Don't Throw the Baby Out With the Bathwater Snopes

Back in 2014, I shared some fun info about how some very familiar sayings like "piss poor" and "throwing the baby out with the bathroom h2o" came about… supposedly sayings that originated from life in the 1500s.  It is e'er interesting to know where sayings came from and what they actually meant.

I recently asked my crack team to do a little enquiry to detect more of these crawly little tidbits and was disappointed to larn that none of these were fifty-fifty true.  I've been believing and telling people these "facts" for years!  But Snopes, the go-to site for debunking myths, urban legends and ― in this example ― artificial origins of popular sayings, either debunked or clarified the origin of each maxim.

The reality of these sayings is far less exciting, and I'm sure that is why the myths of their origins live on.  Either way, information technology was still expert to know what they really mean and where they came from.  You tin can find the full Snopes report on the truth behind the origins here, but we have reposted my original "facts" below, along with a summarized version of Snopes' detective piece of work.

Why We Say "Piss Poor"

While people did in one case use pots instead of toilets, did this have something to do with why we say "piss poor"?

THE MYTH

Urine was once used to tan brute skins, so families would all pee in a pot and sell it to a tannery once information technology was full.  If yous had to do this to survive you lot were "Piss Poor."  Merely worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even beget to purchase a pot.  They "didn't have a pot to piss in" and were the lowest of the low.

Since the first recorded employ of the phrase "piss poor" wasn't until 1946, the idea that it was derived from peeing in pots for the tanner is out of the question.  Because this timeline, Snopes points out that "words having to do with excretory functions are routinely used in colloquialisms meant to communicate meanings of 'little or no value.'"  Some other example is this lilliputian gem "not worth a fragrant fart."  Can't you hear your grandad saying something like that?  And "piss poor" only another example on this list.

Why Brides Carry Bouquets

Were bouquets really used for stinky brides? Snopes sniffed out the truth behind the origin of the nuptials bouquet.

THE MYTH

Nigh people got married in June considering they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June.  However, since they were starting to aroma, brides carried a boutonniere of flowers to hibernate the trunk odor.­­­­  Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

While people didn't have the full-immersion baths we think of today (during this time, it was impractical to have such a large container of heated water), they did keep up on personal hygiene with whatever materials were bachelor back and then.  As for the flowers at weddings, they started simply as a symbol of fertility ― information technology had nothing to practise with scent!

Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater

This phrase was supposedly meant to create a silly epitome, such as this one institute in the German language satirical piece of work Narrenbeschwörung.  There is no evidence that this was derived from any literal sense of the phrase.Thank goodness!

THE MYTH

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water.  The homo of the business firm had the privilege of the nice clean water, so all of the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children.  Last of all the babies.  By and so the h2o was so dirty you could really lose someone in it.  Hence the saying, "Don't throw the babe out with the bath water!"

While this phrase did originate in the 1500s, it was a Germanic proverb not recorded in the English language language until the 19th century.  The first recorded use of this phrase was past a German author in a satirical work.

It's Raining Cats and Dogs

An old saying we're all acquainted with, but where exactly did information technology come from? No one really knows!

THE MYTH

Houses had thatched roofs, thick straw piled high, with no wood underneath.  It was the only place for animals to get warm, then all the cats and other pocket-sized animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof.  When it rained, it became slippery and sometimes the animals would sideslip and autumn off the roof…  Hence the saying, "It'due south raining cats and dogs."

Snopes explains that although rodents and bugs nigh likely lived in these roofs, information technology was unlikely that cats and dogs did. This article from the Library of Congress points out that no one really knows where this phrase comes from.  Across finding the first recorded use of the phrase in the work of an English poet during the 1600s (and who knows what people are trying to say in poetry), its origins are unknown.  The most likely story seems to exist a symbol pulled from Norse mythology or an old Greek phrase.

While the original tidbits of information were, disappointingly, non true, they still make me laugh ― maybe fifty-fifty more than at present that I know someone went out of their way to create these clever stories.  Plus, it was fun to discover the facts and set the tape straight subsequently all these years.

Dorsum in 2014, I shared some fun info about how some very familiar sayings like "piss poor" and "throwing the baby out with the bath water" came about… supposedly sayings that originated from life in the 1500s.  It is always interesting to know where sayings came from and what they really meant.

I recently asked my crevice team to exercise a little research to observe more than of these awesome little tidbits and was disappointed to learn that none of these were even true.  I've been believing and telling people these "facts" for years!  Only Snopes, the go-to site for debunking myths, urban legends and ― in this case ― bogus origins of popular sayings, either debunked or clarified the origin of each saying.

The reality of these sayings is far less exciting, and I'm sure that is why the myths of their origins live on.  Either way, it was still good to know what they really mean and where they came from.  Yous can find the full Snopes study on the truth behind the origins here, simply we take reposted my original "facts" below, along with a summarized version of Snopes' detective piece of work.

Why We Say "Piss Poor"

While people did once use pots instead of toilets, did this have something to do with why we say "piss poor"?

THE MYTH

Urine was once used to tan animal skins, then families would all pee in a pot and sell it to a tannery once it was full.  If you had to do this to survive y'all were "Piss Poor."  Only worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even beget to buy a pot.  They "didn't accept a pot to piss in" and were the everyman of the low.

Since the first recorded employ of the phrase "piss poor" wasn't until 1946, the thought that it was derived from peeing in pots for the tanner is out of the question.  Considering this timeline, Snopes points out that "words having to practise with excretory functions are routinely used in colloquialisms meant to communicate meanings of 'footling or no value.'"  Another example is this piddling gem "non worth a fragrant fart."  Can't yous hear your grandfather proverb something like that?  And "piss poor" but another instance on this list.

Why Brides Carry Bouquets

Were bouquets actually used for stinky brides? Snopes sniffed out the truth behind the origin of the wedding bouquet.

THE MYTH

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they even so smelled pretty good past June.  Still, since they were starting to smell, brides carried a boutonniere of flowers to hide the body scent.­­­­  Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

While people didn't have the full-immersion baths we recollect of today (during this time, it was impractical to have such a large container of heated water), they did keep up on personal hygiene with whatever materials were available back and then.  Every bit for the flowers at weddings, they started only every bit a symbol of fertility ― it had cipher to practice with smell!

Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater

This phrase was supposedly meant to create a featherbrained image, such as this one found in the German satirical work Narrenbeschwörung.  At that place is no evidence that this was derived from whatsoever literal sense of the phrase.Thank goodness!

THE MYTH

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water.  The man of the business firm had the privilege of the dainty clean water, then all of the other sons and men, and then the women and finally the children.  Terminal of all the babies.  Past and so the h2o was then dirty you could actually lose someone in it.  Hence the saying, "Don't throw the babe out with the bath water!"

While this phrase did originate in the 1500s, information technology was a Germanic proverb not recorded in the English language language until the 19th century.  The first recorded employ of this phrase was past a German author in a satirical work.

It's Raining Cats and Dogs

An old saying we're all acquainted with, but where exactly did it come from? The truth is, no one really knows!

THE MYTH

Houses had thatched roofs, thick harbinger piled high, with no wood underneath.  Information technology was the simply place for animals to get warm, then all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof.  When information technology rained, it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof…  Hence the proverb, "Information technology'due south raining cats and dogs."

Snopes explains that although rodents and bugs most probable lived in these roofs, it was unlikely that cats and dogs did. This commodity from the Library of Congress points out that no ane really knows where this phrase comes from.  Across finding the beginning recorded use of the phrase in the work of an English language poet during the 1600s (and who knows what people are trying to say in verse), its origins are unknown.  The most probable story seems to be a symbol pulled from Norse mythology or an one-time Greek phrase.

While the original tidbits of information were, disappointingly, not true, they all the same brand me laugh ― maybe even more than at present that I know someone went out of their style to create these clever stories.  Plus, it was fun to find the facts and set the record straight afterwards all these years.

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Source: https://www.hughescapital.com/the-myth-of-the-stinky-bride/

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