Say What?

The real skinny on everyday expressions.

By Mitchell Symons

From Reader's Digest

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"Tie the Knot," "The Fat Lady" and "Under the Weather"

For a long time now, I've been fascinated by common phrases and their origins -- and just why we say what we say. I decided to consult the experts, sort through all the research and compile the answers. Here are a few of the standouts. Q: Why do we "tie the knot" when we get married?
Knots have been a common metaphor in marriage ceremonies all over the world and through time. The expression, meaning "to unite in marriage," shows up in many examples of couples taking all of this nuptial knotting quite literally. In the Hindu marriage ceremony, the groom ties a ribbon around the bride's neck. In ancient Rome, the bride wore a girdle or belt that was tied in a knot. The groom would then unfasten it on their first night together as husband and wife.

Q: Well, why do we say "Many happy returns"?
The phrase is short for "Many happy returns of the day" -- which is to say, "May this day return many times" or "May you have many more birthdays."

Q: How about "It's not over till the fat lady sings"? Where does that come from?
This expression is usually phrased as "The opera ain't over till the fat lady sings." It got its start as a popular saying when it was used by the San Antonio Express-News sportswriter Dan Cook in 1976 to indicate that a sporting contest wouldn't end until time was called. In using such a colorful metaphor, Cook was assuming that in every opera, a soprano, usually amply proportioned, would sing an aria at the end.

The expression spread when Cook became a television commentator a few years later, and it really took off when he used it during the National Basketball Association play-offs between the San Antonio Spurs and the Washington Bullets. Dick Motta, the Bullets coach, repeated the line himself, cautioning commentators against calling the game prematurely. It became the team's rallying cry.

Q: What's the story of "under the weather," especially when the weather's just fine?
There's probably a nautical explanation. In days gone by, when people felt seasick, they were told to go below-decks and find a spot in the middle of the ship where the motion would be less noticeable. In that way, they literally took themselves "under the weather." (Today passengers are usually urged to focus on the horizon.)