Fish:
A pretty kettle of fish is an expression used to indicate that there is
a mess, problem or predicament. There are at least two possible
origins, the first of which relates to a Kiddle. This was a grille put
across a stream to catch fish. It could become full of weeds and only a
few fish; alternatively, the fish might have become damaged. In any
case there was a pretty kiddle of fish.
The second theory is more accepted. In this instance the "kettle", the
local name for a cooking pot, was taken on picnics by Scottish gentry.
Salmon were caught straight from the river and cooked on the bank side.
Such an outing was known as a kettle of fish. How the current usage
arose is not clear, but one can imagine all sorts of disasters being
the cause.
Fits: To go by fits and starts means to run irregularly or
intermittently. "Starts" is obvious, but why "Fits"? It maybe that it
has something to do with epilepsy and it is well recognised that a
"fit" can cause someone to stop breathing. Perhaps this is the origin,
but I can find no published evidence.
Flat out: To go flat out is to go as fast as possible. This is another
for which I have found no published basis; however it is not difficult
to imagine a horse and rider going at full speed, with the rider lying
flat along the back of the animal to reduce the wind resistance.
Flea: To be sent off with a flea in the ear means to sent away from a
situation in an upset frame of mind. This is said to come from the
analogy that a dog with a flea in the ear is prone to become very
restless and run off in distress.
Brewer says 'this is an old phrase dating at least from the 15th
century in English, and earlier in French. It is found in Scogan's
Jests, Heywood's Proverbs, Nashe's Pierce Penilesse, etc.
"Ferardo ...whispering Philautus in his eare (who stoode as though he
had a flea in his eare), desired him to kepe silence." Lyly: Euphues,
the Anatomy of Wit (1579).
Here the phrase implies that vexatious news has been heard; and in
Deloney's Gentle Craft (1597) there is a similar instance, where a
servant goes away shaking his head "like one that hath a flea in his
eare".'
Fly: To fly in the face of something is to go against accepted belief;
to respond actively against danger. The analogy here is said to be that
of the hen that flies in the face of the dog or fox that attacks her.
To fly off the handle
or to go into a rage has an origin set in the old US frontier times.
The basis is the axe head which could sometimes come loose and fly off
the handle. Such an event was not only dangerous, but held up work
until it was fixed, much to the annoyance of all concerned.
Fob: If you fob off someone then you offer them an inadequate
explanation or reward; give them less than they deserve; cheat them out
of something. The origin here is the German word Foppen: to hoax or to
jeer.
Fogey: He's an old fogey, used to describe someone as a bit old
fashioned: out of touch with modern things. Why Fogey? In 1811 an "Old
Fogey" was a nick name for a sick or invalid soldier; derived from the
French word fougeux, fierce or fiery. The modern sense has changed the
use a little, but there is still the element of disability in the
saying.
Foot: I'll foot the bill is another way of saying that you will pay for
an item. When a bill is presented to a customer the total sum is placed
at its foot. The customer then checks the bill's accuracy and that of
the 'foot' - hence the saying.
Footing: To be on a good footing with someone means to be on good terms
with them. This goes back to the days of trade apprentice-ships when a
newcomer, on the first time he put his foot over the threshold of his
workplace, was expected to pay for drinks for all. If he was generous
then he had had a good footing.
Fork: To fork out means to pay over money due for goods or services. It
comes from the old thieves' use of the word fork to describe the
fingers. A similar analogy is used in the phrase "fingers were made
before forks".
Forty winks: If someone takes 'forty winks' then they have a nap, a
snooze, a short sleep. The origin of this is not certain. One
suggestion is that it goes back to mid-16thC Church of England
practice. Back then it was established by Parliament that the Church
should have 39 Articles of Faith and that these had to be accepted by
the Clergy. Reading these Articles was long and somewhat boring and
likely to cause the reader to nod off after all 39 were finished, ie
the 40th Article was to have a nap!
Another suggestion relates to the magical, supernatural powers inherent
in the number 40. Biblical examples are that Moses was on the Mount for
forty days and forty nights and Christ fasted for forty days. It was
thought that 40 could protect people from evil. The first recorded
written use of the phrase is as late as 1872 in Punch magazine. This
makes the Articles origin unlikely.
Of course, neither of these suggestions offers an explanation for the
'winks' bit! However, sayings, such as 'could not sleep a wink', give
the sense of a 'wink' being a very short sleep; 'forty winks' therefore
suggests a slightly longer, but still short, sleep.
Foul: see Fall;
Frog: To have a frog in the throat describes a choking sensation in the
throat. In the past in was truly feared that a frog was really present
when this sensation occurred. In olden times people often drank from
ponds and streams; there was always the possibility of swallowing a
whole animal or, worse, its eggs. If the eggs were taken in, then they
were said to hatch inside and, when ready to come out, would cause a
choking feeling.
