1. In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes.
When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer
to sleep on. That's where the phrase, "goodnight, sleep tight" came from.
2. It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a
month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law
with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their
calendar was lunar based, this period was called the "honey month" or what
we know today as the honeymoon."
3. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts.
So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at
them to mind their own pints and quarts and settle down. It's where we
get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's".
4. Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into
the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed refill, they used
the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle," is the phrase inspired
by this practice.
5. In ancient England, a person could not have sex unless you had consent
of the King (unless you were in the Royal Family). When anyone wanted to
have a baby, they got consent of the King, the King gave them a placard
that they hung on their door while they were having sex. The placard had
F.*.*.*.(Fornication Under Consent of the King) on it.
Now you know where that came from.
6. In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled Gentlemen Only
Ladies Forbidden....and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
