The Curious Origins of 16 Common Phrases

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Riddick
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The Curious Origins of 16 Common Phrases

Post by Riddick » 07-17-2018 08:40 PM

A mind should not be so open that the brains fall out; however, it should not be so closed that whatever gray matter which does reside may not be reached. ART BELL

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maryals51
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Re: The Curious Origins of 16 Common Phrases

Post by maryals51 » 07-18-2018 02:28 AM

Here's one I learned watching a short lived Series on...was it Discovery? Learning Channel? Anyway, here goes...

Pass the Buck

A hundred or more years ago there were the River Boat Gamblers. They rode the Passenger Boats on the rivers in America, playing cards, serious gambling.

The players took turns dealing the cards, rather than having one designated Dealer. When it was a player's turn to deal, a Buck Knife, or Buck for short, was placed on the table in front of him.

Well, if there was a player who was short tempered, tended to blame the Dealer if they got dealt a bad hand, many at the table didn't want to deal the cards. Didn't want the responsibility. So, that player Passed The Buck (knife) to the next player!

Eventually a player would say "Ok the Buck (knife) stops here" Meaning he's willing to take the responsibility, and consequences, for dealing that hand.

So the saying morphed to mean passing responsibility for something to someone else, or, accepting the responsibility!
"When they tell you not to Panic that's when you run!"

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