meanings and origin of the term ‘Philadelphia lawyer’

30th July 2019.Reading time 10 minutes.

USA, 1788—an able, clever lawyer; now often one who is unscrupulous in the manipulation of the law—from Philadelphia lawyers’ reputation since the colonial period

folk-etymological origin of ‘squirrel’

21st December 2017.Reading time 6 minutes.

Greek ‘skíouros’, ultimate origin of ‘squirrel’: folk-etymologically interpreted as meaning ‘shadow-tailed’ because when the animal sits erect, it raises its tail up against its back and over its head as if to shade itself

the ancient origin of ‘to pour oil on troubled waters’

6th October 2017.Reading time 20 minutes.

alludes to the calming effect of oil on the agitated surface of water; common knowledge since ancient times, first scientifically observed by Benjamin Franklin

meaning and origin of the phrase ‘an axe to grind’

23rd November 2016.Reading time 11 minutes.

photograph: An Ax to Grind: A Practical Ax Manual – Federal Highway Administration Of American-English origin, the expression to have an axe to grind (American-English spelling ax) means to have a private reason for doing, or being involved in, something. It has often been attributed to Benjamin Franklin [note 1]. For example, […]