Idioms for our taste buds

One would think that these bizarre people who have an extraordinary bent towards never saying what they want to say and making us decipher meanings from idioms would at least spare food! Well think again! They have infiltrated this area too.

So, for want of better methods, let’s don our Sherlock Holmes Caps and dear Watsons, follow me.

1. All the tea in China – I have to say, it sounds quite ambitious, like the food challenge “Man vs Tea”! But it isn’t, the meaning of this idiom is to refuse to do something no matter what the inducement.

It’s origin lies in the 19^th and 20^th centuries when China was a huge producer of tea.

E.G. Once Bertie Wooster asked Jeeves, “Should I wager with the ass Tuppy to wear pink pants if I couldn’t hit high notes of the new musical ‘Follow the girl’?” Jeeves gravely replied “You shouldn’t Sir, not for all the tea in China.”

(PG Wodehouse is one of the finest and best-known humourists of all time. Bertie Wooster, a rich socialite and his astute valet Jeeves are popular character of his novels)

2. Cut the mustard – Well here we go again, these idioms get more and more eccentric, why on God’s earth and by which enterprising soul is this to be accomplished? It is anybody’s guess.

The meaning of this idiom is to be successful, succeed or meet expectations. It first appeared in O Henry’s story published in 1902. One of the likely origins is related to military as it sounds similar to muster. ‘Pass the muster’ is to succeed.

E.G. Della Young decided to sell her locks of hair as the meagre savings she had couldn’t cut the mustard for a decent gift for Jim.

(O Henry is a well-known American short story writer. Della Young is a character from his famous short story ‘Gift of the Magi ‘.)

3. Baker‘s dozen –  Well what exactly are we talking of ,12 cakes , loaves, or, if I let my imagination run wild, his children? None of the above? So, now you are telling me a dozen is thirteen, so this idiom means thirteen of something. Then my good Sir, why call it a dozen to begin with?

The origin lies in the 16^th century when a few generous bakers gave an extra thirteenth loaf on an order of dozen to the retailer. This thirteenth loaf represented the retailer’s profit.

E.G – Phileas Fogg decided to visit more than Baker’s dozen places in his tour of Around the World to win the wager made at Reform’s club.

(Phileas Fogg is the protagonist of the novel Around the World in 80 days by Jules Verne)

4. Above the salt- And here I was thinking it can’t get any crazier !! Above the salt, are we talking about the periodic table? Position of something on the kitchen shelf? No to both! Well dash it.

It means to give something or someone an honour or high standing. Its origin is in the placement of salt on the dining table. Yes, you heard that right! Salt was considered precious and placed in the middle of the table. The owner and his family were seated above the salt and the guest and the servants below the salt.

E.G.- “Letters from Earth” criticizes the society in general for placing religion above the salt when compared to rationality.

(Letters from Earth is a collection of essays written by Mark Twain)

This article has been authored by Priya Shegaonkar, a faculty member at TIME Mumbai.