There are some sayings that have NEVER made sense but won't die. I wonder who thought of them sometimes.

For instance,

"pick yourself up by your bootstraps'

First, this assumes one OWNS bootstraps. And then, even if they do, do you realize how impossible it is to actually be down on the ground, and use the bootstraps that are also on the ground to 'pick' yourself up

and what about

"Kill two birds with one stone"

Was this a popular thing at one time? Stoning birds?


and one of the worst

"Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free"

Was there ever a community with people running around milking cows they didnt own?


,,,what are some of the weird ones that make you wonder?

We got a saying which translates to
"Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve!"

Literally, it makes as much sense in Dutch as it does in English. It means that something suddenly becomes clear or the truth unexpectedly gets known about something or someone.
No idea what the origin of it is.

My mate whose father has a LOT of sayings, uses this one
for people that ask the same question over and over:
"Don't make me chew the cabbage twice."

Well, according to the "historically accurate" film Forrest Gump, ole Forrest came up with "Just Do It" and "S*it Happens".

How about when someone "can't pour piss out of a boot with the directions written on the heel"...

I'm not one to use many senseless sayings unless it is in a humorous context.

There are a few sayings that make perfect sense but have quirky origins.

"You're working off a dead horse."
Which means you are paying for something that no longer has a use.
Not many people own live horses anymore, let alone dead ones.

"The grass is always greener on the other side."
Who measures the amount of green grass has?

"One bad apple spoils the basket."
No it doesn't. I have had a basket of apples with a bad one and the other apples were good.

"A stitch in time, saves nine."
When I sew things I usually need to cut my fingers loose.
But...It means fixing things asap reduces the damage if let go.

Here's one for consideration;
"Women don't piss off of cliffs"
Which means men are good for some things and women are good for other things.

I've never given them any thought. Good points.

How about "a piss poor job"?

Possibly coined by someone with a prostate troubles?

How about: stop barking at the wrong tree . Never made sense to me lol

very logical advice actually.

We always said "up the wrong tree".

Believe it derived from coon hunting where dogs would tree the animal. The animal may jump to a different tree or escape and leave the dog believing it's up the tree because it's scent led the dog to it.

If you're barking up the wrong one, it means there's nothing there, that youre misinformed or wrong about something.

Thanks for that one Stu so it’s up and not at

Either works, basically the same.

As a child I was told in dealing with an amount of food " Your eyes are bigger than your stomach "

My favorite is "I will let ya know how the cow at the cabbage"

I know this one.

Urine was used to tan animal skins. People would save it up and sell it to a tannery. It was manly poor people that did this

I did.
I came up with all of them.
You're welcome.


I don't know about "NEVER."
At some point they had more cultural relevancy.

I mean "cut the mustard." Used to be what the (ancient) slaves did. Mustard was a cash crop. Too old, weak, or sick to get out there and work? Sorry slave, you die.

I mean:

I would imagine so. Probably before the invention of grocery stores when people had to hunt.


Yes. My grandfather did that a few times. Then he painted one and led it on top of some guys house as a prank. Unfortunately back then it lead based paint was common and the cow died.

Of course "don't paint the cow giving free milk" never caught on, although getting caught red handed did thanks to grandpa's buddy Spanky McPohlpeter, because back then everyone was crazy about geese and golden eggs.


I don't remember. Last time I had this itch I was like 15.
There are a ton of books on where sayings come from and what they mean.

Ah ha! That one does make sense. Thanks Yellowrose!

And if you are poorer than that, you don't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out

The two birds with one stone came from Greek mythology didn’t it?

Shakespeare coined a lot of the phrases we still use today.

That one makes sense too. My pops used the expression.