The phrase "cut to the chase" doesn't mean what you think it means.
The common descriptor, like many other popular sayings, is one of many anachronisms that creep into everyday usage. For some reason, antiquated phrases have a way of sticking around.
"Successful terms tend to be ones that we don't notice," says Dave Wilton, a linguist and author of Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends, in an interview with Mashable. He also runs the etymology site Word Origins.
Have you ever stopped and wondered why you say pitch black? What does "pitch" actually even refer to? Questioning that can take you on a deeper dive in etymology.
[seealso slug="old-tech-terms"]
"If a word is consciously identified as trendy or associated with a particular group, then it will likely eventually be perceived as out of date or uncool," Wilton says. A term that can be used "unthinkingly" can easily be picked up and circulated, he explains. It also helps if they have an easily understood meaning, which has helped phrases like "rule of thumb" stick around.
Let's take a step back in time and explore the origins of 11 vintage phrases we still use today.
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