[Doctor Raoul]

OK, thanks. A lot of idioms (sp?) we use we never know the origin or meaning of them.

There's a good book called, "Why Do We Say That?".

[TheSpottedOwl]

Oh yeah, I've caught myself saying something that I heard growing up, like if you do that again, I'll lay you out in lavender!!! That's a polite way of saying I'll kill you without disturbing nosy neighbors :)

Lavender was a favorite apparel color for the deceased...

[muir_redwoods]

Check out a great book called "Brewers Phrase and Fable" It's full of explanations for odd expressions. My favorite is the story behing "Hell-bent for Leather" meaning to ride too fast. It's a blend of two unrelated expressions, "Hell for Leather" meaning to mistreat a saddle by riding too fast and "Hell-Bent" which is a statement on mankind supposed natural proclivity to end up in hell.