For you to ponder
1. WHY
Why do men's clothes have buttons on the right while women's clothes
have buttons on the left?
BECAUSE
When buttons were invented, they were very expensive and worn
primarily by the rich. Since most people are right-handed, it is easier
to push buttons on the right through holes on the left. Because wealthy
women were dressed by maids, dressmakers put the buttons on the maid's
right! And that's where women's buttons have remained since.
2. WHY
Why do ships and aircraft use ‘mayday’ as their call for help?
BECAUSE
This comes from the French word m'aidez - meaning ‘help me’ - and is
pronounced, approximately, ‘mayday.’
3. WHY
Why are zero scores in tennis called ‘love'?
BECAUSE
In France , where tennis became popular, the round zero on the
scoreboard looked like an egg and was called ‘l'oeuf,’ which is French
for ‘the egg.’ When tennis was introduced in the US, Americans
(naturally), mispronounced it ‘love.’
4. WHY
Why do X's at the end of a letter signify kisses?
BECAUSE
In the Middle Ages, when many people were unable to read or write,
documents were often signed using an X. Kissing the X represented an
oath to fulfil obligations specified in the document. The X and the kiss
eventually became synonymous.
5. WHY
Why is shifting responsibility to someone else called ‘passing the
buck'?
BECAUSE
In card games, it was once customary to pass an item, called a buck,
from player to player to indicate whose turn it was to deal. If a player
did not wish to assume the responsibility of dealing, he would ‘pass the
buck’ to the next player.
6. WHY
Why do people clink their glasses before drinking a toast?
BECAUSE
In earlier times it used to be common for someone to try to kill an
enemy by offering him a poisoned drink. To prove to a guest that a drink
was safe, it became customary for a guest to pour a small amount of his
drink into the glass of the host. Both men would drink it
simultaneously. When a guest trusted his host, he would only touch or
clink the host's glass with his own.
7. WHY
Why are people in the public eye said to be ‘in the limelight'?
BECAUSE
Invented in 1825, limelight was used in lighthouses and theatres by
burning a cylinder of lime which produced a brilliant light. In the
theatre, a performer ‘in the limelight’ was the centre of attention. |