Creepy lingo

You’ve said these (not so) innocent phrases your whole life: Learn more!

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We toss out phrases like "bite the bullet" or "caught red-handed" without giving them a second thought. But some of our favorite everyday expressions began on battlefields, in prisons, and even on plague-ridden streets. Behind those cheerful turns of phrase are stories that range from weird to downright disturbing. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it light, but you might never hear these sayings the same way again.

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Before it described devoted fans or stubborn folks, "diehard" referred to soldiers who fought until their last breath. The term first appeared in the late 1700s to describe troops who refused to surrender. Today, it has lost its blood-and-battlefield meaning and simply signifies loyalty or persistence. So if you’re a diehard sports fan, you can safely keep your devotion on the couch instead of the battlefield.

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A rumor once claimed that "rule of thumb" came from an old law allowing men to beat their wives with sticks no wider than a thumb. That’s not true. The phrase actually originates from carpenters and brewers, who used their thumbs to make rough measurements before rulers were common. Over time, it picked up that false association, but its real roots are much less sinister and far more practical.

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These days, if someone is "pulling your leg," they’re joking around. But the phrase likely originated in 19th-century London, where thieves would trip their victims by tugging on their legs before robbing them. It wasn’t exactly harmless fun back then. Over time, the expression lost its sinister connotation and became something much friendlier: a playful way to tease without causing real harm.

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This phrase has one of the darkest origins on this list. In the early 1800s, enslaved people in the United States were sometimes sold "down the river" to plantations in the Deep South, where conditions were far harsher. It came to mean betrayal or being deceived, though given its painful history, it’s often considered best avoided today. There are plenty of ways to describe someone letting you down without echoing that dark past.

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In the old days, sailors being inspected had to line up perfectly, with their toes touching a marked plank on the deck. Failure to "toe the line" could result in punishment or extra duties. The phrase later took on a figurative meaning: staying within rules or meeting expectations. Today, it’s more about following office policy than avoiding a sailor’s scolding.

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For centuries, "hysteria" was wrongly attributed to the female body, particularly the uterus (from the Greek word hystera). Doctors once used this diagnosis for nearly any symptom in women, from sadness to laughter. By the 19th century, people began to understand that emotions were not tied to specific organs. Today, "hysterical" usually means someone is laughing uncontrollably or reacting with intense emotion, not suffering from an outdated medical myth.

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In the early 1900s, saloons would literally throw out freeloaders who came for the free lunch but didn’t buy a drink, rushing them to the door—a practice known as the "bum’s rush." Later, the phrase evolved into "bum rush," meaning to forcefully push in or overwhelm. These days, we might say a crowd "bum-rushed" the stage at a concert, but thankfully, no one is being tossed into the street.

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Centuries ago, when city streets were filthy and drainage was poor, heavy rain would sweep debris into the gutters—sometimes even animal carcasses. It’s believed that this grim sight inspired the phrase "raining cats and dogs." The image stuck, though thankfully the meaning softened over time. Today, it simply means it’s pouring outside, not that the sky is literally falling.

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Being "caught red-handed" originally referred to criminals literally found with blood on their hands after committing a violent act. The phrase first appeared in Scottish law in the 15th century. Over time, it took on a lighter meaning (thank God!), used for any kind of wrongdoing, big or small.

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Before anesthesia, soldiers in pain were given something hard to bite on during surgery. Guess what? A bullet. It was a way to endure unbearable pain in silence. These days, "biting the bullet" just means bracing yourself for something unpleasant, like paying your taxes or opening a stack of bills. The modern version is much easier on the teeth.

Grim tales ahead

Why does the "Saved by the bell" expression have a dark past?

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We toss around these phrases every day like nothing, without thinking about where they came from. But behind some of these familiar expressions lurk stories of violence, superstition, and even death. From battlefield slang to old legal terms and folklore, their histories can be surprisingly grim. Did you know the origins of these common sayings?

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This phrase is commonly tied to boxing, where a bell ends the round and saves a fighter. But it has a darker twist to it.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, safety coffins with bells were invented to prevent premature burial, and ringing would literally save someone’s life.

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This term refers to working overnight hours, and it is named so for the stillness that resembles a cemetery.

It may also stem from 19th-century watchmen who guarded graves to deter body snatchers seeking corpses for medical schools.

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The expression "caught red-handed" began as a legal term in Scotland for being found with blood on one’s hands after poaching or murder.

Its vivid imagery made it a lasting metaphor for being caught in the act of wrongdoing.

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Today, it means an exact duplicate, but some trace it to 19th-century fears of live burial, where it had a similar meaning to that of our first entry.

As with "saved by the bell," some believe this phrase refers to the practice of attaching bells to coffins so that a mistakenly buried person could ring for rescue—hence, a "ringer" from the dead.

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Originally, this idiom was used to describe soldiers who fought to the death or refused to surrender despite mortal wounds.

Over time, it evolved into a term for anyone fiercely resisting change or clinging to a cause.

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The origin of this phrase is a literal reference to being under direct threat of enemy fire in battle.

It now describes any high-pressure situation, though the imagery still carries a sense of danger.

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Borrowed from boxing, this phrase signals surrender, as trainers toss a towel into the ring to stop a fight.

Its roots lie in the stark reality of protecting a beaten fighter from further harm.

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During the U.S. Civil War, prison camps marked a line that, if crossed, allowed guards to shoot prisoners instantly.

The word later softened into a publishing and workplace term for time limits, fortunately losing its lethal edge.

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The expression "skeleton in the closet" is a metaphor for a hidden shame or scandal, which, originally, evoked the image of concealing a corpse.

Its morbid imagery endures, making it one of the most vivid idioms in everyday language.

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There was a time when silver bullets were considered real weapons in folklore, believed to be the only way to kill werewolves or other monsters.

Today, it means a simple, almost magical solution to a complex problem, retaining its mythical flavor.