Phraseomythology : "A Place for Everything...."

[Jonathan Lighter]

  According to today's episode of "Says You !" NPR's "hyperliterate" quiz show, many of our most familiar phrases have fascinating origins !

  For example, "A place for everything, and everything in its place."  Did you know that this proverb began long ago ?  Soldiers going to sleep on the battlefield obviously needed to know exactly where their spears and swords were so they could grab them instantly in the dark should the enemy attack. So they were careful to place each piece of equipment in its proper place. So they could grab it in the dark !

  Another interesting phrase is "the dead of night."  This originally referred to the time around 3 a.m. Because that's when most people die !  If they die at night !

  (These were the "correct" explanations, n.b., not the "bluffs.")

  JL



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