Proverbs are short, pithy sayings expressing a general truth or advice. They are often metaphorical in nature and are used to convey wisdom or advice. Proverbs are often passed down through generations. They usually talk about general life truths. A famous example of a proverb is Honesty is the best policy. Idioms, on the other hand, are phrases that have a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words. Idioms are used to add colour and interest to language and are often used to express emotions or ideas more creatively. An example of an idiom is, Break a leg. (This idiom is used as good luck wishes for actors and it means to have a good performance)↵
Many idioms and proverbs have been in the English language for a very long time and have interesting background stories. Here are a few of them:↵
1. Let the cat out of the bag (to reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake)↵
This idiom is first recorded in the 16th century. It stems from shifty farmers at markets trying to fool pig buyers by putting a cat into the bag instead of the piglet they were buying. The deceit was uncovered if you let the cat out of the bag. In Norwegian we use the idiom a kjope katta i sekken. It stems from the same context but means to buy something without inspecting it first and being fooled.↵
2. Burning one's bridges (to do something that makes it impossible for you to return to an earlier situation or relationship)↵
To burn bridges has been a common military tactic throughout history. In ancient Roman times, when armies crossed a river to invade a new territory, the generals would order the bridges burnt to make sure that their troops couldn't repeat. There was no escape, and they had to fight to save their lives. Today, the expression is often used to point out that when you move on in life, you shouldn't destroy relationships and make it impossible to return one day.↵
3. Dead as a dodo (to no longer be important or popular, to no longer exist)↵
The dodo was a bird that lived on the island of Mauritius. It couldn't fly and was hunted to extinction by the natives. The last live specimen was seen in 1662, and they are thought to have died out completely by 1690. We don't know exactly what the dodos looked like, but discoveries of skeletal remains of the birds have enabled biologists to reconstruct their form, and it is believed that the bird looked a bit like a turkey. You will also hear other variants of this idiom with the same meaning, for example dead as mutton, dead as a doornail and dead as a herring.↵
4. Mad as a hatter (to be very silly or stupid)↵
This term originates from the hat-making industry in the Middle Ages. Hat makers would use highly toxic mercury nitrate in the hat's rim. After many years working with mercury, people who made these hats would suffer from poisoning, which would result in trembling fits and strange behaviour.↵
5. A bigwig (a person in an important or powerful position)↵
This term stems from the 17th century, when wig wearing was at its peak. People would keep their hair short and instead wear a wig. Wigs were expensive to buy, and the richer you were, the larger the wigs you could afford. The term 'bigwig' quickly became associated with the rich and powerful.