Hidden stories

10 clichés you've used for years—and the surprising stories behind them

You’ve probably said or heard things like "the early bird gets the worm," or "close but no cigar," maybe without even thinking twice. They’re the kind of phrases you heard from your parents or picked up at school, and at some point, they just stuck. But here’s the thing: most people have no idea where they actually came from. English is full of these well-known sayings; clichés we repeat so often they’ve lost their punch. But the stories behind them are anything but boring. Here are 10 familiar clichés and their surprising origins.

If you’ve ever grabbed the last piece of cake, only to have the phone ring just as someone else walks toward the fridge, you’ve been "saved by the bell". But the origins of this cliché are much more dramatic.

There are two possible explanations for its history. One theory comes from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when there was a widespread fear of being buried alive. According to the story, some coffins were allegedly fitted with bells so a person could signal if they woke up underground, though there’s little evidence this was actually common. The more widely accepted origin comes from 19th-century boxing, where a fighter in trouble could be "saved" by the bell that ended the round just in time. Over time, that idea of a last-second escape became the meaning we use today.

You had a flight, but you overslept. You rush to the airport, but the boarding gate has just closed: you didn’t make it. That’s a perfect "close, but no cigar" moment.

This phrase, used today whenever someone nearly succeeds but falls just short, had its origins in early 20th-century American carnivals and fairs. Back then, many skill games, like shooting galleries, ring tosses, or strength tests, didn't just offer stuffed animals or candy as prizes; they gave cigars to winners. If someone came close but didn’t win, the phrase was "close, but no cigar." Some customs may have changed, but the expression stuck, and its meaning is still quite the same today.

These days, many people believe that acting early and with diligence has its advantages, or, as the saying goes, "the early bird catches the worm." But have you ever wondered where that idiom comes from?

In 17th-century Europe, most people worked in farming or trade, and getting an early start, arriving first at the market or beginning work at dawn, often meant a real advantage. In that context, it’s easy to see how the saying was established. "The early bird gets the worm" was first recorded in John Ray’s A Collection of English Proverbs (1670–1678), though even earlier variations appeared in William Camden’s Remains Concerning Britain (1605/1636).

Perhaps your grandmother once told you a few kitchen "rules of thumb," like using 1 gallon of water per pound of pasta or 2 parts water to 1 part rice. Simple guidelines that usually work, even if they’re not exact. But did you know the term "rules of thumb" was already used four centuries ago?

In 17th-century England, people didn’t just use feet for measuring; thumbs were also used as a quick, rough tool in everyday trades like brewing and textiles, where a thumb’s width meant roughly an inch. The expression appeared in writing in the 1600s, notably in a sermon by Scottish minister James Durham, and by the end of that century, it was already being used much like we use it today.

Experienced people often warn against celebrating a raise or promotion before it’s actually official; you know, "don’t count your chickens before they hatch." Can you believe this idiom dates back to the 6th century BCE?

It comes from Aesop's Fables, especially the story often known as "The Milkmaid and Her Pail." In it, a young girl daydreams about the fortune she’ll make from selling milk, eggs, and future profits, so much so that she accidentally spills the milk and loses everything. The fable warns against planning for success until it’s actually happened, just like the saying today.

If a friend isn’t returning your calls and says he’s "just been really busy lately," you might need to "read between the lines" to realize something else is going on. Today, the phrase simply means picking up on the hidden or unspoken meaning behind someone’s words or behavior. But its origins are more literal than you might think.

In 19th-century cryptography, "reading between the lines" meant to uncover secret messages hidden in invisible ink between lines of visible text. One common method involved applying heat, which would reveal the secret writing. By 1850, the phrase had moved beyond codes into everyday language and was used to describe noticing subtle hints or implied meanings, just as we use it today.

If you’re visiting a new city and a local recommends a restaurant with an uninviting exterior, but inside, the food is a 10 out of 10, that’s when you’re reminded: "Don’t judge a book by its cover." Today, the saying means you shouldn’t judge something or someone by appearances alone, and it comes from 19th-century literature.

An early version appears in George Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss (1860), where a character speaking about books says, "…they’ve all got the same covers… But it seems one mustn’t judge by th’ outside." The wording later gained popularity in the 1946 murder mystery Murder in the Glass Room, by Lester Fuller and Edwin Rolfe, where it appears more directly as "You can never tell a book by its cover."

You’ve probably said "better late than never" when you showed up late to work or finally remembered to wish a friend a happy birthday, just a day or two too late. While we often say it today almost as a joke, its roots are much older and more serious.

The idea dates back to ancient Rome and was reflected in Titus Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita (History of Rome), written between 27 BCE and 9 BCE. The proverb appears as "potius sero quam nunquam", expressing the idea that it is better to act late than not at all, especially when it comes to defending Rome and its traditions. Centuries later, Geoffrey Chaucer brought the idea into Middle English in The Canterbury Tales (1386) as For bet than never is late.

If you’re the cautious type who prefers to avoid trouble before making a decision, you’ve probably said "better safe than sorry" more times than you can count. But have you ever wondered where it actually comes from?

Unlike the previous proverb, this one doesn’t go back to ancient Rome, but it’s generally traced to 19th-century Irish literature. Even though the idea already existed in oral form, the phrase is credited to Irish novelist Samuel Lover, who, in his 1837 novel Rory O’More, writes it as "It is better to be sure than sorry," using it to highlight his character’s practical common sense.

Anyone who has experienced grief or loss can relate to the comforting saying, "Time heals all wounds." Today, we often share it in deep conversations with family or friends, but its roots go back much further than most people think.

It is believed to have originated with the Greek poet and playwright Menander around 300 BCE, who wrote Pantōn iatros tōn anagkaiōn kakōn chronos estin ("Time is the healer of all necessary evils"), suggesting that the passage of time can soften emotional pain. Later, Geoffrey Chaucer brought a similar idea into Middle English in Troilus and Criseyde (1380s), where it appears as As tyme hem hurt, a tyme doth hem cure ("As time hurt them, time cures them").

Deathbed statements

Beyond the grave: Take a look at the last words of 12 famous people

Image: Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Throughout history, hundreds of historical figures have left their mark on the world through their marvelous achievements. When their lives came to an end, their last words were often a reflection of their lives and ideals. From George Washington and Mark Twain to Frank Sinatra and Leonardo Da Vinci, in this article, we will reveal 12 final words of memorable personalities.

Image: The New York Public Library

After serving two terms as the United State's first president, George Washington retired to his Virginia plantation. In mid-December 1799, he developed a cold and a severe sore throat. Despite doctors' efforts to cure him, the end was imminent.

His long-time secretary, Tobias Lear, was at his side during his last days and documented all the events that transpired, including the former president's last words. According to his account, shortly before he took his last breath George Washington said "Tis well" —an old-fashioned way of saying "everything is okay."

Image: Signal Corps Archive from United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Noir icon of perpetual elegance and rebellious charisma, Humphrey Bogart is an undisputed legend in cinema history. A Hollywood Golden Age star, Bogart is still remembered today for his scar on his upper lip, his everlasting cigarette, and his perfect portrayal of gangsters and detectives.

At the age of 57 Bogart was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, for which he was hospitalized for several months. According to lore, the legendary star's last words were "I should never have switched from scotch to martinis." However, his wife Lauren Bacall confirmed that the last thing he actually said was "Goodbye Kid. Hurry back," before she left his bedside to get their children.

Image: Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As one of the greatest American writers of all time, Mark Twain is usually credited with all sorts of great quotes that he often didn't say. For that reason, there are different versions of what his last words were before he died in 1910 at the age of 74.

The most plausible theory can be found in an article published one day after his death. According to this chronicle, Samuel Langhorne Clemens' last words were not spoken aloud but written. The famous humorist and essayist reportedly wrote to his daughter Clara, who accompanied him on his bedside, "Give me my glasses."

Image: MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Joan Crawford, the Oscar winner for Mildred Pierce and one of the greatest stars of Hollywood's golden age, died in 1977 of a heart attack.

The actress, who had a complicated personality, was true to her nature until her last breath. She was so ill that her doctor felt it wasn’t worth taking her to the hospital. One of her nurses began to pray aloud in desperation. Losing her patience, Crawford snapped for the last time and said, "Damn it... Don't you dare ask God to help me."

Image: Municipal Library of Trento, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The year 2024 marked the 700th anniversary of the death of the man who better described remote lands. Marco Polo was a merchant who spent more than 20 years of his life traveling through the Orient and wrote about his adventures in a book that became a bestseller when the printing press wasn’t even invented.

Marco Polo was, and still is, a legend. When, on his deathbed, his wife and friends begged the brave explorer to confess if what he had told in the book was true, he barely whispered: "I have not told the half of what I saw and did."

Image: MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Julius Henry Marx, better known as Groucho Marx, is considered one of the most influential comedians of all time. The man with the bushy black mustache was one of the Marx Brothers. Together they made 13 films, including the classic Duck Soup. After a long and prominent career, Groucho passed away in Los Angeles in 1977 at the age of 86.

His brilliant one-liners are still remembered and replayed to this day, so it is not surprising that not one but several final words are attributed to him. A few close friends have suggested that his last line was "This is no way to live!", while most suggest that his last words were in fact dedicated to his wife: "Die, my dear? Why, that's the last thing I'll do!"

Image: Nicolas de Largillière, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Voltaire, the French writer, philosopher, historian, and lawyer, one of the major figures of the Enlightenment, died in 1778 at the age of 83. Different accounts of his deathbed make it impossible to determine exactly what his last days were like.

One of these stories, however, is consistent with his ideas about God and his well-known criticism of the Church. According to this version, when the priest asked him if he wanted to renounce Satan before he died, Voltaire replied, "This is no time to make new enemies."

Image: William Wallace Denslow, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

L. Frank Baum was a prolific American author. He wrote 55 novels, 82 short stories, and more than 200 poems. However, his most memorable work is his series of children's fantasy books The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

On May 5, 1919, Baum suffered a heart attack. He died the next day, shortly before his 63rd birthday. Disturbed by the imminence of death, he whispered to his wife: "Now we can cross the Shifting Sands," a clear reference to the Land of Oz.

Image: National Archaeological Museum of Athens, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Augustus, the first Roman emperor, is often attributed with the phrase: "Behold, I found Rome of clay, and leave her to you of marble," alluding to the great infrastructural works carried out during his prosperous 40 years of rule.

However, according to other historical accounts, his last words were addressed to the friends who stayed with him on his deathbed: "Have I played the part well? Then applaud, as I exit."

Image: English: Distributed by NBC. Photographer unknown., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

"Darling, you've gone through worse and you can beat this too. You have to fight," implored Barbara Marx, Frank Sinatra's fourth wife, to her beloved on his deathbed. "I'm losing," The Voice whispered through teary eyes.

Barbara recounted the last hours of the singer of such hits as My Way and New York, New York in her memoir Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank. Frank Sinatra, one of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century, pronounced his last words in 1998 at the age of 82.

Image: Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite being one of the most famous artists of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci was very hard on himself. All his life he challenged his own limits, evident in his paintings and sculptures as well as in his inventions, some of which were truly revolutionary.

Even after a lifetime of success, he wasn’t quite satisfied. When he suffered a stroke at the age of 67, he sent for a priest to receive the Holy Sacrament and, according to historians, his greatest regret was that he hadn’t achieved excellence with his work. In that sense, it is said that his last words were: "I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have."

Image: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Yankee Clipper was one of the greatest baseball players of all time but he is also known for having been married to the iconic American actress Marilyn Monroe. Joe and Marilyn were together for less than three years. In 1955 the actress left him for American playwright Arthur Miller.

DiMaggio was devastated. He never married again, and never got over his one true love. His last words before he died in 1999 at the age of 84 were: "I'll finally get to see Marilyn."