The Roots of Everyday English Expressions: The Bible & Folk Tales

Learn where common English expressions come from. People have always believed in the strangeness of life and the power of religion. In fact, many English expressions come from folk tales and the Bible, and we’ll go over some in this class. For example, learn why people say “knock on wood” to avoid bad luck, or what “Hail Mary” means in football and everyday life. This lesson is perfect for English learners who want to understand simple and everyday expressions. Watch and discover the stories behind these phrases, and how you can use them in your own conversations.

I think that idiomatic expression “the fly in the ointment” is not from the Bible. It has Russian equivalent: a spoon of tar in a keg of honey.

Goryanchik Maxim

Hi Goryanchik,

It is believed to originate in Ecclesiastes 10:1

“As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.”

There are probably many similar idioms throughout the languages.

Adam

It was such a quit difficult quiz, but it is a helpful and educational lesson. it is a pleasure to take it.

ytg1234

This expression is quite difficult but you mentioned in your video not as difficult I’m a bit confused about why the expressions people used in everyday life. Behind this, have a long history, no foreign countries have been using these expressions. When I try to understand it it’s kinda totally the same as relating to my own country. So that is why I’m so obsessed with that if one country is using how these expressions are spreading all around the world. As you mentioned, some of the superstition expressions it less mentioned in that video. Where I’m living sometimes I’m thinking about the superstitious stories and expressions related to some things. These stories feel true because when we try to understand they look like they are true. But everything did our ancestors who knew a lot about things such as temples, holy places, holy books so on.

Kumar09

Hi Kumar,

The main reasons these expressions last over time is because they generally have a knowledge to pass on. Most people don’t know their origins anymore, but they are still interesting and not uncommon because they usually suit the context.

Adam

thx 10/10