, the phrase referred to ungraded lumber coming straight from a sawmill—nothing selected or special, just the standard output.

Image: GR Stocks

To have a chip on one’s shoulder means acting defensively or aggressively, as if expecting to be mistreated, like in: He’s hard to deal with; he’s always had a chip on his shoulder about his lack of education.

The phrase comes from the old practice of a man placing a wood chip on his shoulder, daring others to knock it off and start a fight.

Image: Mallory Johndrow

The idiom a witch-hunt refers to the unfair pursuit or persecution of people with unpopular views, often without proper evidence.

It comes from real witch-hunts in history, especially in the U.S., where many were accused of witchcraft during periods of mass hysteria.

Image: David Popkov

The idiom have an axe to grind means having a personal or selfish reason for getting involved in something, as in: I have no axe to grind, I just want to help.

It likely comes from a story Benjamin Franklin told about a man who tricked someone into sharpening his axe under the pretense of curiosity.

Image: Robert Gramner

The idiom bark up the wrong tree means to make a wrong assumption or take the wrong approach, like in: You're barking up the wrong tree if you think you can influence the judge.

It comes from raccoon hunting, where dogs sometimes mistakenly barked at the wrong tree, thinking the raccoon was there.

Image: Sergio Arze

The idiom on the breadline means living with barely enough money, as in: The widow and her children were living on the breadline.

It dates back to the Great Depression, when the poorest queued for free food at soup kitchens run by groups like the Red Cross and Salvation Army.

Image: Bernard Tuck

The idiom burn the midnight oil means to work late into the night, often while studying or finishing tasks.

It comes from the time before electricity, when people used oil lamps for light. Though the lamps are long gone, the phrase is still used.

Image: Steve & Barb Sande

The phrase make the grade means to meet a required standard or succeed, though many assume it comes from school.

But it originates from railroads, where powerful trains had to climb steep gradients—if they reached the top, they "made the grade."

Image: David Trinks

The idiom show your true colors means to reveal your real character or intentions, often after hiding them.

It comes from pirate ships that sailed under false flags to trick their targets, only raising their true flags when ready to attack.

Image: Unseen Histories

The idiom the time is ripe means the moment is ideal for action or change, drawing from the image of perfectly ripe fruit: sweet and ready, but quick to spoil if missed.

Martin Luther King Jr. used this phrase in his 1968 speech Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution to stress the urgency of social action.

Image: Omar Roque

The term basket case began during World War I, referring to soldiers who lost all four limbs and had to be carried in baskets.

Over time, it came to describe someone seen as helpless, overwhelmed, or mentally unstable, often due to extreme stress or anxiety.

Secrets in plain view

The untold stories behind 15 of the world’s most famous artworks

Art is often more than just visually stunning; it can carry deep, hidden meanings and symbols that offer a richer experience when understood. From elements that tell part of the artwork’s story to deliberate messages and strange secrets, here are 15 famous artworks with hidden layers you might not have noticed before.

Though the Mona Lisa is perhaps the most famous painting in the world, the identity of the woman in the portrait has long been a subject of debate. Most scholars believe she is Lisa Gherardini, a Florentine woman married to a wealthy merchant, Francesco del Giocondo. However, numerous alternative ideas have emerged, including theories that the subject is an idealized figure or even a concealed self-portrait of Da Vinci.

Rodin’s famous sculpture, The Thinker, was originally conceived as part of a larger work but became iconic in its own right. Despite its fame, many curious facts about the sculpture are often overlooked. For example, its original name was actually The Poet, which supports the theory that the statue was meant to depict Dante.

Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus blends classical mythology with Renaissance ideals of beauty. Venus, standing on a shell, symbolizes divine beauty and spiritual rebirth. Curiously, some believe it was modeled after the long-lost Venus Anadyomene, a painting by the ancient Greek artist Apelles, known only through Roman author Pliny the Elder’s description.

Munch’s The Scream captures a moment of extreme emotional distress. The swirling sky, vivid in color, reflects the inner turmoil of the subject. While Munch claimed the inspiration came from a panic attack he experienced while walking, some argue that the red skies may have been inspired by the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, which caused vivid sunsets around the world.

In Raphael’s The School of Athens, ancient philosophers are depicted in conversation, but the placement of the figures is deliberate. Plato and Aristotle are centrally placed, with Plato pointing upwards, symbolizing his belief in ideal forms, while Aristotle’s gesture points horizontally, emphasizing his empirical approach.

The Statue of Liberty is not just a symbol of freedom; its design includes several symbolic elements. The broken chain at her feet represents the abolition of slavery, while the torch symbolizes enlightenment. But most curiously, Lady Liberty's face is said to have been modeled after the artist Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi's mother.

Da Vinci’s Last Supper holds numerous symbols, most notably the geometric composition. The table itself forms a triangle, symbolizing the Holy Trinity, while Christ’s position in the center divides the composition into a perfect balance of divine and human. Even the placement of Judas, isolated from the others on the opposite side of Christ, visually hints at his betrayal.

Grant Wood’s iconic American Gothic has often been interpreted as a commentary on rural American values, but there are more layers to the painting. In fact, it was inspired by a real house built in the style of "Carpenter Gothic," which Wood found rather pretentious for such a humble home. The characters, however, aren’t the real inhabitants of the house but Wood’s dentist and his sister.

The Venus de Milo represents idealized beauty in ancient Greek sculpture, but its missing arms add to its mystery. The lost limbs have sparked theories about its original pose, enhancing the statue's allure. Interestingly, some suggest the figure may not depict Aphrodite/Venus at all, but Amphitrite, the sea goddess worshiped on the island of Milos.

A master of visual storytelling, Rembrandt was well known for including hidden messages and symbolism. In his masterpiece The Night Watch, some believe the artist makes a subtle cameo. In the middle of the painting, behind a man in green and a guard with a metal helm, you can spot a faint figure, widely thought to be Rembrandt himself.

Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man is not just a study of human anatomy; it symbolizes the Renaissance belief in the harmony between art and science. But beyond the perfect proportions, keen observers have noted that the man depicted appears to suffer from an inguinal hernia—an ailment that could have been fatal at the time. Given that artists often used cadavers as models, it's likely that Leonardo based the figure on a real, deceased individual.

Klimt’s The Kiss is renowned for its use of gold leaf, evoking the sacred beauty of religious art found in churches. Some art historians even speculate that the lovers in the painting are not just symbolic figures, but a representation of Klimt himself and his long-time partner, fashion designer Emilie Flöge.

Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People uses the allegorical figure of Liberty to symbolize the spirit of revolution during France's July Revolution of 1830. However, the woman in the painting has a name—_Marianne_—a powerful symbol of the French Republic ever since the first French Revolution of 1789.

Van Gogh's Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear captures a deeply personal moment following the infamous incident in which he—allegedly—severed his own ear. However, some art historians now believe that the wound was in fact the product of an altercation with friend and fellow artist Paul Gauguin. A deft fencer, Gauguin might have acted in self-defense during a violent bout of psychosis of his friend.

Michelangelo’s David symbolizes strength and humanism, embodying both intellectual and physical power. While its proportions follow classical ideals, David’s unusually large head and oversized right hand stand out. Additionally, his heart-shaped pupils are a curious detail, possibly symbolizing his love for Florence or a playful nod to the letter "D," often depicted as a heart in Renaissance art.