Why Do We Use These 8 Common Sayings?

With roots deep in the past, these expressions all started somewhere. Take a peek at some of the most plausible explanations of where our common idioms come from.

7) Get Your Goat

Via/ Library of Congress

Supposedly soothing to cattle and horses, goats were considered a calming presence by farmers who would house a goat in the barn to keep the other animals serene. To have your goat stolen might mean chaos and agitation among your other animals and would annoy you greatly. Hence “getting your goat” was an antagonizing act.

8) A Little Dab’ll Do You

From Brylcreem’s now famous commercials, “a little dab’ll do you” caught on as a saying we all use to this very day. It’s rare that a marketing slogan becomes so firmly entrenched in our slang, and many young people have never even heard of Brylcreem yet use the phrase! Still, it’s the simplest means of saying that a little goes a long way (just like the pomade). We found a vintage Brylcreem commercial from the 1960s that contains this catchy tune.

»Take a look at this video which explains a some more of our common expressions»
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