Born from nature

Don’t back the wrong horse: The origins of common idioms explained

Image: Florian van Duyn

Nature gives us so much, even some words and phrases we use to express ourselves. Many sayings and idioms we use every day are inspired by landscapes, plants, animals, oceans, and more. But what do they really mean, and where did they come from? Discover all this and more in our article on 10 nature-related idioms!

Image: Gala Iv

He was between the devil and the deep blue sea: either tell the truth and risk the consequences, or lie and face guilt.

Sometimes life puts you in tough situations where no choice seems easy, satisfying, or pleasant. Choosing between two chores you don’t want to do, or two dishes you don’t want to eat, is like being "between the devil and the deep blue sea." The phrase comes from the world of sailors: the ‘devil’ was a rope on the ship’s deck that was hard to reach, leaving sailors caught between it and the dangerous, stormy sea.

Image: Todd Cravens

She had a whale of a time at her birthday party with all her friends.

We may not all be whale experts, but one thing is clear: they are huge creatures. That’s likely why the word "whale" was used as slang for something enormous back in the 19th century. Over time, the meaning evolved to describe something grand or extraordinary, giving rise to the idiom "a whale of a time," used to refer to incredibly fun, enjoyable, or memorable moments and experiences.

Image: Kirsten LaChance

I think you’ve backed the wrong horse by supporting that candidate in the election.

"Backing the wrong horse" can be frustrating and discouraging. Originating in the world of horse racing, this idiom is used when you support something that doesn’t work out or trust someone or something that ends up letting you down. Whether it’s a personal choice, financial decision, or political issue, the phrase can be applied to all sorts of situations in life.

Image: Csaba Gyulavári

When he forgot our anniversary after months of neglect, that was the last straw.

Some days just don’t go right: your alarm doesn’t go off, you step in some water with your socks on, and you miss your morning coffee. At the office, it turns out the coffee machine is broken, so you grab a cup at a café. And just when you think the bad luck is over, someone bumps into you and spills the warm infusion on your clothes. No wonder you lose your temper; this was "the last straw." The phrase comes from an old proverb: "Is it the last straw that breaks the camel’s back," meaning a small event can push a situation over the edge.

Image: Susana Bartolome

After their argument, she offered an olive branch by inviting him to lunch.

Have you ever sent or received flowers after an argument? Classic, right? Offering or extending "an olive branch" is a gesture of peace, a request for a truce, or a show of goodwill. As you might guess, this idiom dates back to ancient times, when olive branches symbolized peace, harmony, and even victory.

Image: Kevin Albrich

Stop beating around the bush and tell me what really happened at the meeting.

If you ask your family whether they ate the dessert you left in the fridge, and they start avoiding the question or changing the topic, you can say they’re "beating around the bush." The idiom comes from medieval English hunting, where hunters would beat bushes to flush out birds or small animals, rather than going straight for them. Today, it’s used to describe someone who avoids the main point and speaks indirectly.

Image: Anton Atanasov

If you think I’m the one who broke the plate, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

What if, after getting upset with your family, you find out it was the dog who ate your dessert? In that case, you could say you were "barking up the wrong tree." This common idiom is used when you blame the wrong person or make a wrong assumption. Like the previous one, it comes from hunting: in 19th-century America, raccoon hunters used dogs to track their prey, but sometimes the dogs would simply bark at the wrong tree.

Image: Polina Zimenkova

The weekend started off peacefully, but it was just the calm before the storm of holiday traffic.

Ask a meteorologist what usually comes before a storm, and the answer is simple: calm. Everything seems quiet and peaceful, but trouble is on the way. This pattern in nature inspired the widely used idiom "calm before the storm," which warns that periods of tranquility can be followed by sudden chaos.

Image: Kellice Chua

Their argument about who would do the dishes was really just a storm in a teacup.

Do you remember the last time you got really upset over something that wasn’t all that important? Chances are you were making "a storm in a teacup." You don’t have to be English to know that teacups are usually small, so how could a storm possibly break out inside one? It’s this very irony that gives the idiom its meaning.

Image: Charlotte Coneybeer

With your talent and dedication, the world is your oyster.

When opportunities are endless, when the best is yet to come, or when you have the power to achieve your goals, you can say that "the world is your oyster." This widely used idiom comes from Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor (1602), where the line reads, "Why then the world’s mine oyster, which I with sword will open." The oyster represents the world, and the pearl inside symbolizes the opportunities to discover.

Decoding

Being a "treasured guest" is not a compliment. This is the hidden meaning

Have you ever heard "Code Adam" while shopping for groceries at Walmart? Or maybe you’ve heard how "Dr. Firestone" was being paged during a routine hospital visit. They sound like harmless announcements. But behind these ordinary words are secret codes staff use to signal emergencies without causing panic. From hospitals and supermarkets to airports and Disney Parks, these phrases quietly warn employees that something is happening. You hope you never hear them, but if you do, it helps to know exactly what they mean.

We all love getting special attention at airports or hotel desks, but if you hear the clerk call you a "treasured guest," don’t feel so flattered. You may not be as VIP as one could think.

In the hospitality industry, "treasured guest" has become a humorous bit of industry folklore to describe someone causing trouble. Maybe a customer yelling at staff over expired coupons, demanding impossible accommodations, or throwing a full-blown tantrum at the front desk. Whatever it is, the phrase has become the staff’s secret way to warn co-workers without escalating the situation in front of the customers. Most guests don’t realize the meaning, but once you know it, you may start hearing it more often. We just hope it’s not about you.

Imagine you’re pushing a shopping cart through Walmart when suddenly the overhead speaker announces, "Code Adam." You can easily assume it’s some kind of employee meeting or cleanup request. But when you see them start locking the exits and moving around, you know something’s wrong.

This code was created in 1994 by Walmart in collaboration with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), in memory of the tragic case of 6-year-old Adam Walsh. Adam was abducted from a Sears department store in 1981 while shopping with his mother. His father, John Walsh, later became famous for hosting the TV program America’s Most Wanted and advocating for missing children. Even if Adam’s story ended in tragedy, Walmart created the emergency system in Adam’s memory, and other retailers soon adopted it nationwide, intending to have a quick response to missing or abducted children.

You’re sitting in a hospital waiting room during a routine check-up when you suddenly hear "Code Blue, Room 214." Most people immediately know it sounds serious, even if they are not entirely sure why.

The phrase "Code Blue" is used at hospitals to draw the necessary staff and equipment to perform a resuscitation. It was created in the early 1960s at Beathany Medical Center by Dr. Hughes Day. Before then, hospital resuscitations were often chaotic and poorly coordinated. In 1961, Dr. Day received a grant to build one of America’s first cardiac care centers, and he developed both the Code Blue alert system and the modern crash cart to improve survival rates during cardiac emergencies. Today, the system is used in hospitals across the country, sometimes with specialized versions like "Code Blue Pediatric" or "Code Blue Neonate."

Imagine visiting a loved one in the hospital when the intercom calmly announces, "Paging Dr. Firectone to the third floor." Your head surely goes, "Dr. Firestone’s probably having a busy day up there." He is, but it’s not what you think.

The phrase is actually a discreet fire alert used to warn staff about smoke, flames, or overheating equipment without frightening patients and visitors. Hospitals adopted these coded announcements after realizing that openly yelling "fire" over loudspeakers could create panic, especially among patients who aren’t able to move quickly. "Code Red" is an alternative used by many health centers today, but it also hints at the situation while keeping hallways calm.

You’re standing at a checkout counter when the cashier picks up the phone and quietly says, "I need a Code 10 authorization." If you think that’s just another way to get a supervisor’s approval or technical issue, think again. In reality, the cashier may suspect the credit card is stolen or fraudulent.

Code 10 was developed through a cooperative effort between major credit card companies like Visa and Mastercard, along with international standard organizations. As credit cards became more common in the 1960s and 1970s, stores needed a discreet way to alert banks about suspicious activity without directly accusing customers and potentially putting employees at danger. When a cashier requests a Code 10, the bank’s operator begins asking yes-or-no questions to assess the situation and guide the employee on what to do next.

You’ve probably experienced those long airport security lines. The wait is usually uneventful. But sometimes, you can hear "Code Bravo" over the speakers. Maybe it’s a delay, or maybe it’s an issue with luggage. Within seconds, people stop moving, the security line freezes, and exits may even close. It’s something bigger.

Code Bravo is the emergency phrase used by airport security and the Transportation Security Administration to signal a serious security threat, such as an unattended bag, a breach at a checkpoint, or someone slipping into a restricted area. The term comes from the international phonetic alphabet used in aviation and military communications, where "Bravo" represents the letter B. When this is called, security staff immediately lock down affected areas, stop screening lines, and search for the source of the threat. To passengers, it’s sudden and confusing, but to security, it’s a carefully rehearsed response.

You are heading back to your cabin on a cruise ship when the speakers announce, "Code Alpha, Deck 7." You may think Alpha is related to the captain, but that’s not the case. It means someone on board is suffering a medical emergency.

The phrase comes from the NATO phonetic alphabet, where "Alpha" represents the letter A. In maritime emergency jargon, it became shorthand for a Priority A medical situation requiring immediate response. Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line commonly use the term, though some ships use variations like repeating "Alpha" three times. Once the code is announced, onboard medical teams rush toward the specified deck or cabin. If necessary, stretcher crews are mobilized, and in severe cases, the ship may even divert course toward the nearest port for emergency evacuation. Passengers are enjoying the views, but the staff is running to save a life.

Anyone who remembers the CB radio craze of the 1970s probably smiles when they hear "10-4." Movies, truckers, and radio fans turned those number codes into a part of American culture. So if you overhear "10-33" on a police scanner, you might assume it’s just another routine message. But it’s not as simple as it sounds.

The 10-code system was first created in 1937 by Illinois State Police communications director Charles Hopper and later standardized by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, better known as APCO. Officers needed short phrases they could understand clearly over crackling radio signals. The 10-33 code commonly means an officer needs emergency assistance. In some departments, it also signals radio silence so dispatchers can focus on the crisis unfolding in real time.

Disney World is amazing, the parks offer something for everyone, and there are things to see wherever you look. But that’s exactly the kind of place where a child can easily disappear into a sea of strollers, balloons, characters, and crowds. For that reason, Disney has developed the "Signal 70," which alerts cast members and security that a child has become separated from their family.

The number comes from older police and emergency radio systems, where "70" was commonly associated with missing persons. Disney adopted the phrase because it allows employees to communicate discreetly without frightening or alarming nearby guests. If a member finds the child, they gently -and magically- escort them to Baby Care Center, where they coordinate the reunion.

Cruises are great to relax, enjoying a good book under the sun with a nice drink by the side. Until you hear "Echo, echo, echo" on the speakers. If you do, something is happening somewhere else on the ship.

The code is used among cruise employees to signal that dangerous winds or a navigational hazard are affecting the ship. It comes from the international maritime phonetic alphabet, where "Echo" stands for the letter E. In maritime signalling, the letter traditionally means "I am altering my course to starboard." And, in time, the phrase became associated with urgent ship maneuvers and weather-related warnings. However urgent, the repetition of the word by three doesn’t represent life-threatening situations. It alerts the crew of a certain hazard to prepare while avoiding panic among passengers.