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Balls to the Wall
Gift of Gab
Go Whole Hog
High on the Hog
Gift
of Gab-
Whenever we hear this expression it refers to someone who seems to talk
endlessly. Where does it come from? Our word "gab" is
similar to many words in other languages. "Gab" is an old
Scottish word for "mouth". The word "gabba" in old Norse meant to
mock (tease). The French word "gabor" means to boast (brag) and
the Anglo-Saxon word "gabran" refers to rambling. One thing that
all these words have in common is that they have something to do with
talking! Next time someone tells you that you have the gift of
gab, you can proudly say you're multi-lingual!
Go Whole Hog- This expression started in 18th Century England. At this time, the English shilling was referred to as a "hog". When someone was in a spending mood, and willing to spend an entire shilling on something as frivolous as entertaining a friend in a pub, this person was willing to "go whole hog".
This is an English shilling from 1745, referred to at the time as a "hog".
High on the Hog- This saying originated among enlisted American Army men who received shoulder and leg pork cuts while officers received the top loin cuts. When we say someone is living "High on the hog" we mean to say that that person has the best of everything...and we usually don't think anything about him/her having a lot of good pork.
Go Whole Hog- This expression started in 18th Century England. At this time, the English shilling was referred to as a "hog". When someone was in a spending mood, and willing to spend an entire shilling on something as frivolous as entertaining a friend in a pub, this person was willing to "go whole hog".
This is an English shilling from 1745, referred to at the time as a "hog".
High on the Hog- This saying originated among enlisted American Army men who received shoulder and leg pork cuts while officers received the top loin cuts. When we say someone is living "High on the hog" we mean to say that that person has the best of everything...and we usually don't think anything about him/her having a lot of good pork.