What's a Miscellany?
What's a Miscellany?
After I published my book, Matter of Facts, Himani brought up the fact that it was essentially just a miscellany. I asked what that was and she explained that it's a collection of random, interesting pieces of information. She showed me Schott's Original Miscellany as an example. I was inspired by this and have decided to record all of the interesting pieces of information I come across on this page.
This page is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Research was conducted casually and should not be relied upon for professional, academic, or decision-making purposes. No guarantees are made regarding its accuracy or completeness.
Idiom Origins
The origins of common sayings:
Bite the Bullet:
To endure a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage and stoicism.
Likely comes from the pre-anesthesia days of surgery, particularly on battlefields. When a soldier had to undergo an agonizing procedure, they might literally be given a lead bullet to bite down on to distract from the pain and prevent screaming or biting their tongue.
Spill the Beans:
To reveal a secret or disclose confidential information.
One popular theory traces this back to ancient Greece. Secret societies or voting processes sometimes used beans to cast votes: a white bean for "yes" and a black bean for "no." If the jar holding the beans was accidentally or intentionally "spilled," the results of the vote (or the secret decision) would be prematurely revealed.
Caught Red-Handed:
Apprehended in the act of committing a crime, especially one involving blood (like murder).
This idiom is quite literal. It dates back to Scottish law in the 15th century, where a person caught with blood on their hands was undeniable evidence of their involvement in a crime, typically murder or the unlawful killing of an animal.
Raining Cats and Dogs:
To rain very heavily.
There are several theories, but one prevalent idea from 17th-century England relates to poor drainage and sanitation. During very heavy downpours, streets would flood, carrying along dead animals, including cats and dogs, which would then appear to be falling from the sky when the deluge subsided. Another theory suggests it comes from Norse mythology, where cats were associated with rain and dogs with wind.
Illegal Names
A brief list of names that have been outlawed in certain countries:
Sweden - The Naming Law (1982):
Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116, pronounced “Albin”
Submitted by parents in protest of the law
Metallica
IKEA
Eventually accepted after an appeal
New Zealand - Section 18 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act (2021):
Fish and Chips
They were twins
4Real
Mafia No Fear
Violence
BONUS: In Iceland, names must be selected from the government's pre-approved list. If people want to name their children something that isn't on the list, they have to submit an application to the Icelandic Naming Committee.