Did you know? (Some light reading!)
#1
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
This is possibly a load of lies, but it makes for interesting reading!;
In the 1400's a law was set forth that a man was not allowed to beat
his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have "the
rule of thumb"
Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled
"Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered
into the English language.
The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred
and Wilma Flintstone.
The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work:
Alaska
The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400
The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour:
61,000
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in
the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in
the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If
the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural
causes.
Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what
A. Their birthplace
Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until
you would find the letter "A"?
A. One thousand
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a
month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law
with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their
calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month which
we know today as the honeymoon.
In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old
England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them
"Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down."
It's where we ! get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"
Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the
rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they
used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase
inspired by this practice.
In the 1400's a law was set forth that a man was not allowed to beat
his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have "the
rule of thumb"
Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled
"Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered
into the English language.
The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred
and Wilma Flintstone.
The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work:
Alaska
The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400
The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour:
61,000
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in
the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in
the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If
the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural
causes.
Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what
A. Their birthplace
Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until
you would find the letter "A"?
A. One thousand
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a
month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law
with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their
calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month which
we know today as the honeymoon.
In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old
England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them
"Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down."
It's where we ! get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"
Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the
rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they
used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase
inspired by this practice.
![CarlM is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#2
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by CarlM
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a
month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law
with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their
calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month which
we know today as the honeymoon.
month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law
with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their
calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month which
we know today as the honeymoon.
Interesting stuff all the same - always wondered about minding your Ps & Qs...
![FlyergirlUK is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#3
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by CarlM
Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until
you would find the letter "A"?
A. One thousand
you would find the letter "A"?
A. One thousand
![neil is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#4
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I believe the Golf one is in the category of "origin unknown", but it's a nice story.
![neil is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#5
Account Closed
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
![TruBrit is an unknown quantity at this point](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/reputation/reputation_balance.gif)
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
and....did you know if you add up all the numbers on a roulette wheel they come to 666
![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
![TruBrit is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#6
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by TruBrit
and....did you know if you add up all the numbers on a roulette wheel they come to 666 ![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
![BigDavyG is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#7
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by TruBrit
and....did you know if you add up all the numbers on a roulette wheel they come to 666 ![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
![EEK!](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
![Stick Out Tongue](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![neil is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#8
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by FlyergirlUK
Mead is wine, not beer but, still it appears to be the origin of the term 'honeymoon'.
Interesting stuff all the same - always wondered about minding your Ps & Qs...
Interesting stuff all the same - always wondered about minding your Ps & Qs...
![Stick Out Tongue](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![cutina is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#9
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by cutina
i thought that it is thought of as wine now, but it was drank like ale then....i haven't found anything on that page to contradict that so far (but i have to admit i didn't look too hard, because I'm assuming i'm right
)
![Stick Out Tongue](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
If anyone manages to chug down a few pints of that stuff like ale then they must have no sense of taste - it's sickly sweet!!
![FlyergirlUK is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#10
Account Closed
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
![](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/ranks/star.gif)
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
![TruBrit is an unknown quantity at this point](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/reputation/reputation_balance.gif)
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by BigDavyG
Is that an american or european roulette wheel ??
i believe they both do... the main difference between the european and american roulette wheel is the zeros i think also the chips are coloured in the usa and same colour in europe... i know that bits right
![Smile](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![TruBrit is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#11
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by TruBrit
i believe they both do... the main difference between the european and american roulette wheel is the zeros i think also the chips are coloured in the usa and same colour in europe... i know that bits right ![Smile](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![Smile](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![Stick Out Tongue](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![BigDavyG is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#12
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by FlyergirlUK
Have you ever tried mead?
If anyone manages to chug down a few pints of that stuff like ale then they must have no sense of taste - it's sickly sweet!!
If anyone manages to chug down a few pints of that stuff like ale then they must have no sense of taste - it's sickly sweet!!
![BigDavyG is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#13
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by FlyergirlUK
Have you ever tried mead?
If anyone manages to chug down a few pints of that stuff like ale then they must have no sense of taste - it's sickly sweet!!
If anyone manages to chug down a few pints of that stuff like ale then they must have no sense of taste - it's sickly sweet!!
![cutina is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#14
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by CarlM
If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in
the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in
the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If
the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural
causes.
the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in
the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If
the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural
causes.
![syllk is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
#15
![Default](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by cutina
yes, i've tried modern mead, it's not made the same now as it was then...
![Big Grin](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Mind you - last time I had some it was over here, probably contained high fructose corn syrup...
![FlyergirlUK is offline](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)