origin Archives - Small Things Count https://smthingscount.com/tag/origin/ Making a More Loving World/Free Books Tue, 21 Apr 2020 15:55:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 Decoding the Bar Code https://smthingscount.com/2020/04/21/decoding-the-bar-code/ Tue, 21 Apr 2020 15:55:05 +0000 https://smthingscount.com/?p=9110 So often I’ve tried to figure out where a product was made, so I look for a “made in” notation on the label. It’s not

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]]> No Dice! https://smthingscount.com/2019/11/12/no-dice/ Tue, 12 Nov 2019 18:37:55 +0000 https://smthingscount.com/?p=8566 You long-time readers of this blog know that I’m a word person. I love puns (which I’ll spare you of today) and oddball origins of

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]]> A Day for Black Cats and Broken Mirrors https://smthingscount.com/2019/09/13/a-day-for-black-cats-and-broken-mirrors/ Fri, 13 Sep 2019 16:16:33 +0000 https://smthingscount.com/?p=8433 OK, so it’s Friday 13th. You’re not superstitious, of course. But your security camera DID show a black cat cross your driveway this morning. And

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]]> “Silent Night” Origin https://smthingscount.com/2017/12/20/silent-night-origin/ Wed, 20 Dec 2017 16:21:25 +0000 https://smthingscount.com/?p=6466 Silent Night “Silent Night, Holy Night” is one of the most popular Christmas Carols in the world and has been translated in over 200 languages.

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]]> Why a White Elephant? https://smthingscount.com/2017/08/15/why-a-white-elephant/ Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:11:24 +0000 https://smthingscount.com/?p=6148 After Christmas, it’s thought of as great fun to have a “White Elephant Party,” where you exchange gifts you received but have no earthly use

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]]> Convict Him? No Dice! https://smthingscount.com/2017/02/01/convict-him-no-dice/ https://smthingscount.com/2017/02/01/convict-him-no-dice/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2017 17:26:14 +0000 https://smthingscount.com/?p=5574 Here’s one for the gamblers.  I haven’t inflicted one of my interesting (to me) word/phrase origins on you for some time.  So, here goes. “No

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]]> https://smthingscount.com/2017/02/01/convict-him-no-dice/feed/ 2 “Indian Summer”: Not a Slam, Just Misunderstood https://smthingscount.com/2014/09/30/indian-summer-not-a-slam-just-misunderstood/ Tue, 30 Sep 2014 17:10:04 +0000 https://smthingscount.com/?p=3138 If you’re anticipating a series of hot days coming soon, don’t, as some are doing, call it an “Indian Summer.”  Not because it’s “anti-Indian.”  In

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]]> You Can’t “Turn a Blind Eye” to This https://smthingscount.com/2014/05/13/you-cant-turn-a-blind-eye-to-this/ Tue, 13 May 2014 17:40:44 +0000 https://smthingscount.com/?p=2782 A bit of language trivia for you today: the origin of the phrase to “Turn a blind eye.” It means, of course, to ignore something,

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