Part 3: Origin of Sayings: Curfew, Hot off the Press, Barge In

Hogwash!

Our friend Elvina recently sent us an email that revealed the history and origin of a number of sayings that we grew up with. Of course, we didn't know the origin of these sayings, so it's fun to find out how they came to be. This is part 3 of 3.  

HOGWASH Steamboats carried both people and animals. Since pigs smelled so bad they would be washed before being put on board. The mud and other filth that was washed off was considered useless "hog wash."

 

CURFEW
The word "curfew" comes from the French phrase "couvre-feu", which means "cover the fire".  It was later adopted into Middle English as "curfeu", which later became the modern "curfew." Curfew originally denoted a regulation in force in Medieval Europe by which fires were to be covered over or extinguished at a fixed hour in the evening indicated by the ringing of a bell.

In the early American colonies homes had no real fireplaces so a fire was built in the center of the room. In order to make sure a fire did not get out of control during the night it was required that, by an agreed upon time, all fires would be covered with a clay pot called-a "curfew".

 

A curfew was also a cover for a fire, such as this one, made in the Netherlands in the 17^th century:

BARRELS OF OIL
When the first oil wells were drilled they had made no provision for storing the liquid so they used water barrels. That is why, to this day, we speak of barrels of oil rather than gallons. 

HOT OFF THE PRESS
As the paper goes through the rotary printing press friction causes it to heat up.  Therefore, if you grab the paper right off the press it’s hot. The expression means to get immediate information.

BARGE IN
Heavy freight was moved along the Mississippi in large barges pushed by steamboats. These were hard to control and would sometimes swing into piers or other boats. People would say they "barged in."

 CURIOUS ABOUT OTHER SAYINGS? You may be able to find the answers here:  http://www.knowyourphrase.com