you are so right , Maizey, if all weapons were words ...

graylox, curiosity killed the cat! As good luck would have it, I've never known any words that could kill. ;)

You want to kill me, won't you ???

I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and get down to brass tacks on the topic of the origins of phrases and sayings. It's easy as pie to find several sources that deal with etymology. Sometimes it's difficult to determine if the origin of a word or phrase is the real McCoy or if those writing their interpretations are going off half-cocked.

The Internet Public Library has a comprehensive list of guides on the subject.

The Online Etymology Dictionary contains the history and evolution of more than 30000 words, including slang and technical terms.

Then there's the Google Directory - Reference > Dictionaries > Etymology for another large list of links.

A short and amusing list of phrase origins can be found at Neatorama. This is an excerpt from one of my favorite sources of useless information, Uncle John's Bathroom Reader. Spend a little time in the Throne Room for a variety of interesting reading material. :)

goodgotd, wasn't that game outlawed because too many solitary drivers were trying to play while listening to NPR on the radio? Our looney legislature turns a blind eye to the rising number of cellphone and textmessaging accidents, but if a driver is involved in an accident while balancing a chess set on his lap, they'll throw the book at him. Go figure.

graylox, a day without "you know what" (wink wink) is like a day without sunshine. Rats, there's never a youtube clip from Two and a Half Men around when you need one! WHAT clip you ask? YOU know what. :)

where's the link to buzzword bingo?

Rune
you post these links only to confuse such poor little Aliens like me ;(
How shall I ever learn your language - so many dictionaries to search the right words in, searching takes all my time, when shall I write down what I have found ? You'll never get a "you know what" again.

Here's a great pop quiz site for homeschooling the little rug rats. Also helps parents who don't want to be dummer(sic) than a 5th grader.

Now, YOU can sound just like everyone else at an American Idol try-out! (admittedly kinda lame... doesn't litter a sentence with foul epithets or "see what I'm sayin" filler)

OTOH, maybe you aspire to bloviate pretentiously like a sage? Simply put a shortcut to Phrontistery on your desktop and start confounding everyone.

Galloop surveys indicate 40.8% of the illiterate public fear that they'll stumble across an EVIL web site. How do you identify such sites? Words matter! Try the Gematriculator. It's more accurate than McAfee Site Advisor. ;-)

Help stamp out malapropisms! (This might have helped Berke Breathed's loveable penguin, Opus.)

When you have a word on the tip of your tongue and just can't spit it out, don't just stand there stammering like a fool. Quick, turn to the reverse dictionary before all your articulate friends begin to point and snicker.

here is an interesting list-
****adult language alert****

possible histories of 10 common phrases